Germany and Austria

Question 1

Germany

Answer 1

Cool continental climate

The best vineyards are found on steep slopes, with southern aspect, close to rivers to benefit from heat, sunlight, and for air circulating reducing the risk of frosts.
Slate will be used to absorb and reflect heat.
A right canopy management sees the vines head-pruned, with caned tied in at the top to maximise grapes exposure to sunlight and circulation of air.

Winemaking
- Heavy selection, hand-picked at the best vineyards due to steep slopes.
- SO2 used and monitored to preserve fruitiness
- Whole bunch pressing
- low temperatures
- no use of MLF
- Lees ageing is often used

Question 2

Grape varieties

Answer 2

White grape varieties
Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Silvaner
They vary from dry to sweet. Very aromatic, floral wines with possible lees ageing and bottle development. No oak.

Spatburgunder (pinot noir), Dornfelder

Question 3

Mosel

Answer 3

Riesling and pinot noir made here

Middle Mosel is where best wines are produced
Vineyards are on steep slopes close to the river Rhine, Saar and Ruwer.

The most famous villages are:
Piesport
Bernkastel
Wehlen

Wines produces are dry, light, floral and green fruit flavour.

Question 4

Rheingau

Answer 4

Riesling manly, also pinot noir

Northern part of the river Rhine and Main.

Top villages are:
Johannisberg
Rüdesheim

Fuller bodied, peachy wines

Question 5

Nahe

Answer 5

Riesling

Top village:
Schlossböckelheim

Question 6

Rheinhessen

Answer 6

Riesling mainly

Top village:
- Nierstein

Question 7

Pfalz

Answer 7

Riesling mainly, but also pinot noir and muller are produces

Top villages are:
- Forst
- Deidesheim

Question 8

Baden

Answer 8

Top quality Pinot noir

Best vineyards are on an extinct vulcano soil.

Question 9

Franken

Answer 9

Inexpensive Silvaner white wines

Question 10

Labels terms

Answer 10

On the table can appear:
- grape variety
- Vineyard location
- Trocken - Dry
- Halbstocken - Off dry, medium
- VDP - Independent group that classified their vineyards, grosses Gewächs (GG) can appear (not German wine law)

Question 11

Wine law

Answer 11

Wines are labelled and classified by minimum must weight at harvest.

There are two levels:
1. Qualitatswein - Dry style

2. Pradikatswein, subdivided into six pradikat categories:
   - Kabinett, dry to medium sweet.
   - Spatlese, dry to medium sweet.
   - Auslese, dry to sweet.
   - Beerenuaslese, sweet only.
   - Eiswein, sweet only.
   - Trockenbeerensualese, sweet only.

Question 12

Austria Grape varieties

Answer 12

White grapes
Gruner veltliner are fruity with hints of white pepper, lees and bottle age, no oak.
Welschriesling, riesling similar to Germany

Red grapes
Zweigelt, blaufränkisch, St Laurent

Question 13

Niederosterreich

Answer 13

River Danube

• Wachau is the best area for Gruner and riesling
• Weinviertel produces inexpensive Gruner

Question 14

Burgenland

Answer 14

Top quality red and white wine sweet wines.