Germany Flashcards
How were German wines traditionally fermented and matured?
Large old oak casks e.g
1,000L Fuder in Mosel
1,200L Stück along Rhine
German oak from Pfalz for large vessels. French for smaller barriques
Which country is the world’s largest producer of Riesling?
Germany
What proportion of Germany’s vineyards cultivate Riesling?
23%
What is Liebfraumilch?
inexpensive wines, medium sweetness,
grapes that ripen easily with high yields such as Müller-Thurgau and Kerner,
e.g Blue Nun and Black Tower
Which German wine institutes made the German wine industry one of the most technologically advanced?
Hochschule Geisenheim University in Rheingau
Julius Kühn-Institut in Pfalz
What was the vineyard restructuring, including the consolidation of small vineyards and building of access roads called in Germany?
Flurbereinigung - increases efficiency and mechanisation
What is the latitude of Germany’s vineyards?
49-50º (except Baden) - most northern
What is the climate in Germany?
cool continental
What and where are the steepest slopes in Germany?
Mosel, 70%
What role does the river Rhine and its tributaries have on viticulture?
Radiate heat, moderate temperature, extend growing season
Describe the yearly weather cycle in Germany
winter: very cold (eiswein)
spring: frosts major risk, mitigated by the river and planting on slopes
summer: warm but wet 500-800mm (risk fungal disease, grape dilution, hail)
autumn: long and dry (allows long ripening and morning mist for development botrytis)
Where is slate found in Germany?
Mosel and Ahr (coolest regions, dark coloured slate retains heat during the day and radiates at night time)
What soil does Grauburgunder prefer?
Heavy, more clayey soils
Where are the calcareous soils in Germany and what is planted on them?
Baden, Pfalz, Rheinhessen - Spätburgunder, Weissburgunder and Chardonnay
Franken - Silvaner
What is the area under vine in Germany and why is it special?
100,000 ha, 6th largest in Europe, only traditional European wine-producing country where it is increasing
What is the average wine production in Germany?
9 million hL
What is the average yield in Rheinhessen and Pfalz?
100 hL/ha
What are the maximum yields for Deutscher Wein, Landwein and Qualitätswein?
150 hL/ha for Deutscher Wein and Landwein
105 hL/ha for Qualitätswein
What vineyard management techniques reduce vintage variation by improving fruit ripeness in Germany?
better clonal selection (esp black varieties), summer pruning, green harvesting, selective hand harvesting
How are vines trained in Germany?
single and double replacement-cane pruning with VSP trellising and Pendelbogen (replacement-cane pruning with canes arched in trellis improving sap flow in vine and number viable buds)
Why is Germany not suited to organic and biodynamic viticulture?
Because of risk from disease have to spray crops regularly, in Mosel often only possible with helicopter.
Including and above what wine level in Germany must hand harvesting take place?
Beerenauslese
How much of Germany’s vineyards are certified Organic?
8%
What was the percentage of white grapes planted in Germany in 1980 and 2017?
1980: 80%
2017: 61%
What are the German crosses?
Müller-Thurgau,
Scheurebe,
Kerner,
Dornfelder (black)
What are the most grown varieties in Germany?
Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Spätburgunder (black), Dornfelder (black), Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay
How much enrichment is allowed in Germany?
EU zone A allows 3%
EU zone B (Baden) allows 2%
not permitted for Prädikatswein
common in bulk wines, becoming rare outside
What is Süssreserve?
unfermented / partially-fermented grape must,
must be produced from grapes in the same region,
same quality as wine,
common to use proportion of must pre-fermentation,
clarify, chill, protect SO2
When and how was Süssreserve used?
In 1960s and 1970s, all but finest quality wines were fermented dry and then sweetened using Süssreserve prior to bottling. Although gives less balanced wines
How are German grapes classified?
according to their must weight
When were Germany’s current wine laws created?
1971
What are the four quality levels for German wine in order of increasing must weight?
Deutscher Wein (Tafelwein),
Landwein,
Qualitätswein,
Prädikatswein
What is Deutscher Wein?
German grapes only
8.5-15% alcohol,
inexpensive wines made to be drunk early
What is Tafelwein?
Introduced 1982, German equivalent PGI.
85% grapes must be from Landwein region on label
8.5-15% alcohol,
most regions, only allowed Trocken and Halb-Trocken
How much of Germany’s wine production is Deutscher Wein and Tafelwein?
2% (2017)
What are the rules for Qualitätswein?
PDO
Grapes must come from one of 13 designated quality regions (Anbaugebiete) which must appear on label
7-unlimited % alcohol
Which quality level and above is blind tasted and laboratory analysed in Germany?
