Germany Copied & Amended Flashcards
What are the 2 main Red wine grapes in Germany?
What are 3 other red varietals?
Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Dornfelder
Portugieser, Trollinger, Schwarzriesling (Meunier)
Name 3 Mosel villages with a reputation for making top quality wine
Piesport
Bernkastel-Kues
Wehlen
What does a ‘goldkapsel’ typically indicate?
In which 2 regions of Germany is it used?
What does a longer Goldkapsel indicate?
- A reserve wine which is characterised by botrytis
- Mosel / Rheingau
- A short goldkapsel means a level above Auslese in terms of concentration and a longer one means further level above that.
The red Trollinger grape is the most planted variety in which Anbaugebiet?
2 synonyms for this grape and where they are used:
- Wurttemberg
- Vernatsch (Südtirol, Alto-Adige), Schiava (Trentino)
What does Bereich or Grosslage on a German wine label mean?
Bereich refers to a region - there are 40 in Germany
Grosslage refers to generally a large collection of vineyards
What is the most prestigious sector of the Rheinterrasse?
Composed of what kind of soil?
Located between which 2 villages?
An example of a premier producer from this area?
- The Roter Hang.
- Red Clay
- Nierstein and Nackenheim
- Gunderloch
Region known for blue slate soils and excellent Riesling
Mosel
Describe a typical Trockenbeerenauslese wine:
- Always contains Noble Rot.
- Sweet and low in alcohol
- Flavours of honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers.
Wines from this region are often packaged in a flask-shaped Bocksbeutel
Franken
Which 2 types of wine have historically cast a negative shadow over the reputation of the Rheinhessen?
Blue Nun and Liebfraumilch.
The largest wine region of Germany in terms of both area under vine and wine production
Rheinhessen
Translating as “selected harvest,” these German wines are made from grapes that have reached a required level of sugar
Auslese
Which producers’ organization is focused solely on the production of Rheingau wines?
What was their main goal?
THE RHEINGAU CHARTA
- Introduced 1984
- Promote dry wines from best vineyard sites of Rheingau
- Term Erstes Gewachs introduced best sites in Rheingau; Legally protected term
- Wines must be exclusively from Riesling or Spatburgunder;
- Hand harvested from lower yielding vineyards
- Dry with must weight equivalent to Spatlese
- In 1999, members of Charta joined VDP
- top sites, which were ‘Erstes Gewachs’ can now be labelled as GG - Grosses Gewachs
What is the most widely planted white grape variety in Germany?
Riesling
What are the 7 most important wine-growing regions in Germany?
What are the 6 others?
Mosel, Nahe, Pfalz, Baden, Rheinhessen, Rheingau, Franken.
Ahr, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Hessiche Bergtrasse, Mittelrhein.
An organization of German wine estates committed to terroir-driven viticulture
VDP (Verband Deutscher Pradikastweinguter)
VDP producers never chaptalize their wines.
True or False?
False
Which region am I?
I am the warmest and most southerly region and I produce the fullest bodied German wines with the highest alcohols.
My vineyards are spread over a large geographic area but I am only the 3rd largest vine growing region in Germany.
My best vineyards are on the south facing slopes of an extinct volcano.
Riesling plantings are few here and I’m most famous for my Spatsburgunder.
Baden
The Taunus Mountains are a defining geographical feature in which Anbaugebiet?
Rheingau
Which grape is known in Germany as Grauburgunder?
Pinot Gris / Grigio
Most widely planted red grape in Germany
Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder)
This area may contain a single vineyard or a small group of vineyards. There are approximately 2,700 of these areas in Germany.
Einzellage
Describe a typical Beerenauslese wine:
- Usually contains Noble Rot.
- Sweet and low in alcohol with
- Flavours of honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers.
What climate is most of Germany?
Describe the climate
Cool Continental
Summers can be wet but dry Autumn allowing long final ripening period
The lowest ripeness level of the German Pradikat
Kabinett
German Label term that may be used on a dry wine produced from a VDP Grosse Lage vineyard
Grosses Gewachs
Name 5 ways in which vineyards in Germany are able to attain extra warmth:
- Proximity to rivers (Mosel, Rhine)
- Sunlight reflected from the water’s surface.
