Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe Flashcards
Name three interesting facts about Germany.
- Its northmost wine regions are well above the 50th parallel.
- It is among the world’s largest importers of wine.
- It is among the top 10 exporters of wine.
Name three moderating geographical features in Germany.
1) Lake Constance
2) Mosel River
3) Rhine River
In which 3 states are most are most of Germany’s grapes grown?
1) Baden-Wurttemberg
2) Hesse
3) Rhineland-Palatinate
Name 2 ways the rivers in Germany moderate the climate.
1) Flowing water slows the change in temperature
2) River reflects sunlight back onto the vines
Describe the soils in Germany’s top vineyard sites.
Blue or red slate-based soils that absorb solar heat during the day and radiate it back at night.
What is the top white grape in Germany and what four others are popular?
a) Riesling
b) Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Muller-Thurgau, Silvaner
Muller-Thurgau is a cross between ____________ x _________________.
a) Riesling
b) Madeleine Royale
What is another name for Grauburgunder?
Rulander or Pinot Gris
Kerner is a cross between ________________ x __________________.
a) Riesling
b) Schiava Grossa
What is the top red grape in Germany and what four others are popular?
a) Spatburgunder
b) Dornfelder, Blauer Portugieser, Trollinger, Blaufrankisch, St. Laurent
What are the three broad categories of wine in Germany?
1) Wein (formerly Tafelwein)
2) PGI or ggA (geschutzte geographische Angabe, formly Landwein)
3) PDO or gU (geschutzte Ursprungsbezeichnung
What are the requirements of the Wein, ggA and gU categories?
a) very few - Deutscher Wein must be 100% German in origin
b) 85% of grapes must be from 26 Landwein regions
c) must be from one of 13 Anbaugebietes, 100% of grapes must be from place-name on the label
Into what two categories are gU wines divided and what is the key distinction between them?
1) Qualitatswein
2) Pradikatswein
3) Chaptalization is NOT permitted in the Pradikatswein.
What are the six levels of the Pradikat system, from least to most ripe?
1) Kabinett - light bodied
2) Spatlese - late harvest
3) Auslese - select harvest
4) Beerenauslese - selected berries, may be botrytized
5) Eiswein - frozen on the vine
6) Trockenbeerenauslese - selected dried berries
Kabinett grapes may range from ___________ to ___________ Oechsle.
a) 70
b) 85
Anbaugebietes are further divided into which geographical areas, from largest to smallest?
a) Bereiche - region or district
b) Grosslagen - grouping of vineyards
c) Einzellagen - single vineyard
How many Anbaugebietes, Bereiches, Grosslagens and Einzellagens are there currently?
a) 13
b) 40
c) 160
d) 2700+
Name two new PDOs in Germany meant to mimic the appellation system in France and focus more on terroir?
1) Monzinger Niederberg
2) Uhlen Blaufusser Lay
What two villages does the vineyard of Sonnenuhr stretch across?
1) Wehlen
2) Zeltingen
What is the German term for estate-bottled?
Gutsabfullung
What is the German term for producer bottled?
Erzeugerabfullung
What does Abfuller mean on a German wine label?
wine produced at a commercial winery that buys grapes from other sources
What is the Amtliche Prufungsnummber number on a German wine label?
identifies the testing center where the wine was governmentally approved as well as the village of origin and winery of origin
What does VDP stand for and what is it?
a) Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweingutter
b) an organization of top producers committed to terroir
What are the 13 Anbaugebietes of Germany?
1) Ahr
2) Mosel
3) Rheingau
4) Mittelrhein
5) Rheinhessen
6) Pfalz
7) Baden
8) Wurttemberg
9) Sachsen
10) Franken
11) Hessische Berstrasse
12) Nahe
13) Saale-Unstrut
VDP divides wines into which 4 categories from greatest to least quality?
1) Grosse Lage (or Grosse Gewachs, for Trocken)
2) Ernst Lage
3) Orstwein
4) Gutswein
What is “sussreserve” and how does it differ from chaptalization?
a) unfermented grape juice
b) it’s used to increase the sweetness in the finished wine, whereas Chaptalization increased the alcohol in the finished wine
What is the Riesling Taste Profile?
A voluntary diagram producers can add to their labels to indicated the dryness or sweetness of the wine.
How much residual sugar do the following terms indicate?
1) trocken
2) halbtrocken
3) feinherb
4) lieblich, halbsuss
5) suss
1) up to 9 g/l
2) 9-18 g/l
3) same as halbtrocken
4) 18 g/l - 45 g/l
5) more than 45 g/l
What is the labeling term for rose in Germany?
Weissherbst
What are the three dessert wines Germany is known for and what is their Oechsle range?
