Germany Breakdown Flashcards
The Growing Environment and Grape Growing
Inexpensive wines with medium sweetness - Liebfraumilch - popular in 1980s. After WWII, grapes that could ripen reliably year on year, such as Müller Thurgau, were usually a key part of the blend. At the same time, Germany began a program of vineyard restructuring known as Flurbereinigung that involved the consolidation of many small, fragmented vineyards and the building of access roads
With the exception of Baden, Germany’s main wine-producing regions lie around 49–50°N, making them amongst the most northerly in the world. Overall, the climate is cool and continental.
Most of Germany’s vineyards are situated along the river Rhine and its tributaries. The rivers play a vital role in radiating heat; moderating temperature and extending the growing season. The best vineyards are often on steep, south- facing slopes to maximum sun exposure. Some of the slopes are extremely steep, reaching gradients of 70 per cent overlooking the Mosel.
Summers are warm but also wet; rainfall averages between 500 and 800 mm and much of it falls in the summer. This increases the risk of fungal disease, dilution of grapes and, in heavy storms, hail. Autumns, however, are long and dry, allowing for long ripening periods during which grapes can develop the high levels of natural sugar required for Prädikatswein and the morning mists along the rivers are ideal for the development of botrytis.
In Mosel and Ahr, for example, dark-coloured slate soil retains heat during the day and radiates it out again at night. There are significant pockets of calcareous soils. In Baden, Pfalz and Rheinhessen, pockets of calcareous soil are planted with Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Chardonnay, whilst in Franken, it produces some of the best Silvaner. Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) prefers heavy, more clayey soil
Germany had the seventh largest area under vine in Europe
VSP trellising and Pendelbogen (replacement-cane pruning with the canes arched in the trellis)
61% white, 39% red
list top 7 grapes:
- *Riesling - 23%**
- *Muller-Thurgau**
- *Spatburgunder - 11.5%**
- *Dornfelder**
- *Grauburgunder**
- *Weissburgunder**
- *Silvaner**
The 9 principal wine-producing regions in Germany (Anbaugebiete) are as follows, ranked by size of production (note that the four highest-producing regions – Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Baden and Württemberg – produce almost 80 per cent of Germany’s wine), Mosel, Franken, Nahe, Rheingau, Ahr.
Winemaking
Due to the cool temperatures, enrichment is a relatively common practice, although it is not permitted for Prädikatswein. Most of Germany’s wine regions fall within EU Zone A, allowing enrichment of up to 3% abv; Baden is in Zone B, for which the maximum enrichment is 2% abv.
Fermentation in stainless steel has become the norm. Grapes destined for Beerenauslese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese have very high must weights and fermentation will usually proceed very slowly. Techniques for the production of red wine vary according to quality and price.
Wine Laws and Regulations
The fifth German wine law in 1971 has laid the foundation for modern German wine production, establishing protected geographical labelling and classification of wine styles based on must weights
There are four quality levels of German wine which are in increasing order of must weight:
Deutscher Wein - 4% of production, 8.5-15%abv
Landwein - German equivalent of PGI wine, 8.5-15%abv, only trocken and halbtrocken
Qualitätswein - The grapes must come exclusively from one of 13 designated quality wine regions (Anbaugebiete), the name of which must appear on the label. min 7%abv, enrichment permitted, must undergo analysis and receive and AP #
Prädikatswein - The grapes must come exclusively from a Bereich, the Anbaugebiete must appear on label. The levels are: Kabinett, Spatlese (late harvest), Auslese (extra ripe), Beerenauslese (individually selected berries and must therefore be harvested by hand), Eiswein (must be picked at -7C), Trockenbeerenauslese (grapes must have been affected by botrytis)
Sweetness labeling terms:
- *Trocken** - dry
- *halbtrocken** - off-dry
- *lieblich** - medium sweet
- *suss** - sweet
Because the band of permitted must weights is relatively wide, especially for Auslese, some producers have adopted other, unofficial, methods of indicating wines produced from grapes with higher must weights and which therefore have riper, more concentrated flavours. Goldkapsel (or ‘gold capsule’) which designates wines that are characterised by botrytis; in some cases, shorter capsules indicate wines with higher levels of concentration than the average Auslese and longer capsules a further level above that.
individual vineyard sites (Einzellagen) and collective vineyard sites (Grosslagen). Einzellage and Grosslage names may only be used on Qualitätswein and Prädikatswein labels. They must usually be preceded by name of the village where the vineyard(s) are located
The VDP has established stricter regulations regarding grape growing and winemaking than those imposed by the German wine laws, including much lower maximum yields, higher minimum must weights and growing predominantly the traditional grape varieties for their particular region.
