Germany Flashcards
What is the German word for sparkling wine?
Sekt
True or False
Sparkling wine is a recent phenomena in Germany that rose in popularity during the 20th Century
False. Sparkling wine has always been popular in Germany.
What has been the trend in the production of German Sekt? What market forces have affected this movement?
Since the mid-1950’s, production of German Sekt increased significantly due to the ability to source inexpensive base wines from the EU.
What percentage of German Sekt production is inexpensive, high-volume brands?
90%
What is the per capita consumption of sparkling wine in Germany? How does this rate globally?
3.7 liters, or five bottles, per capita per year.
This is the highest per capita consumption of sparkling wine in the world.
What methods can be used to produce German Sekt?
Any except for Carbonation.
All German Sekt must be produced by secondary fermentation.
What are the categories of German Sekt?
Sekt
Deutscher Sekt
Deutscher Sekt bA
Winzersekt
Describe the category of wine labelled Sekt in Germany.
A non-vintage tank method wine typically made from a range of inexpensive base wines sourced from Southern Europe. It is made sparkling in Germany, must have a minimum of 90 days on the lees (30 if stirred), and are made in Brut or Extra Dry styles with medium acidity and noticeable RS.
Light intensity fruit, no autolytic notes, and acceptable to good in quality.
Describe the category of wine labelled Deutscher Sekt.
A sparkling wine made from German fruit by the tank method or traditional method. It can be vintage or non-vintage, a varietal wine or a blend, and cannot state a German region of origin on its label.
Describe the category of wine labelled Deutscher Sekt bA.
A sparkling wine within the larger German quality category “Qualitätswein besimmter Anbaugebiete” (Quality wine from one of Germany’s 13 recognized growing regions). It may be tank method or traditional method. The region in which the wine is grown and produced must appear on the label.
Describe the category of wine labelled Winzersekt.
A traditional method wine that is grown and produced entirely on the estate. The label must indicate the vintage (or non-vintage), varietal, and the producer’s name. It is most frequently made with Riesling, though other varieties may be used.
What percentage of Germany’s sparkling wine production is Winzersekt?
1%
What are the characteristics of Riesling Winzersekt?
Typically Brut
High Acid
Medium intensity green apple and white peach with smoky, toasty autolytic notes
Very good to outstanding quality
Mid- to premium priced
Describe the category of wine labelled Perlwein in Germany.
An inexpensive sparkling wine made by either the tank method or by carbonation with less than 3 bars of pressure in the bottle.
What economic factor makes German Perlwein less expensive than sparkling wines with higher pressures in the bottle?
It does not attract taxation from the government.
Where do grapes for high volume German Sekt come from? What types of grapes are used?
Southern Europe, especially Italy, Spain, and France. Varieties with low aromatic intensity that are picked early to ensure high acidity are typically used.
What is the production method of high volume German Sekt?
The grapes are grown outside of Germany, typically in Italy, Spain, and France. The grapes are crushed and the base wine produced in the country of origin, then chilled and transported to Germany for second fermentation.
Where are grapes for Deutshcer Sekt, Deutscher Sekt bA, and Winzersekt grown?
In Germany
What is the climate in Germany?
Cool continental
What attributes do grapes grown in Germany have that makes them suitable for sparkling wine production? Why do they have these characteristics?
High acid and low potential alcohol due to the cool continental climate in the country. Additionally, grapes for sparkling wine are picked early and unripe fruit screened out.
True or False
The majority Deutshcer Sekt, Deutscher Sekt bA, and Winzersekt are blends of multiple varieties.
False. They are mainly single varieties, though Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blends are available.
What varieties are used to produce Deutshcer Sekt, Deutscher Sekt bA, and Winzersekt? Which is the most prestigious?
Riesling is the most prestigious.
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Silvaner, and aromatic varieties like Scheurebe
What harvesting methods are used for sparkling wine production in Germany?
Both mechanical and hand harvesting, though hand harvesting is used primarily on higher quality wines
Are Deutshcer Sekt, Deutscher Sekt bA, and Winzersekt typically a good example of terroir?
Unless it is Winzersekt, assemblage takes place across the board and neither Deutshcer Sekt nor Deutscher Sekt bA show terroir-specific flavors.
How is the initial fermentation of German tank method wines conducted?
At low temperatures to preserve aromatic freshness
How long do German tank method wines spend on the lees?
Only the higher quality wines spend time on the lees, typically 3-6 months
Are German tank method wines blended? Why or why not?
