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WSET Level 3 > Germany > Flashcards

Germany Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the most important grape variety in Germany?

A

Riesling.

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2
Q

What it Pinot Noir called in Germany?

A

Spatburgunder

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3
Q

What is the climate of Germany?

A

Cool Continental.

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4
Q

How do climatic conditions affect wine growing?

A

Summers can be wet; rain declines in the Autumn during final stages of ripening; a long, cool ripening period gives the grapes time to reach sugar ripeness while retaining acidity; noble rot can develop in every region. Annual conditions vary considerably.

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5
Q

Where are the best vineyard sites?

A

Steep and often stoney slopes with a Southerly aspect.

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6
Q

How are vines trained?

A

Head-pruned, individually staked and the canes tied at the top to maximize grape exposure to light and circulation of air.

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7
Q

Name two benefits of locating vineyards near a river.

A

Reflected sunlight helps grapes to ripen; flowing water can protect against frosts.

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8
Q

How are wines classified?

A

Minimum must weight at harvest, allowing the harvest to be spread out over weeks or months.

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9
Q

Which GI are the majority of German wines?

A

PDO

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10
Q

How are the PGI wines labeled?

A

Landwein.

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11
Q

How is a wine with no GI labeled?

A

Deutscher Wein.

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12
Q

How many PDO regions are there?

A

13

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13
Q

What are the two fundamental levels of wine?

A

Qualitastwein and Pradikatswein.

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14
Q

Name the six categories of Pradikatswein wines.

think of these designations as an indicator of style

A

Kabinett, Spaltete, Auslese, Beerenausles (BA), Eiswein, Trockenbeerenausles (TBA). [from driest to sweetest]

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15
Q

How many wine regions can be included in a PDO wine?

A

Only one. The name of the region will appear on the label. If it is a Pradikat wine, the Pradikat level will also appear on the label.

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16
Q

What additional information may also be included on the label?

A

Level of sweetness, vineyard location and indications of quality.

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17
Q

In France, quality may be indicated by terms such as Premier Cru, Grand Cru. What is the German equivalent?

A

There is no legally defined indicator. However, an independent group of producers called the Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter (VDP) have classified their vineyards by consensus. The very best of which bear the label GG (Grosses Gewachs) and have a bunch of grapes embossed on the neck of the bottle.

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18
Q

While dry reds and whites at all quality levels are sold as Qualitattsweine, Pradikatsweine wines are most always what color?

A

White.

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19
Q

Nearly all Pradikatswein wines will have residual sugar, but up to which category can they be made in a dry style?

A

Auslese.

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20
Q

Which are the most delicate Pradikatswein wines?

A

Kabinett.

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21
Q

Describe a Kabinett wine.

A

Light in body with high acidity and flavors of green apple or citrus fruit, balanced with residual sweetness. The sweet wines will have an alcohol level of b/w 8-9%. Drier styles can reach 12%.

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22
Q

Name a method you can sweeten a Kabinett after fermentation.

A

By adding unfermented grape juice (Sussreserve). A better approach involves stopping the fermentation early before the yeast has converted all the sugar to alcohol.

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23
Q

How do Spatlese wines differ from Kabinett?

A

Made in the same way but are more concentrated, riper and have more body, alcohol and, where relevant, more sweetness. Citrus and stone fruit (peach or apricot) are common.

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24
Q

Compare a Auslese to a Spatlese.

A

Auslese wines are made from extra ripe grapes. They are richer and riper. And noble rot can be an important part of their flavor profile.

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25
Q

Name the category of PDO wine for which noble rot is essential.

A

TBA. Required to reach the necessary must weight. While it is not necessary for BA, it is typical. It is not necessary for Eiswein.

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26
Q

Describe a typical BA or TBA wine.

A

Not necessarily made every year. Vary considerably when made. Sweet and low in alcohol with honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers.

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27
Q

Describe an Eiswein.

A

Made infrequently. Noble rot is not required. Focus on varietal purity. Fine balance b/w acidity and sweetness. Seek to maintain varietal flavors which requires careful selection of yeast, handling the juice with care, and avoiding masking the flavors by MLF or new oak.

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28
Q

What is the second most widely planted white variety?

A

Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner).

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29
Q

Muller-Thurgau is a cross between what two parents?

A

Riesling and Madeline Royale, made in the 1880’s.

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30
Q

What are the characteristics of Muller-Thurgau?

A

Ripens earlier than Riesling but does not have the same level of acidity or flavor intensity; can produce a floral and fruity wine but rarely of high quality. Its production is declining.

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31
Q

What is the third most widely planted white grape?

A

Silvaner.

32
Q

Name two additional white grapes grown in Germany:

A

Grauburgunder/Rulander (Pinot Gris) and Weisburgunder (pinot blanc)

33
Q

Name two regions Sylvaner is strong in?

A

Rheinhessen and Franken.

34
Q

While Sylvaner is the third most planted white grape, it is not the third most planted grape variety. What is?

A

Spatburgunder (Pinot Nor). It is particularly important in Pfalz and Baden (warmer)

35
Q

What are the two different styles of producing Spatburgunder?

A

Light and fruity, or more concentrated that often includes oak.

36
Q

Name one black variety, other than Spatburgunder, that is widely planted? What are its characteristics?