1) Beerenauslese - 110 - 125
2) Eiswein - 110 - 125
3) Trockenbeerenauslese - 150 - 154
What is the ideal temperature for harvesting Eiswein?
18 degrees F
What is the difference between Schaumwein and Sekt?
Schaumwein (foam wine) is simple, fruity sparking wine made by carbonation method; Sekt is made in tank or sometimes traditional method.
Which tributaries are important in the Mosel?
Saar and Ruwer
Describe the topography of the Mosel?
Very winding rivers, steep banks
Where are the top sites in the Mosel located?
On the north banks (facing south) of the Mosel River.
How many Bereiches and Einzellagens are located in the Mosel?
6 and over 500 - more than any other region.
Bernkastel is a _______________ in ______________________.
a) Bereiche
b) Mosel
Which region in Germany produces just 2% of the countries wine but has a reputation equal to Mosel?
Rheingau
What is the leading grape in the Mosel?
Riesling
What soils are found in the Rheingau?
Red slate
What is the only Bereich in the Rheingau?
Johannisberg
How much production is Riesling in the Nahe?
25%
What is Germany’s leader in both acres under vine and overall wine production?
Rheinhessen
What are the top three grapes in the Rheinhessen?
1) Riesling
2) Muller-Thurgau
3) Dornfelder
Where does the name Pfalz come from?
The Latin word “palatium” meaning palace.
What kind of wine is Pfalz mainly known for?
Simple inexpensive wines.
What is the eastmost wine region in the former West Germany?
Franken
What are the squat green or brown bottles used in Franken called?
Bocksbeutel
What does Hessische Bergstrasse mean?
Hessian Mountain Road
What grapes are grown in Wurtemberg?
Mostly red–Trollinger, Schwarzriesling and Lemberger
Which large wine growing region is comprised of two large disconnect segment and three small satellite areas?
Baden
What is the warmest winegrowing region in Germany?
Baden, specifically the Bereich of Kaiserstuhl
What is the leading grape in Baden?
Spatburgunder
What two former East German regions are the north and eastmost wine regions in Germany respectively, and produce very little wine?
Saschen and Saale-Unstrut
What is the Mittelrhein?
A small region down river from the Rheingau, dotted with small, terraced vineyards planted to Riesling.
Describe the wines of the Ahr?
Relatively high-tannic reds, specifically Spatburgunder, Portugieser and Dornfelder
What soils allow the northern region of the Ahr to retain heat?
Dark slate and greywacke (sandstone)
What two historical factors halted the wine industry in Eastern Europe for many years?
1) World War II
2) Soviet occupation
Which two Eastern European countries remained outside of Communist rule?
1) Austria
2) Switzerland
Why are Swiss wines rarely seen outside the country?
a) they are consumed domestically
b) the exchange rate of franc makes Swiss wine prohibitively expensive
What has helped many Eastern European countries improve their wine production since the fall of the Soviet Union?
The spread of the European region eastward
In years past, Austria was mainly a supplier of ___________ wines for the _______________ wine market.
a) bulk
b) German
What crisis in the 1980s ultimately caused Austrians to tighten controls and focus more on quality wine?
It was discovered that a few brokers chemically altered some wines to increase their richness.
In which 3 states are most Austrian vineyards located?
1) Neiderosterreich (lower Austria)
2) Burgenland
3) Steiermark or Styria
What geographical feature dominates Austria and which area is suitable for winegrowing?
a) the Alps
b) lower hills and plains in the East
What is the climate of Austria?
Cool continental
What German region does the climate of Austria most resemble?
Baden
How many white and red varieties are approved for PGI and PDO production in Austria?
26 white
14 red
How much Austrian production is dedicated to white wine?
66%
What is the signature grape of Austria and how many acres are planted to it?
a) Gruner Veltliner
b) 35,530
What 5 white grapes besides Gruner-Veltliner are grown in Austria?
1) Welschriesling
2) Muller-Thurgau
3) Riesling
4) Weissburgunder
5) Chardonnay
What is Chardonnay known as in Austria?
Morillon
What is the leading red grape in Austria, and what is a cross between?
a) Zweigelt
b) Blaufrankisch x St. Laurent
What are two other names for Blaufrankisch?
a) Lemberger
b) Kekrankos
What is the Austrian measure for must weight and what is its equivalent in a) Brix and b) Oechsle?
a) KMW (Klosterneuburger Mostwaage)
b) 1.2
c) 5
What are the three broad categories of wine in Austria?
1) Wein (formerly Tafelwein)
2) Landwein (PGI)
3) PDO
What is typically included and not included on a Wein level lable in Austria?