Yes, to ensure consistency
Do growers in Germany produce base wine for Sekt producers or do the Sekt producers manage the entire process?
Some German growers will produce the base wine before selling it to larger sparkling winemakers.
With what varieties is the traditional method used in German winemaking?
Typically with the Champagne varieties, but also with Riesling
What is the dilemma winemakers must face when choosing to make Riesling wines in the traditional method?
Whether or not to incorporate autolytic notes into the aromatics of Riesling
What is the typical length of time for lees aging in German traditional method Riesling?
There is no standard. Winemakers who prefer the distinctive primary aromas will use the minimum 9 months of lees aging. Others may use 18 months to impart smoky aromas.
What alternative to sugar might be used in the dosage for German traditional method Riesling?
Mature sweet Riesling, though only in premium bottlings for added richness
What might be done to lower the cost of traditional method wines in Germany?
Using the transfer method instead
What are the minimum ABV and pressure permitted in German Sekt?
10% ABV
3.5 bars
True or False
Base wine for German Sekt can be produced in any EU country
True
How is German Perlwein from a quality region labelled?
Qualitätsperlwein bA
What methods are common in the production of German Perlwein?
Carbonation and tank method
Is German Perlwein often sweeter than German Sekt?
Yes. Trocken Perlwein may have up to 35 g/L RS
What are the sweetness levels of German Perlwein?
Trocken (dry): up to 35 g/L
Halbtrocken (off-dry): 33-50 g/L
Mild: 50+ g/L
What are the legal requirements in Germany for labelling a wine with a varietal or vintage?
85% of that wine must be produced from the specified varietal or vintage
How long is the minimum aging for traditional and transfer method wines in Germany?
90 days
What does Flaschengärung mean?
“Bottle Fermented”
A term that refers to second fermentation in a bottle
What does Kassische Flaschengärung mean?
“Classic Bottle Fermentation”
A term that refers to second fermentation occurring in the bottle in which the wine is sold
What are the price segments for the German Sekt market?
Low-end, price-driven wines retailing up to €4
Standard quality wines retailing up to €8
High quality sparkling wines at considerably higher prices
What percentage of the market do low-end, price-driven German sparkling wines comprise?
50%
Is there interest in higher priced, high quality German Sekt?
Yes, especially in recent years
What type of tax is imposed on German Sekt? When was it instituted?
A €1.02 tax by the German government on all German Sekt has been levied in some amount since 1902.
Do large volume German Sekt producers spend a lot of money on advertising their brands? Why or why not?
Yes. The market is extremely competitive, as evidenced by the high per capitalization consumption of sparkling wine. Producers are constantly competing to access big retail stores and win customers.
Which brands are the driving force behind German Sekt sales?
Big brands that have been on the market for decades
Where are big brand German Sekt wines typically sold?
Supermarkets both big and small
Where is Winzersekt typically sold?
From the cellar, at specialist wine retailers, and at restaurants.
Which companies dominate Germany’s sparkling wine production? What percent of sparkling wine production do they account for?
Rotkäppchen-Mumm, Henkell and Co, and Schloss Wachenheim
They produce 80% of all German sparkling wine
What is the leading German sparkling wine producer by volume? What segment(s) of the market do they target?
Rotkäppchen-Mumm, which targets the inexpensive wine market almost exclusively
Are private label sparkling wine sale strong in Germany?
Yes, especially from the major retailers Aldi and Lidl
Name two significant producers of Winzersekt.
Reischrat von Buhl
Schloss Vaux
What percentage of German Sekt is exported?
10%
What percentage of sparkling wines are sold in the German hospitality sector? What categories of sparkling wine are found in it? Imported or exported?
75% of all sparkling wine sales are from hospitality. This includes all categories, domestic and imported.
True or False
The German wine market is exceptionally price conscious
True, especially towards high quality Sekt
Where do German consumers of sparkling wines typically buy their products?
At retailers for home consumption
Is German Sekt part of the VDP?
Yes, since 2018
What is the VDP?
The ‘Verband deutscher Prädikatsweingüter’, a private organization of German wine producers committed to high quality
What are the standards for German VDP Sekt production?
The wine must be labelled under the phrase “Good Sekt from the beginning”
The grapes must be grown on the VDP member’s estate exclusively for the production of Sekt
The fruit must be hand picked early, whole cluster pressed, and made by traditional method
Must age for at least 15 months on the lees, or 36 months for single-vineyard and/or vintage wines