- Steep slopes with southern exposure maximizes available heat and sunlight.
- Slate soils retain heat.
- Vines are individually staked and canes are tied at the top in order to maximize grape exposure and air circulation.
Which of the following German wine regions is located farthest north?
Baden, Wurttemberg, Franken, Ahr
Which region in Germany is highest north overall?
Ahr.
Saale-Unstrut
Describe a typical, classic Mosel Riesling:
Body / Acidity / Alcohol
Typical flavors:
- Typically delicate, lighter in body, rarely over 8% abv, and higher in acidity then other regions in Germany.
- Green fruit, slate, flowers and candle wax flavours predominate.
German term for Unfermented grape juice that is sometimes used to increase the sweetness in a wine
Süssreserve
Generally speaking where are the best sites for growing grapes found in Germany, and what kind of aspect do they have?
On steep and often stony slopes of rivers.
with a Southerly aspect to maximise available heat and sunlight
Describe a typical Kabinett wine:
Kabinett:
- the most delicate Pradikatswein.
- light body with high acidity
- flavours of green apple or citrus fruit balanced with some possible residual sweetness.
- 8~9% alcohol but can reach 12% with my drier styles
Of the following list of terms, which indicates the highest level of ripeness?
Beerenauslese, Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese
Beerenauslese
Germany has 13 of these designated wine regions.
Anbaugebieten
Which of the following terms is used to refer to the 13 designated wine regions in Germany?
Grosslagen, Anbaugebiete, Einzellagen, Bereiche
Anbaugebiete
Which country imports and drinks the most German wine - USA, Netherlands, UK?
USA
What is the correct order of German Prädikatswein from lowest to highest sugar levels of the grapes?
Kabinett,
Spätlese,
Auslese,
Beernauslese / Eiswein (tied),
Trokenbeernauslese
The vineyards of Pfalz are essentially a continuation of ___.
It is the ___ largest region in Germany.
Pfalz is the ____ German region and vines can suffer from _____ ___.
The most planted varietal is ____ followed by ____ and ____.
The best vineyards are located on _____ to ____.
Rieslings produced here are typically:
- a continuation of the vineyards of Alsace.
- second largest.
- the driest of the German regions and vines can suffer from water stress.
- Riesling, Dornfelder, Muller-Thurgau.
- The best vines are planted on steep slopes to the west.
- ripe, fuller bofdied style of Riesling.
Term used for German sparkling wine
Sekt
German Label term that indicates a medium-sweet wine
Lieblich
Define the following German wine label terms:
Anbaugebiete
Gemeinde
Einzellage
Prädikat
Anbaugebiete: 1 of 13 classified wine-growing regions e.g. Mosel
Gemeinde: Village, e.g. Piesport
Einzellage: Single vineyard site, e.g. Würtzgarten
Prädikat: Level of ripeness (grape must weight) at time of harvest, e.g. Kabinett
What is the second most-planted red grape in Germany?
Dornfelder
In which wine region will you find the ‘Rheinterrasse’?
What does this term refer to?
Rheinhessen.
Steeply sloping vineyards on the west bank of the Rhine, producing some of the fullest-bodied Rieslings in Germany.
German wines of additional ripeness made from grapes picked after a designated date; translates as “late harvest”
Spätlese
In the context of the German wine industry, which of the following terms refers to the most specific area?
Anbaugebiet, Grosslage, Bereich, Einzellage
Einzellage
German Wines made from individually picked, overripe berries that are often affected by botrytis
Trockenbeerenauslese
German term translating as “selected berries,” these are sweet wines that may be affected by botrytis
Beerenauslese
A German table wine made from 100% German grapes
Deutscher wein
What is the name of Germany’s southernmost wine region?
Baden
Which of the following Anbaugebiete typically produces the most full-bodied styles of dry Riesling?
A. Mosel
B. Nahe
C. Rheingau
D. Pfalz
D. Pfalz
Describe a typical Spätlese wine:
- Kabinett’s big brother.
- More concentrated, riper and slightly more full-bodied.
- Usually higher alcohol and, where relevant, sweetness.
- Citrus & Stone Fruit aromas (peach and apricot).