Vintage or varietal, but not necessarily place name
What three Weinbauregionens must a Landwein level wine be from?
1) Weinland Osterreich
2) Steierland
3) Bergland
What are the three categories of Austria’s PDO wine?
1) Qualitatswein
2) Pradikatswein
3) DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus)
How much of Austria’s production is PDO level?
About 2/3s.
Where must PDO level wines come from in Austria?
A single Weinbaugebiet, subregion or specifically defined DAC.
What is the minimum KMW grapes must be harvested at to qualify for Qualitatswein and Pradikatswein status?
a) 15
b) 19
What are the two main differences between the German and Austrian Pradikatswein system?
1) Kabinett is the top level of the Qualitatswein in Austria
2) Austria has an additional level for Strohwein or Schilfwein
What are the KMW requires for each Pradikat level in Austria?
1) Spatlese -19 KMW
2) Auslese - 21 KMW (unripe grapes must be removed from bunches
3) Beerenauslese, Strohwein and Schilfwein -25 KMW
4)TBA - 30 KMW (majority of grapes must be botrytis-affected
What are 3 terms used in Wachau only that denote the level of ripeness in a dry wine?
1) Steinfeder (light)
2) Federspiel (medium)
3) Smaragd (full)
What is the reason behind the DAC system in Austria?
To create a terroir-driven system that resembles France’s, and specifics ABV, aging requirements and other details.
What is Bergwein?
“Mountain wine” using grapes grown on steep slopes - at least a 25% gradient
What do “Strohwein” and “Schifwein” mean, and what are the KMW and aging requirements?
a) “straw” - for grapes dried on straw mats
b) “reeds” - fro grapes hung on strings
c) 25 KMW if dried for 3 months; 30 KMW if dried for 2 months
What is the major geographical feature of of Niederosterreich?
The Danube River
Which subregion of Niederosterreich is the largest and must be 100% Gruner Veltliner?
Weinvertel DAC
Which 3 subregions of Niederosterreich have similar climates and make Gruner Veltliner in a lighter style than in Weinvertel, as well as Riesling?
- Traisental DAC
- Kamptal DAC
- Kremstal DAC
What are “Reidens” and what is made there?
a) designated top sites in the DAC of Wachau
b) Gruner Veltliner or Riesling
What was Wagram DAC known as prior to 2007 and what pink-skinned grape is grown there, along with a variety of others?
a) Donauland
b) Roter Veltliner
Which subregion of Neiderosterreich is far from the moderating influence of the Danube and produces a good deal of red wine, including some from unique grapes?
Thermenregion - unique grapes include Rotgipfler and Zierdandler.
Carnumtrum DAC can produce still wines made from 100% of the following 5 varietals?
1) Chardonnay
2) Weissburgunder
3) Gruner Veltliner
4) Blaufrankisch
5) Zweigelt
Which 4 DACs in Burgenland are dedicated to mostly red wine production?
1) Mittelburgundland (Blaufrankisch)
2) Eisenberg (Blaufrankisch)
3) Neuisiedlersee (Zweigelt)
4) Rosalia (both, also Rose)
What is the moderating influence in Burgundland, and what conditions does it create?
a) Lake Neuisiedl
b) Conducive to Botrytis Cinerea
Which DAC in Burgundland is known particularly for its white wines?
Leithaberg DAC
Which DAC is located within the larger Leithaberg DAC and is known for a dessert wine equivalent to TBA in sweetness?
Ruster Ausbruch DAC
What is Muscat called in Austria?
Muskateller
What are the leading varietals in Steiermark?
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
What are the 3 subregions of Steiermark and how many of them are DAC status?
1) Sudsteiermark
2) Vulcanland Steiermark
3) Weststeiermark
4) All of them
Describe the soils and climate of Sudsteiermark DAC?
a) marine sediment in the flatter areas, marl and conglomerate soils on the slopes
b) warm, humid days and cool nights
Which subregion of Steiermark in Austria is known for its volcanic soils?
Vulcanland Steiermark DAC
What wine is Weststeiermark DAC primarily known for and what grape is used to produce it?
a) Schilcher Rose (or Schilcher Klassik)
b) Blauer Wildbacher
What is a “heurigen”?
Seasonal wine taverns in the region of Wien.
What is the name for a traditional wine made in and around Wien comprised of many different varieties fermented together?
Gemischter Satz
What are the rules of the Gemischter Satz DAC?
Must be made from a minimum of 3 approved white varieties, with no more than 50% of a single varietal and no less than 10%. The grapes must be processed together AND grown side by side in the vineyard.
What is the signature white grape of Hungary?
