Germany Flashcards
What caused a rapid decline in the wine industry in the early 17th century?
Thirty years war
Why were the vineyards on the flatter valley plains replaced and what were they replaced by?
Taken over for more lucrative grain production, for bread or beer.
What happened in 1830’s that changed the german wine industry?
The introduction of new wine lines based on the must weight of grapes.
When did Germany become a unified country?
1871
What two institutes were founded in the late 19th century and the early 20th century?
Hochschule Geisenheim university in Rheingau
Julius Kuhn-Institut in Pfalz
What is the name of the vineyard restructure program and what did it do?
Flurbereinigung
Involved the consolidation of many small, fragmented vineyards and building of access roads
Aimed at increasing efficiency, making mechanisation easier and reducing the costs of viticulture.
What law was passed in 1971 and what did it do for the German wine industry?
The fifth German wine law.
Established protected geographical labelling and classification of wine styles based on must weights.
Germany’s main producing regions lie around what latitude?
49-50N
What is the general climate of Germany and what is the exception?
Cool and continental
Baden is further south and noticeably drier, warmer, and sunnier than the other regions
Muller-Thurgau is also known as what?
Rivaner
Why was muller-thurgau the most planted variety in the 70s and 80s?
It can produce high yields in almost any conditions
How does muller-thurgau compare to Riesling?
Much lower acidity (medium)
Less structure and character in the wines but can produce wines with attractive but simple floral and fruity aromas.
For early drinking
What are the characteristics of wine made with dornfelder?
Deep colour
High acid
Fruity and floral notes.
What are the two styles of wine produced with dornfelder?
Fruity. Easy drinking. Occasionally with residual sugar. Sour cherry and blackberry.
More complex style focusing on tannin and structure, fermented or aged in oak.
When is enrichment not allowed in Germany?
Not permitted for pradikatswein.
What EU zones does Germany fall in for enrichment?
Most of the vineyards are in EU zone A, allowing enrichment to 3%
Although Baden is in zone B, with maximum enrichment of 2%.
What is the Traditional fermentation and maturation method for German wine?
Large old oak casks to allow for
Some oxygenation. German oak.
In the 60s and 70s how were most sweet wines made?
Fermented to dryness and then sweetened post fermentation. By the addition of sussreserve.
What is sussreserve?
In fermented or partially-fermented grape must
Where must the sussreserve come from?
Must be produced from grapes of the same region and quality level as the wine it is added to. Often is from the same must.
Taken before fermentation, clarified, chilled and protected with SO2, then added back in when needed.
When can sweetening through a rectified Concentrated Grape Must be used?
Only for Deutscher wine
What does Deutscher Wein include?
Wine without a geographical indication made exclusively from grapes grown in Germany.
Alcohol must be between 8.5% - 15% and can be produced in any style
Inexpensive wines intended to be drunk young
What does Landwein include?
German PGI equivalent.
Min 85% of grapes must originate in the landwein region named on the label.
Alcohol 8.5% - 15%
What does Qualitatswein include?
PDO category but less stringent regulations that Pradikatswein.
Grapes must come from one of the 13 designated quality regions (anbaugebiete)
The name of which must appear on the label.
What does pradikatswein include?
More stringent regulations than qualitatswein.
The grapes must come exclusively from one of the 40 Bereich ( recognised wine producing districts)
The name need not appear on the label.
What are the requirements for Kabinett wines?
Produced from grapes with the lowest just weights.
What style are kabinett wines?
Lightest in body and highest in acidity.
Dry - medium sweet
Aromas of green and citrus fruit
What classifies wines that are spatlese?
Produced from fully ripened grapes. (Usually picked 2 weeks after kabinett)
Greater concentration of riper fruit flavours than kabinett. And fuller bodied.
Dry to medium sweet.
What is a Bereiche?
Wine producing district (40)
What is the name of an individual vineyard site?
Einzellagen
What is the name of a collective of vineyard sites?
Grosslagen
When was the VDP founded? And what was the initial concept?
1910
Initially producers that wanted to promote wines made without must enrichment.
At the time called Naturweine
What are the requirements for members of the VDP?
Abide by the regulations and are audited every five years.
Stricter regulations regarding grape growing and wine making including lower maximum yields, higher minimum must weights and growing predominantly traditional grapes from the region.
When are pradikat levels used in the VDP?
Only for wines with residual sweetness.
Dry wines must be labelled qualitatswein trocken
What is the purpose of the 4 tier system the VDP has introduced?
To emphasise the provenance of wines
What are the 4 categories of the 4 tier classification system introduced by the VDP?
VDP Gutswein
VDP Ortswein
VDP erste Lage
VDP Grosse Lage
What is an anbaugebietan?
An official wine growing region. There are 13.
What are the requirements for VDP Gutswein?
Must meet general standards of the VDP.
Max yield is 75hl/ha
What are the requirements for VDP Ortswein?
Equivalent of village wines in burgundy.
Grape varieties that are typical of that region.
75hl/ha
What are the requirements for VDP erste Lage? (5)
“First-class” vineyards with distinctive characteristics and ageing potential.
Equivalent to burgundy premier cru.
Hand harvested and minimum must weight must be enough to qualify for Spatlese.
Must be produced using traditional methods.
Village and vineyard must appear on the label.
What are the requirements for VDP Grosse Lage? (7)
Equivalent of Burgundy grand cru.
Best parcels in the best vineyards.
Outstanding quality wines with ageing potential.
50hl/ha
Dry whites cannot be released until 1st September in the year following the harvest.
Red wines must spend at least 12 months in oak before release in the 2nd September after harvest.
Sweeter pradikat wines may be released on 1st may following harvest.
When is the term Grosses Gewachs used?
For dry wines made from grapes from Grosse Lage.
GG must appear on the label. Vineyard must also appear on the label but not the village.
What are the characteristics of the grape Silvaner?
Early-budding. late ripening.
The best is produced on south, south-east facing slopes of chalky soils around the town of Wurzburg.
What are the defining characteristics of Silvaner in wine?
Full bodied dry wines
With floral and wet stones aromas.
What is Frankens most distinctive wines made from?
Silvaner
What is the climate of Franken?
The most continental region, meaning warmer summers but shorter growing season, cooler autumns and harsh winters.
Percentage of white grape plantings in Franken?
82%
Percentage of white grapes in Mosel and percentage of Riesling?
90% of plantings are white grapes. Riesling makes up 60% of these plantings.
Where are the best vineyards found in Mosel and why?
Middle Mosel. Steep, south facing slopes overlooking the Mosel which enjoy the best sun exposure and to a smaller extent sunshine reflected from the river.
Dark coloured slate also plays an important part in radiating heat.
Riesling wine profile from Mosel?
Paler in colour, lighter in body, lower alcohol and higher acidity that those from elsewhere.
Floral and green fruit aromas.
How do rieslings from Rheingau compare to Mosel and why is there a difference?
Fuller-bodied, with riper fruit characteristics.
Protected from cold northerly winds by the western end of the Taunus Mountains.
The Rhine is also much wider, 1 km across, providing moderating influence on temperature
Why is the region of Ahr different?
It is one of the most northerly regions yet black grape varieties dominate. 83% of plantings in fact.
Made possible because the river Ahr cuts a narrow, sheltered valley with steep, south facing slopes with soil that is heat-retaining dark slate and greywacke.