Category of German PDO wines that does not allow for chaptalization
Pradikatswein may NOT.
Of the following German quality standards which if any are PDO’s?
1) Qualitätswein
2) Prädkatswein
3) Deutscher Wein
4) Landwein
1 and 2
In which month does the German Riesling harvest typically begin?
September
List the 4 quality levels of VDP wines from highest to lowest:
Grosse Lage
Erste Lage
Ortswein
Gutswein
How does a winemaker ensure the best sweeter Kabinett wines retain some sweetness?
By stopping fermentation early by chilling and filtering out yeast from the wine.
Explain how Botrytis contributes to the style of TBA Riesling:
- Botrytis contricutes to high levels of acidity and sugar by causing water molecules to evaporate.
- Botrytis imparts unique flavors/aromas of honey, apricot, dried fruit and citrus zest.
- The wine is also rich in texture due to high sugar levels.
True or False; Noble Rot (Botrytised) sweet wines can be made in every region in Germany?
True
Wine region that lies west of the Rhine River, with its southern edge stretching almost to Alsace
Pfalz
Which is not a typical method of making a sweet wine in Germany?
Chill and filter the wine during fermentation
Sussreserve
Fortification
Naturally Sweet
Fortification
The minimum actual alcohol content required for German Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese is _____%.
The minimum actual alcohol content required for German Beerenauslese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese is ____%
- 7%
- 5.5%
Müller-Thurgau is a German crossing of which 2 grapes?
Riesling and Madeleine Royale
Region with the most Einzellagen (over 500)
Mosel
How are vines pruned and trained on steep vineyards in the Mosel?
Head pruned, individually staked with the canes tied in at the top of the stake to maximise grape exposure to light and air circulation.
What is the expected range of alcohol for a traditional, off-dry style of Mosel Kabinett?
-7-9%
What is the word used as an alternative to halbtrocken?
What do these words indicate?
Feinherb
These labels indicate that a wine is off-dry or medium-dry.
Which of the following German wine regions is largely planted to red grapes?
Mosel, Hessische Bergstrasse, Wurttemberg, Mittelrhein
Wurttemberg
Term used for off-dry German wines
Halbtrocken / Feinherb
Which 2 regions have the most significant plantings of Silvaner?
Rheinhessen / Franken
German Label term that typically refers to a wine with a sugar level of 9g/L or less
Trocken
Describe a typical, classic Rheingau Riesling:
Sweetness / Body / Acidity
Typical flavors:
Other styles of wine made?
- Over 50% of wines are made in a dry style,
- Medium to full body with bracing acidity, more powerful than Mosel rieslings.
- Typical peachy flavors.
Some of Germany’s best BA & TBA wines are made here too.
What is the Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter?
The VDP is an independent association of over 200 German wine producers.
Committed to quality by emphasizing the tradition of making dry Riesling from the best terroir/vineyard sites.
More restrictive classification of Einzellage, designed to emulate the “Grand Cru” system.
German name for Pinot Blanc
Weissburgunder
Select the German Anbaugebiet most associated with Pinot Noir.
A. Ahr
B. Nahe
C. Mosel
D. Rheinhessen
A. Ahr
Region that is home to six Bereiche, including Bernkastel, Saar, and Ruwertal
Mosel
Term used to denote all German PDO wines
Qualitatswein
A VDP term for the top dry white wine from a vineyard that is a named Grosse Lage?
Grosses Gewaches
In terms of quality level and sweetness, what is the next style in the sequence - Kabinett, Spatlese, _______?
Auslese
Describe a typical Auslese wine:
- Made from individually selected extra-ripe bunches of grapes.
- Can be dry or sweet
- Richer and riper than its little brothers.
- Sometimes has some Noble Rot.
Why is the Mosel considered a challenging region for wine production?
What do workers use to harvest grapes here?
- The best vineyards are found on very steep slopes, with slate soils, right next to the river. Without a perfect aspect and steep gradient, Riesling will fail to ripen.
- Grapes must be hand-harvested. Workers use cable systems and winches to access cliff-side vines.
Category of German PDO wines that allows for chaptalization
Qualitatswein.
A wine with the term Grosses Gewächs on the label means?
The wine is Dry from a top producer on a top site.