A

Dornfelder. Deep color.

37
Q

Name three other black varieties?

A

Portugieser, Trollinger and Schwarzriesling (Meunier). Typically produce light bodied and fruity wines, but when oaked, can produce intensely colored and flavored examples. Generally sold as Qualitastweine and sold domestically.

38
Q

Name the six main wine regions.

A

Mosel, Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Baden

39
Q

Define the boundaries of the Mosel region.

A

The River Mosel from where it joins the River Rhine to the German border. It includes two small tributaries, the Saar and the Ruwer.

40
Q

GG wines in Mosel can be made from only one variety. What is it?

A

Riesling.

41
Q

Name three of the villages in the Middle Mosel known for producing top-quality wine.

A

Piesport, Bernkastel and Wehlen.

42
Q

What soils do the best Mosel vineyards have?

A

Slate, on steep slopes next to the river.

43
Q

Contrast Mosel Rieslings with those from Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz.

A

Lighter in body, lower in alcohol and higher in acidity. Floral and green fruit flavors predominate.

44
Q

When grapes from the best sites do not ripen in cooler vintages, what is done with them?

A

Used in sparkling wine production.

45
Q

What two wine regions does Nahe lie between?

A

Mosel and Rheinhessen.

46
Q

The best vineyards are on steep south facing slopes on the river Nahe between what two towns?

A

Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach.

47
Q

What varieties are allowed for GG wines in Nahe?

A

Only Riesling

48
Q

Distinguish a Riesling from Nahe from those from Mosel or regions to the south.

A

They can have the pronounced acidity of those from Mosel but a slightly riper fruit character due to the warmer climate. They have less body than those from Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz.

49
Q

Rheingau is a small but prestigious region. Where do most of its slopes lie?

A

The north bank of the Rhine in the west of the region. They have a southerly aspect.

50
Q

What protects the Rheingau from the north?

A

Taunus hills.

51
Q

What varieties/variety can be used for GG wines in the Rheingau?

A

Riesling or Spatburgunder.

52
Q

The majority of vineyards in the west of the Rheingau lie around what two villages?

A

Johannisberg and Rudesheim.

53
Q

What distinguishes a Rheingau Riesling?

A

Medium to full body and distinct ripe peach character. The humid conditions from the Rhine allow for some of the best BA and TBA wines.

54
Q

The vineyards around Hochheim in the east of the Rheingau differ how?

A

Riper and fuller bodied due to the slightly warmer climate.

55
Q

What is the village of Assmannshausen known for?

A

It’s excellent Spatburgunder.

56
Q

What is the largest vine growing region?

A

Rheinhessen.

57
Q

What are the two most planted varieties in Rheinhessen?

A

Riesling and Muller-Thurgau.

58
Q

Name the three black varieties that make up approximately 30% of the plantings.

A

Dornfelder, Portugieser and Spatburgunder.

59
Q

What variety/varieties can make GG wine?

A

Riesling or Spatburgunder.

60
Q

Name the Rheinhessen village on the West Bank of the Rhine that produces some of the fullest bodied Rieslings in Germany.

A

Nierstein. Often referred to as the Rheinterrasse.

61
Q

What is the second largest wine growing region?

A

Pfalz.

62
Q

Where is Pfalz located?

A

A narrow strip north from the French border and to the east of the Haardt Mountains (which are a continuation of the Vosges). They can be seen as a continuation of the vineyards of Alsace. It is the driest of the German regions and can suffer from water stress in warm years.

63
Q

What is the most widely planted variety in Pfalz?

A

Riesling.

64
Q

What is the second most widely planted white variety in Paflz?

A

Muller-Thurgau. Grauburgunder and Weisburgunder are gradually increasing.

65
Q

What is the most widely planted black variety in Pfalz?

A

Dornfelder.

66
Q

In Pfalz, what variety/varieties can constitute GG wines?

A

Riesling, Wiesburgunder or Spatburgunder.

67
Q

The most established vineyards in Pfalz are in what is known as Mittelhaardt. Name its two main villages.

A

Forst and Deidesheim. They produce a riper, fuller bodied style of Riesling.

68
Q

Which German region produces the fullest-bodied wines with the highest alcohol?

A

Baden. The warmest and most southerly region. It is the third largest wine growing region.

69
Q

Where is Baden located?

A

On a narrow strip of land that follows the Rhine to the Swiss border.

70
Q

What is the Kaiserstuhl?

A

An extinct volcano that has south facing slopes that makes the most of the available warmth.

71
Q

What is the most widely planted variety in Baden?

A

Spatburgunder.

72
Q

What wine can be used to make GG wines in Baden?

A

A range of both black and white.

73
Q

What is the most widely planted grape in Franken?

A

Silvaner.

74
Q

Why is Silvaner popular in Franken?

A

Early flowering and early ripening, but susceptible to frost. Therefore planted in the warmest sites. And achieves a concentration rarely achieved elsewhere in Germany.

75
Q

The best Silvaners in Franken come from south facing slopes around what village?

A

Wurzburg. Dry, rich palate and earthy quality. Bottled in distinctive flask shaped bottles.

76
Q

GG wines can be made from what varieties?

A

Silvaner, Riesling Weisburgunder, Grauburgunder or Spatburgunder.

WSET Level 3 (28 decks)

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