VDP Gutswein - similar in style to generic or regional wines in Burgundy
VDP Ortswein - equivalent of village wines in Burgundy
VDP erste Lage - equivalent to Burgundy premier cru. Grapes must be harvested by hand and must be at least ripe enough to qualify for Spätlese status.
VDP grosse Lage - The equivalent to Burgundy grand cru. Permitted grape varieties differ according to the Anbaugebiete. Dry white wines cannot be released until 1st September in the year following the harvest. Red wines must spend at least 12 months ageing in oak and cannot be released until 1st September in the year after that. Dry wines designated Grosses Gewächs.
Rheingau Charta - The term Erstes Gewächs was introduced for the best sites in Rheingau. Must be Riesling or Spatburgunder.
Principal Wine Regions
Rheinhessen: sheltered by various mountain ranges including the Hunsrück and Taunus. The majority of its vineyards are planted on the warm, fertile valley floors which are ideal for the production of high volume, inexpensive wines: Liebfraumilch originated from Worms in the southern Rheinhessen. Top white grapes are Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder. Dornfelder is the leading black variety. bulk production.
Pfalz: A narrow strip of vineyards squeezed between the Haardt Mountains to the west and the Rhine plain to the east: unusually for Germany, the vineyards of Pfalz are not centred along a river valley. Top white grapes are Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder. Dornfelder most planted red. Due to the warmer temperatures, Pfalz wines tend to be slightly fuller-bodied with riper fruit flavours than those from Rheinhessen. The climate also suggests considerable potential for red wine production.
Baden: The main vineyard area is situated on the eastern side of the Rhine opposite Alsace and also benefits from the rain shadow of the Vosges. This, coupled with its relatively southerly latitude, overall makes Baden Germany’s warmest, sunniest and driest wine- producing regions. Known for red wines. Spatburgunder most planted grape, but 59% of plantings are still white. Muller-Thurgau most planted white.
Wurttemberg: Württemberg currently produces mainly light, fruity red wines which are mostly consumed on the domestic market. 68 per cent of plantings are black grape varieties.
Mosel: Whites make up over 90 per cent of plantings and Riesling over 60 per cent on its own. The Mosel is generally split into three sections: the Upper Mosel, Middle Mosel (best vineyards) and Lower Mosel. About 20 per cent of the region’s wine is produced by the Moselland co-operative in Bernkastel, making it the world’s largest producer of Riesling.
Franken: Franken has the most continental climate of Germany’s principal wine region, meaning warmer summers but a shorter growing season with cooler autumns and harsh winters. Spring frosts are a particular hazard. 82% white grapes. The most planted variety is Müller-Thurgau. Silvaner, is 2nd most planted grape and produces some of the region’s best and most distinctive wines. Riesling makes up a relatively small proportion of plantings.
Nahe: This is predominantly a white wine region: white varieties account for just over three- quarters of all plantings with Riesling leading the way at nearly 30 per cent. Mainly small estates. Dornfelder most planted red.
Rheingau: highly prestigious region producing some of Germany’s highest quality and most ageworthy Rieslings. Across the river from Rheinhessen, it is also protected from cold, northerly winds by the western end of the Taunus Mountains, which, along with the south-facing aspect of its vineyards, means that Rieslings here can be fuller-bodied, with riper fruit characteristics than those of the Mosel. The focus is primarily on quality. Yields are lower than average for Germany. White wines dominate, accounting for 86 per cent of plantings, with Riesling being especially dominant here (making up 78 per cent alone). The majority of these wines are made in a dry style. Also known for boytritized sweet wines.
Ahr: black grape varieties dominate, with 83 per cent of plantings. This is made possible because the river Ahr cuts a narrow, sheltered valley with steep, south-facing slopes and the soil is dominated by heat-retaining dark slate and greywacke (a dark sandstone).
Wine Business
The top five export markets by volume are the USA, the Netherlands, the UK, Norway and Sweden.