The wines must come from Nahe
The wines come from Deidesheim and are not very good.
The wines are Deutscher Wein made in huge quantities.
The wine is Dry from a top producer on a top site.
Describe a typical Silvaner:
Made in both dry and sweet styles.
Generally less acidic and less overtly fruity than Riesling.
Can sometimes have an earthy quality.
Which wine region am I?
White grapes predominate here but Riesling is not widely planted nor is it considered very prestigious and Silvaner is held in highest regard.
My best vineyards are on south facing slopes.
Franken
Describe a typical TBA Riesling:
Sweet wines, low in alcohol with flavors of honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers.
Describe a typical Eiswein:
- Made quite rarely from frozen grapes
- Balance between acidity and sweetness.
- Noble Rot plays no part.
Trockenbeerenauslese is Germany’s sweetest and most expensive category of German wine. What is its minimum alcohol content - 5.5%, 7.5%, 9,5%
5.5%
Rheinhessen is the ___ vine-growing region in Germany.
The 2 most planted varieties are:
The best vineyards are on ____ on the ___ bank of the River ___
Rielsings produced here are typically ____ bodied
- Largest vine growing region
- Muller-Thurgau & Riesling are the two most planted varieties.
- The best vineyards are on the steep slopes on the west bank of the river.
- Some of the fullest bodied Rieslings in Germany.
Which of the following German wine regions is the largest, both in terms of area under vine and wine production?
Rheinhessen, Baden, Ahr, Mosel
Rheinhessen
Which term best describes a wine where Individual grapes are selected that are infected with botrytis to the point that they have dried out and are shrivelled up”?
Spätlese
Troken
Trokenbeernauslese (TBA)
Kabinett
Trokenbeernauslese (TBA)
German Label term that while legally undefined, generally refers to an off-dry wine
Feinherb
The practice of adding sugar to must before fermentation
Chaptalization
If a German wine is described as Trocken, is it dry or sweet?
Dry
What are the two PDO categories in Germany?
Qualitatswein
Pradikatswein
Which of these Prädikaswein levels can be dry?
Auslese
Beerenauslese
Trokenbeernauslese,
Eiswein
Auslese
Which of the following grapes is known in Germany as Weissburgunder?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Silvaner, Chardonnay
Pinot Blanc
In Germany, why are rivers helpful to vineyards?
- Reflected sunlight can help grapes ripen
- Air movement created by flowing water can help protect against frosts.
- Bodies of water help moderate (warm) temperatures of the land adjacent to them.
Why might it take weeks to harvest a single vineyard?
Because grapes (and final wines) are classified by Must Weight (Öechsle range). Pickers will pass through the vineyard several times to ensure they get the ideal grapes for each category of wine.
Plantings of red grapes now account for approximately what percentage of Germany’s vineyards - 15%, 25%, 39%?
And what are the two top red varietals planted in Germany?
39%
Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Dornfelder
Which wine area produces the most wine - Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz?
Rheinhessen
What term can VDP producers put on their dry Qualitatswein?
Grosses Gewachs
This small area produces only 2% of Germany’s wines, yet its wines enjoy an excellent reputation
Nahe
Has over 85% of its vines planted to red grapes, despite its northerly location
Ahr
German name for Pinot Gris
Grauburgunder
The vineyards of Nahe are situated on which river, between which 2 regions?
The rieslings made here generally fall between which 2 styles?
- River Nahe, between the Mosel to the west and Rheinhessen to the east.
- Generally sweeter than Mosel rieslings, not as concentrated as those from Rheingau.
Three regions are especially known for their production of red wine, name one?
Ahr, Baden, Wurttemberg
Bernkastel and Piesport are both villages in?
Pfalz
Mosel
Rheinhessen
Nahe
Mosel
What techniques are used to ensure good fruit ripeness in Germany’s marginal climate?
- better clonal selection
- summer pruning - to remove vegetative growth around fruiting zone
- green harvesting - removal of bunches prior to veraison to improve ripeness of remaining bunches
- selective hand harvesting
What role does topography play in German viticulture?