Furmint
What are a) the famous dessert wine and b) the best-known red wine from Hungary?
a) Tokaji Aszu
b) Egri Bikaver
What does “Egri Bikaver” mean and what is it made from?
a) Bull’s Blood of Eger
b) Kadarka blended with Kekrankos, Kekporto and others
What is the additional requirement of Egri Bikaver Superior?
At least 5 of the recommended varieties must be used.
Where is Tokaji Aszu produced?
In the Tokaj PDO in Northern Hungary.
What are the principle grapes of Tokaji Aszu?
Furmint, Harslevelu, Kqbar, Koverszolo, Sargamuskatoly, Zeta
Describe the process of making Tokaji Aszu?
Late-harvested, botrytis-affected grapes are mashed into a based and mixed with a normally fermented base wine for a day or two. The wine is then racked, and aged in small casks for a few years in underground tunnel, where yeast similar to flor begin to form.
What is Eszencia called in English?
Essencia.
Describe Tokaji Eszencia
Made from the free run juice of mostly botrytized, hand selected grapes; requires a minimum of 45 g/L, takes years to ferment and results in a wine with 5-6% ABV
What historical events effected the Croatian wine industry negatively and positively over the last century?
a) war and communist dictatorship
b) independence (1991) and the EU (2013)
Which red grape is identical to Zinfandel and believed to be native to Croatia?
Crljenak Kastelanski–also known as Tribidrag and Primativo
What red grape is a close relative to Crljenak Kastelanski?
Plavac Mali
What is the most widely planted white grape in Croatia?
Grasavina (Welschriesling)
What are the two main wine regions of Croatia, where are they located and by what are they separated?
a) Kontinentalna Hrvatska
b) Primorska Hrvatska
c) Inland and Coastal
d) Dinaric Alps
What are the major geographical features of Croatia?
Dinaric Alps and the Adriatic Sea
What are the 5 leading grapes in Switzerland?
1) Chasselas
2) Fendant
3) Pinot Noir
4) Gamay
5) Merlot
Why is so little Swiss wine available outside Switzerland?
It’s consumption is three times its production, and the value of the Swiss Franc makes Swiss wine very expensive.
What is the governing body of wine in Switzerland and why does it have 3 official titles?
a) OIC
b) One title in each of the country’s official languages–French, Germany and Italian
What are the two major geographical influences in Switzerland?
1) the Swiss Alps
2) Lake Geneva
What are the important geographical feature of Romania?
a) the Carpathian Mountains
b) the Danube River
c) the Black Sea
What are the leading indigenous grapes of Romania?
Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regalia, Feteasca Neagra
What is the oldest appellation in Romania?
Tarnava DOC
What appellation in Romania is well-known for sweet wine and where is it located?
a) Cotnari DOC
b) Moldavian Hills
Which Eastern European country was a major volume exporter of wine as late as the 1970s-80s?
Bulgaria
What are the geographical features of Bulgaria?
1) Danube River
2) Danube Plains
3) Black Sea
Name 3 white grapes native to Bulgaria?
1) Rkatsiteli
2) Dimiat
3) Misket Chervon
What 5 red grapes are considered native to Bulgaria?
1) Mavrud
2) Gamza (Kadarka)
3) Rubin
4) Melnik
5) Pamid
Which indigenous Bulgarian grape is a cross between Syrah and Nebbiolo?
Rubin
Which Eastern European country is considered the crossroads of wine production, and why?
a) Slovenia
b) It shares a border with 4 wine producing countries–Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Austria
How are wines categorized in Slovenia and how many of each are there?
a) PDO is ZOP
b) 14
c) PGI is ZGO
d) 3
What are the 3 ZGOs in Slovenia?
1) Podravje ZGO - inland, more than half the wine is produced here, located in river valleys
2) Primorksa ZGO - located on the Adriatic sea, shares a border with Italy
3) Posavje ZGO - means “lower Sava,” smallest and most traditional region
Which Slovenian region is an extension of Italy’s Collio Goriziano?
Goriska Brda
What is Pinot Noir called in Slovenia?
Modri Pinot
What are the traditional aging vessels in Georgia known as?
Qrevri or Krevri - large, egg-shaped earthenware vessels
What are the leading white and red grapes of Georgia?
a) Rkatsiteli - white, crisp, floral
b) Saperavi - red, high alcohol
What is the wine law in Georgia called?
Law of Georgia on Wine and Vine
What subspecies of Vitis Vinifera is believed to native to Georgia
Vitis Vinifera Silvestris
What fortified wine is made in Crimea?
Etalita
Which Eastern European country arguably has the best wine growing conditions?
Crimea
Which Crimean wine won the “Grand Prix de Champagne” at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, and from which winery?
“Brut Paradiso” from Novy Svet Winery.