Qualitätswein.
Given Amtliche Prüfungsnummer (AP)
What are the rules for Prädikatswein?
Grapes must come from a Bereich (one of 40 recognised wine-producing regions, smaller than Anbaugebiete) which doesn’t need to appear on label, but Anbaugebiete must
Any grape, no enrichment
How much Prädikatswein is made compared to Qualitätswein?
on average 1/2, good years can be equal
What are the six quality levels of Prädikatswein?
Kabinett Spätlese Auslese Beerenauslese Eiswein Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Describe Kabinett wines
lowest must weight,
lightest body, highest acid,
dry to medium-sweet
green and citrus fruit
Describe Spätlese wines
produced from fully-ripened grapes, harvested two weeks after Kabinett
greater concentration riper fruit flavours e.g stone fruits for Riesling
fuller body as higher alcohol (min 7%)
dry to medium-sweet
Describe Auslese wines
specially selected, extra-ripe bunches (can be machine harvested initially)
often have honey characteristics, some grapes may have botrytis for extra complexity
potential bottle-ageing, last category including dry wines
Describe Beerenauslese (BA) wines
hand harvested, individually selected berries
minimum alcohol 5.5%
need not have botrytis, but is feature of this wine
ripe and dried stone fruit
need suitable conditions for noble rot (brief periods humidity followed by dry weather)
low yields, labour intensive, rare
Describe Eiswein wines
since 1982 same min must weight as BA must be picked when frozen below -7º pressed whilst still frozen need healthy grapes Riesling Eiswein peach and grapefruit
Describe Trockenbeerenauslese wines
extremely high min must weight from botrytis
highly concentrated, extremely sweet wines, can age due to acidity
What is the German for 1) wine-producing district, 2) individual and 3) collection of vineyards?
Bereich (40)
Einzellagen (2658)
Grosslagen (167)
When and how can Grosslagen and Einzellagen be used on labels?
Only Qualitätswein and Prädikatswein, usually preceded by name of village where vineyard(s) are located e.g Piesporter Goldtröfpchen except when well known e.g Schloss Vollrads
What is the legally defined term Liebfraumilch?
Medium white wine, Qualitätswein, at least 18g/L residual sugar,
minimum 70% Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau (dominates blend) and Kerner
From either Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Rheingau or Nahe
What is the VDP?
Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP)
200 members
stricter regulations, audited every five years
How much of Germany’s vineyard area, annual production and value are produced VDP?
5% total vineyard area
3% annual production
7.5% by value
What are the four categories of VDP wines?
VDP Gutswein
VDP Ortswein
VDP Erste Lage
VDP Grosse Lage
What are the requirements for VDP Gutswein?
max yield 75hL/ha
regional wines, similar to Burgundy i.e from members holdings in region
What are the requirements for VDP Ortswein?
max yield 75hL/ha
equivalent village wines in Burgundy, from grape varieties typical of region
What are the requirements for VDP Erste Lage?
max yield 60hL/ha
“first class”
equivalent Burgundy “premier cru”, excellent quality, ageing potential
only grape varieties suited to region as deemed by association
hand harvested, min spätlese ripeness
“traditional winemaking” techniques
What is VDP Grosse Lage and the minimum yields?
max yield 50hL/ha
dry wines called Grosses Gewächs
equivalent Burgundy “grand cru”
What are the release dates for VDP Grosse Lage wines?
dry whites only releases 1st sept following year
red whites min 12months oak 1st sept year after
sweet prädikat 1st May after harvest
What varieties are allowed for VDP Grosse Lage?
Riesling in all Anbuagebieten (only botrytised in Ahr)
Spätburgunder in all Anbuagebieten except Model and Nahe
Other grapes permitted according to Anbaugebieten
What wines are Erstes Gewächs?
From the Rheingau Charta, best sites in Rheingau, legally-protected term,
only Riesling or Spätburgunder
min must weight equivalent to Spätlese
In 1999 members who joined VDP can now use GG in lieu of Erstes Gewächs
Which four Anbaugebieten produce 80% of the wines in Germany?
Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Baden and Württemberg
Which Anbaugebiete has 1/4 of Germany’s vineyards and is the largest producer?
Rheinhessen
Where did Liebfraumilch originate?
Worms in Rheinhessen
How does Rheinhessen compare to rest of Germany in terms of climate and production?
Highest production and yields,
relatively warm and dry, sheltered by Hunsrück and Taunus mountain ranges
What kind of terrain are vineyards located in Rheinhessen?
warm, fertile valley floors, for high volume, inexpensive wines
What grapes are planted in Rheinhessen?