Topography
o Steep slopes – and southerly facing are needed in places to achieve good sunlight interception and maximise ripeness
o Slopes next to rivers mitigate risk of frost
o Viticulture on these slopes
vines are traditionally staked individually with canes tied on top
labour intensive and specialist skills required
all but steepest use single & double replacement cane pruning with VSP trellising & Pendelbogen
high cost of viticulture on slopes – limited ability to mechanise
only Riesling can justify the high cost of steep slopes
o Valley bottoms & plains: wire trained, rows up to 3m apart to allow mechanisation; hi yields; grapes for Beerenauslese and above, must be handpicked, increasing costs
describe the training methods used in Germany
Training methods
o Traditionally individually staked with canes tied at the top
o now Pendelbogen: Replacement cane pruned with canes arched in the trellis system; arching of canes thought to improve flow of sap in vine, increasing no. of viable buds, yields
o all but steepest use single & double replacement cane pruning with VSP trellising
Red grapes plantings have increased in Germany, why?
Increasing plantings of Red grapes - now 39% of total plantings
o Better clones of Spatburgunder and Dornfelder
o Better vineyard practices
o Increasing temperatures so able to obtain ripeness
Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder in Germany?
Grauburgunder & Weissburgunder:
o Sizeable plantings in Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Baden since 1990’s
o Both produce V good quality; some aged in Oak
o Grauburgunder likes heavier soils (clay); Medium Acidity; Aromas of Stone fruit, Tropical (sometimes dried) fruit & honey; Dry,Medium to Full body, sweeter wines (often labelled Rulander)
o Weissburgunder : well balanced, Medium (+) Acidity, delicate Citrus & Stone fruit
In Germany chaptalisation has been a common practice. Give the background to this practice and explain the legalities.
o Chaptalisation (Anreicherung) & must Enrichment
o Common practice due to cool temperatures and inability to fully ripen the fruit, but not allowed for Pradikatswein
o Zone A allowed for all wines up to (but not) Prädikatswein level. Max +3% in bad years;
o Baden in Zone B. max enrichment 2%
o The enrichment can’t increase the ‘total alcohol’, which includes potential alcohol to:
Zone A 11.5% for white wines
Zone B 12% for white wines
What are the two generic types of red winemaking in Germany?
Red wine:
Inexpensive
o early drinking styles made
o undergo thermovinification for quick extraction of colour & flavour
o Wine fermented off skins; fruity ; low tannins; no oak
Premium
o especially Pinot Noir
o cold macerated, whole bunch fermentation
o maturation in Oak common
The four levels of German wine are?
4 Quality levels – increasing order
o Deutscher Wein
o Landwein
o Qualitatswein
o Pradikatswein
Deutscher Wein?
Deutscher Wein (“Tafelwein” before 2009) – 2% of production
o Lowest classification (EU max yield of 150 hL/Ha.)
o produced exclusively from German produce (in opposition to EU blends)
o 8.5-15%ABV; produced in any style
o Inexpensive; early drinking
o concentration (evaporation of grape must under vacuum) or enrichment: adding dry-cane or beet- sugar, or rectified concentrated grape must (RCGM), to the unfermented juice authorized and common practice
What are the terms generally used in Germany to indicate levels of sweetness? and what do these terms mean?
Trocken:
o Dry
o With no more than 4 g/l RS; usually with Riesling
HalbTrocken:
o Off Dry
o Between 4-12 g/l RS
Lieblich:
o Medium /Medium Sweet
o Between 12-45 g/l RS
Suss:
o Wines with more than 45 g/l RS
Einzellage?
Einzellagen (plural) and Einzellage (singular)
o Single vineyard sites
o 2658 registered einzellagen
o from 1 ha to over 200 ha;
o Avg is 38 ha.
o Most split between different owners
Grosslage?
Grosslagen and Grosslage (singular)
o much bigger - from 600-1800 ha;
o comprising several Einzellage
o 167 registered
o Grosslage different from Grosse Lage (one of the top vineyards in the VDP classification)
name the four VDP classifications
And give a brief description of each one
Gutswein
Ortswein
Erste Lage
Grosse Lage
Rheinhessen produces how much of Germany’s wine production?
And what percentage is white production?
Rheinhessen produces 25% of German wine production
71% is white wine production
Rheinhessen is famous for its production of inexpensive high volume wines but what area is known for its small high quality production?
