Germany

Question 1

What are the important factors helping Riesling to ripen in Germany?

Answer 1

• Latitude - Day length during the summer growing season is longer the further the vineyard is from the Equator. This extra sunlight is an important factor that helps Riesling to ripen in Germany.
• Aspect - best sites are found on steep and often stony slopes with a southerly aspect maximise the available heat and sunlight.
• High concentration of slate soils.
• Trainining system -On these slopes, vines are headpruned, individually staked and the canes tied in at the top of the stake to maximise grape exposure to light and circulation of air.
• River - reflected sunlight help the grapes to ripen

Question 2

Where can we see hand-harvesting around the world?

steep vineyard slopes:

Answer 2

• Douro in Portugal
• Mosel in Germany
• Northern Rhone in France

Question 3

How can a winemaker retain the high acidity in Rieslings and SB’s?

Answer 3

• Avoiding MLF by adding SO2 to the wine straight after fermentation. The buttery aromas that can sometimes result from MLF may also interfere with the pronounced fruit aromas of the wine.
• Aromatic grape varieties will generally be bottled as soon as possible after fermentation; the aromas gained from maturation in new oak are usually not desirable.

Question 4

Where is known for high-quality of its Pinot Noir wines in Germany?

Answer 4

Baden. PN is called Spatburgunder in Germany

Question 5

Compare Alsace and Germany Rieslings.

Answer 5

Alsace Riesling’s do not typically show as much floral character as those from Germany.

Question 6

How is the training system in vineyards in Germany?

Answer 6

On these slopes, vines are headpruned, individually staked and the canes tied in at the top of the stake to maximise grape exposure to light and circulation of air.

Question 7

What is the impact of the aspect of the vineyards in Germany?

Answer 7

• best sites are found on steep and often stony slopes with a southerly aspect
• maximise the available heat and sunlight.
• These vineyards have to be worked by hand and on the most extreme slopes equipment has to be manoeuvred into place by winches.

Question 8

What is the impact of the river of the vineyards in Germany?

Answer 8

1- reflected sunlight help the grapes to ripen

2- air movement created by flowing water can help protect against frosts.

Question 9

Why is the harvest spread out over a number of weeks and months?

Answer 9

Because wines are classified by must weight (the level of sugar in the grape juice);so different harvesting times. It is possible to make a range of Qualitatsweine and Pradikatsweine each year from an individual vineyard. Pickers will pass through the vineyard several times in order to ensure that they get the ideal grapes for each category of wine.

Question 10

How does Riesling style change in Germany?

Answer 10

Flavours can range from delicate and floral to a richer peachy fruit character. Wines can range from bone dry to lusciously sweet.

Question 11

How is the best sweet styles of Kabinett made (to have a level of sweetness) ?

Answer 11

The best sweet styles of Kabinett are made by stopping the fermentation early, before the yeast has converted all of the sugar in the juice to alcohol. This achieves a better sugar/acid balance.

(rather than Süssreserve)

Question 12

How is Auslese different than Spatlese?

Answer 12

Auslese is made from individually selected extra-ripe bunches of grapes. Whether dry or sweet, Auslese wines are richer and riper compared with Spatlese wines from the same region and regardless of style noble rot can play an important part in the flavour profile of these wines.

Question 13

Describe Kabinett.

Answer 13

These wines are the most delicate Pradikatsweine.
Rieslings made in this style will be light in body, with high acidity and flavours of green apple or citrus fruit often balanced with residual sweetness. The sweet styles will have an alcohol level between 8-9% abv whereas drier styles can reach 12% abv.
It is possible to sweeten these wines after fermentation by adding unfermented grape juice (Süssreserve) but this is not a technique that is used to make high-quality wines.
Best sweet styles of Kabinett are made by stopping the fermentation early, before the yeast converted all of hte sugar in the juiceto alcohol. This achieves a better sugar/acid level.

Question 14

How is TBA different than BA?

Answer 14

Noble rot is essential to achieve the must weights necessary for TBA . It is not essential for wine labelled BA (it is possible to reach the minimum must weight without noble rot); however, noble rot is typical for these wines.

Question 15

For which wine is noble rot essential in Germany?

Answer 15

Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)

Question 16

How do winemakers maintain varietal flavours in Eiswein?