71% white.
Most planted is Riesling, Müller-Thurgau
Most black planted variety is Dornfelder
What kind of wine dominates Rheinhessen?
Bulk production, mostly by merchant houses
Where is the Rheinterasse?
Rheinhessen, steeply sloping vineyards on west bank of river around Nierstein and Oppenheim
Why are wines in the Rheinterrasse higher quality compared to the rest of Rheinhessen?
East facing aspect means they receive the warming morning sun in the coolest part of the day and proximity to Rhine’s moderating influence means that evening and autumn temperatures remain warmer, extending ripening period
Where is Roter Hang?
Strip in Rheinterrasse around Nierstein
What distinguishes Roter Hang?
Rotliegenden soil, which is iron rich consisting of slate, clay and sandstone
What is typical of Rieslings from the Rheinterrasse?
ripe lemon and peach flavours
What is typical of Rieslings from the Roter Hang?
smoky characteristics
What makes Pfalz the driest German wine-producing region?
The Haardt mountains (continuation of the Vosges) create a similar rain shadow effect.
What is unusual about Pfalz?
Pfalz vineyards are not centered along a river valley and only region where drought can be a concern
What grapes are planted in Pfalz?
66% white
Riesling 25 % total, then Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder.
Dornfelder, then Spätburgender most planted reds
What is similar between Rheinhessen and Pfalz?
production and area under vine is similar
What is the difference in wine between Rheinhessen and Pfalz?
As Pfalz is slightly warmer, tend to be more full-bodied with riper fruit flavour
Where are the most renowned vineyards in Pfalz?
Mittelhaardt, around Bad Dürkheim, Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg in northern Pfalz.
On south- or east facing steep slopes on foothills of Haardt, gaining sunshine and wind protection for full-bodied Riesling
What are significant producers in Pfalz?
1) Dr Bürklin-Wolf
2) cooperativeWinzerverein Deidesheim
Where is Südliche Weinstrasse and what is planted there?
Southern Pfalz, fertile sandstone soils, Pinot grapes as was under both German and French rule like Alsace
Which areas make up Baden?
Made up of multiple distinct Bereiche.
Main area stretches from Heidelberg to Swiss border, also areas between Franken and Württemberg, and east of Bodensee
What makes Baden overall Germany’s warmest, sunniest and driest wine producing region?
southerly latitude, and location east of Rhine and Alsace benefitting from rain shadow of Vosges
What is Baden best known for?
Red wines. Spätburgunder most planted variety and are best with complexity and oak ageing
What is special about wines from Kaiserstuhl?
Steep, south facing slopes around Kaiserstuhl Baden, an extinct volcano, produces fullest bodied wines with high alcohol and complex, smoky ripe fruit flavours
How do red wines in the Ortenau bereich compare to rest of Baden?
Ortenau is cooler, and on significant pockets of calcerous soil such as bereiche of Tuniberg and Breisgau, have more acidity and delicate fruit flavours
What is planted in Baden?
60% white (high volume inexpensive blend) of which Riesling is small
1) Spätburgunder 2) Müller-Thurgau
How much are cooperatives responsible for in Baden and give an example of one
75%, Badischer Winzerkeller in Breisach, one of largest in Germany
What grape varieties dominate in Württemberg?
70% black
Most planted are Trollinger, Lemberger and Schwarzriesling. Spätburgunder is increasing
Riesling is 50% of white varieties
What style of wines are mainly produced in Württemberg?
light, fruity red wines mostly consumed domestically
warm summer temperatures ideal for red wines
Who is the biggest producer in Württemberg?
cooperative Möglingen
What variety in Württemberg is increasing being used to make fuller bodied wines with riper flavours?
Lemberger
What varieties are grown in Mosel?
90 % white
Riesling makes 60% of all plantings
Where and why is vineyard location important in Mosel?
Most northerly in Germany. To ripen fully, need steep, south facing slopes overlooking Mosel, enjoying best sun exposure and to smaller extent sunshine reflected from river
What is the soil in Mosel and why is it important?
dark coloured slate soil helps to radiate heat
What sections is the Mosel split into?
Upper, Middle and Lower Mosel
Where in the Mosel are the best vineyards situated and give some examples?
Middle Mosel (also biggest) village (vineyard): 1) Ürzig (Würzgarten) 2) Piesport (Göldtropfchen) 3) Graach (Himmelreich, Domprobst)
How do Mosel Rieslings compare to elsewhere in Germany?
paler in colour, lighter in body, lower alcohol, higher acidity, pronounced floral and green fruit aromas.
Balance acidity and flavour good for bottle ageing.
Strong reputation sweeter wines in Kabinett upwards and Eiswein
What makes Mosel wines some of the most expensive in Germany?
1) labour intensive due to steep sites
2) low yields to make sweetest such as BA and TBA
3) high quality
Which co-operative is the largest producer of Riesling and where is it located?
Moselland, in Bernkastel, Mosel.
produced 20% of Mosel’s wines
How is the climate in Franken compared to the rest of Germany?
Further East, has most continental climate, warmer summers but shorter growing season, cooler autumns and harsh winters.
What varieties are grown in Franken?
White grapes account for vast majority. 1) Müller-Thurgau 2) Silvaner (gets best sites) Riesling small amount. Drier styles have long tradition here
Where is there excellent Silvaner produced?
Franken, gets best sites and less frost prone, on south, south-east facing sites of chalky soil around Würzburg
Floral with wet stone aromas
What is the traditional bottle in Franken?
Bocksbeutel, flat round-shaped bottle with short neck
What are some high quality producers in Franken?
Horst Sauer, Bürgerspital Juliusspital
Where is the best Spätburgunder in Franken?
West of region on steep terraces of sandstone, e.g by Rüdolf Fürst
What are the grape varieties of Nahe?
3/4 white varieties
Riesling 30%, then Müller-Thurgau
Dornfelder most planted red
How do Nahe Rieslings compare to the rest of Germany?
slightly warmer, lower levels of acidity but riper fruit flavours with more body than Mosel, but less than Rheingau and Rheinhessen
What affects the climate in Rheingau and how does it affect Riesling?
protected from cold northerly winds by western end of Taunus Mountains, south facing aspect of vineyards means Riesling here is full-bodied, riper fruit than Mosel. Wider Rhine, 1km, has moderating influence, reduces spring frost, increase humidity for botrytis
What is Rheingau famous for?
Highest quality and age-worthy Rieslings
Where are the best vineyards located in Rheingau?
Steep slopes, around Rüdesheim, Geisenheim, Johannisberg, Erbach.
Mid-slope give best conditions, receive moderating influence river without humidity
What grape varieties are grown in Rheingau?
85% plantings white
Riesling 78% alone
Mostly dry style (trend started here) but also botrytised
What are famous producers in Rheingau?
Mostly estates. Rheingau home of aristocracy, lots of Schloss. Schloss Johannisberg, Schloss Vollrads, Kloster Eberbach (state owned)
Where is Spätburgunder grown in Rheingau?
Western end, around Assmannshausen, where river turns North. e.g steep south and south-west facing Höllenberg vineyard
What grapes are grown in Ahr?
black grapes 83%
Why do black varieties dominate in Ahr?
river Ahr cuts narrow, sheltered valley with steep, south facing slopes and soil dominated by heat retaining dark slate and greywacke (dark sandstone)
What style of wines were traditionally and currently made in Ahr?
traditionally black grapes late harvested with residual sweetness, now region is source of very good dry Spätburgunder with relatively high tannins and spice from oak
What type of producers dominate in Ahr and give examples
co-operatives produce 3/4 Ahr wine e.g Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoss-Altenahr formed in 1868 is thought to be oldest in the world. Increasing number small estates
What happened to number of growers and area under vine in Germany?
16,000 growers in 2016, approx less than 3ha, decrease by 20% since 2010. AUV increase, on fertile flatter lands for bulk production
Why has the number of growers decreased recently in Germany?
Expensive production costs on steep sites
Where does Germany rank in the world for wine consumption?
4th, 20 million hL in 2017
How much wine does Germany import?
15-16 million hL per year
How has the average amount and value of wine export changed from 2000?
volume has halved, 2 to 1 million hL a year
average price risen from €200 to €300 per hL - reduction bulk wine exported more bottled
Who are the top importers of German wine by value and volume?
volume: USA, Netherlands, UK, Norway, China
value: USA, Netherlands, Norway, UK, China
What is the name of Germany’s wine promotion body?
Deutsches Weininstitut
How does the Deutsches Weininstitut promote Riesling?
promote “Riesling Weeks” campaign in 13 countries, where they encourage retailers and restaurants to promote German wines for defined period (1 week-month)
To which two countries is the average price of German wine imports considerably lower and why?
UK and Netherlands due to inexpensive Liebfraumilch, but amount is shrinking
Which country had the largest increase in imports from Germany?
China - 25% increase from 2016-2107, with high average cost per unit