Answer 16

• using carefully selected yeast
• handling the juice with care
• avoiding processes that could mask the flavours of the grape, such as MLF or new oak

Question 17

Where is Spatburgunder imporatant?

Answer 17

It thrives in the warmer vineyard areas and is particularly important in Pfalz and Baden

Question 18

List the best known villages in Mosel that have an established reputation for top quality wine.

Answer 18

• Piesport
• Bernkastel
• Wehlen

Question 19

How are the vineyards in Mosel?

Answer 19

on very steep slopes with slate soils right next to the river.

Question 20

How are the Rieslings different in Mosel compared to the rest of the Germany?

Answer 20

lighter in body, lower in alcohol and higher in acidity compared with the wines of Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz. Floral and green fruit flavours predominate.

Question 21

What can be done with the grapes that are not fully ripened in cooler vintages?

Answer 21

used in sparkling wine production.

Question 22

Name the top village in Nahe, Germany and describe the style of the Riesling?

Answer 22

Schlossbockelheim. Made in a style that lies in between that of the MoseI and the fuller bodied wines from Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz. They have the pronounced acidity of the MoseI but they can have a slightly riper fruit character as the climate here is warmer.

Question 23

Name the 2 villages in Rheingau

Answer 23

Johannisberg and Rüdesheim

Question 24

In Rheingau, from which grapes can GG wines be?

Answer 24

Riesling or Spatburgunder.

Question 25

Where do the Germany’s best BA and TBA wines are made?

Answer 25

Rheingau

Question 26

In Germany, which region is the largest wine growing region?

Answer 26

Rheinhessen

Question 27

Where is Germany’s best TBA and BA made?

Answer 27

The humid conditions generated by the Rhine mean that some of Germany’s best BA and TBA wines are made here too.

Question 28

What is Rheinhessen’s reputation based on?

Answer 28

steeply sloping vineyards on the west bank of the Rhine centred around the village of Nierstein.

Question 29

Whyis Pfalz is the driest of the German regions and what is the impact?

Answer 29

In very warm years the vines can suffer from water stress.

Question 30

ist the villages of the most established quality vineyards in Pfalz. How is the wine style here?

Answer 30

Forst and Deidesheim.

Set on the steep slopes to the west of the villages, the vineyards here produce a ripe, fuller-bodied style of Riesling.

Question 31

How is the Baden wine’s style in Germany?

Answer 31

Baden is the warmest and most southerly wine region and produces the fullest-bodied German wines with the highest alcohols.

Question 32

How is the wine style in Franken with the impact of the natıral factors?

Answer 32

The early flowering and ripening Silvaner is susceptible to frost damage, and is planted in the warmest sites. Consequently, Silvaner is able to achieve a concentration that is rarely achieved elsewhere in Germany.
They are bottled in distinctive flask-shaped bottles.

Question 33

What is Deutscher Sekt?

Answer 33

Addition to being made sparkling in Germany, must also only use grapes grown in Germany. The best are made from Riesling. If all the grapes for the wine come from one of the quality wine regions, for example Mosel, then the wine can bear the superior appellation of Deutscher Sekt bA.
Some of the top estates will produce such wines from individual vineyards, using the traditional method, although these premium Sekts are rare.

Question 34

What are the common characteristics of Spatlese wines made from Riesling?

Answer 34

Citrus Stone fruit aromas (peach or apricot) are common charcteristicsof Spatlese wines made from Riesling.

Question 35

In terms of market forces; why are BA and TBA ranked among the best wines in the world? How is the style of the wines in terms of flavours?

Answer 35

BA and TBA are not necessarily made every year and volumes vary considerably when they are made. These wines are sweet and low in alcohol with flavours of honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers .

Question 36

How is Eiswein different than the other sweet wines BA and TBA?

Answer 36

Noble rot is not a key component of this style and the focus is rather on varietal purity.
These are genuine rarities and are made infrequently. . The best of these wines achieve a very fine balance between acidity and sweetness. Winemakers also seek to maintain varietal flavours, which can be accentuated by using carefully selected yeast, handling the juice with care and avoiding processes that could mask the flavours of the grape, such as MLF or new oak.

Question 37

Why is Silvaner widely planted in Franken?

Answer 37

Early flowering and ripening Silvaner is susceptible to frost damage, and is planted in the warmest sites. Consequently, Silvaner is able to achieve a concentration that is rarely achieved elsewhere in Germany.