Terraces along the Rhine : Rheinterrasse
Stretch of steeply sloping vineyards on west bank of river around Nierstein & Oppenheim
East facing aspect receives morning sun enhancing ripeness
Riesling – shows ripe lemon and peach flavours
Proximity to Rhine; Moderating influence; evening temps warmer; extending ripening period
Roterhang
- Special area of vineyards near Nierstein
- Rotliegenden: Iron rich red soil, of slate, Clay, Sandstone
- top quality wines which show smoky characteristics
Wine production in the Pfalz can be divided into primarily two areas, name them and describe their key points.
Wine production in the Pfalz
o Wines tend to be fuller bodied with riper flavours than Rheinhessen due to warmer climate
o Mittelhaardt
high quality, riper, full bodied Rieslings
o Sudliche Weinstrasse
inexpensive wine production mainly
but new winemakers focussing on quality from ‘Burgunder’varietals – Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder and Spatburgunder
Describe the soil and topography of the Ahr valley
The Ahr valley:
steep sided and narrow valley
soils are dark coloured, from slate and greywacke
Above what latitude north is the Ahr valley located?
50 degrees north
What is the Ahr valley best known for?
high quality examples of Spatburgunder
Style is:
dry with high tannins
ripe with spicy notes
aged in barrel
Today, what percentage of Germany’s wine production is exported?
10%
Silvaner grape and styles made?
Silvaner (Sylvaner in Alsace):
- Plantings have halved since 1980’s
- lower acidity, less aromatic than Riesling
- Produces large amounts of simple inexpensive wines – with flavours ranging from green fruit to tropical fruit
- 2 styles
- Inexpensive, subtle fruit aromas - green fruit to tropical fruit
- Lower yields in Franken; produces high quality; dry, medium body, medium to medium (+) Acidity, distinctive earthy characteristic
Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder - where are they mainly grown and details on wine styles
Grauburgunder & Weissburgunder:
- Sizeable plantings in Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Baden since 1990’s
- Both produce V good quality; some aged in Oak
- Grauburgunder
- likes heavier soils (clay)
- Medium Acidity
- Aromas of Stone fruit, Tropical (sometimes dried) fruit & honey
- Dry, Medium to Full body
- sweeter wines (Rulander)
- Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc):
- well balanced
- Medium (+) Acidity
- delicate Citrus & Stone fruit
Muller-Thurgau, describe it
- Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner)
- An early German cross
- Produced high yields and ripened earlier than Riesling
- Used in Liebfraumilch
What were the traditional vessels used for fementation and maturation in Germany?
- Traditionally wines were fermented, matured in Large Oak casks to allow for some oxygenation; some producers of Riesling still do
- Range of wooden casks used
- Traditional fermentation vats 1,000 litre Fuder and 1,200 litre Stuck
- Use of German Oak, especially Pflaz for larger vessels
- French Oak for smaller vessels, such as barriques
Silvaner in Franken is well regarded, give some details on the variety and wines made in Franken
-
Silvaner:
- 2nd most planted;
- Regions most distinctive wines and highest quality
- Early budding; early ripening; can reach ripeness before temps fall
- Susceptible to Spring frost
- Tends to get best sites, less frost prone
- V good Silvaner on S & SE facing slopes on chalky soils near Wurzburg:
- Full body, dry with Floral and wet stone aromas
Kabinett wine under the Pradikatswein classification?
Kabinett
- Lowest must weights
- Lightest Body; highest in Acid
- Dry to Medium sweet; Can be as low as 7% (legal min) -12%ABV
- From grapes ripe enough for wines with no need for enrichment
- Aromas of Citrus & Green fruit for Riesling
Auslese classification?
Auslese
- Made from specifically selected, extra-ripe bunches of grapes
- Some harvest mechanically before hand sorting when they reach the winery
- Riper & concentrated flavours than Spatlese
- Honey character; may have been affected by Botrytis to add to complexity
- Last category that can be dry, although most are sweeter in style - balanced in Sweetness & Acidity
- Some producers use additional labelling terms; indication sweetness levels
- Min 7% abv is the minimum – and with high sweetness levels the wines can be low alcohol
- off dry to sweet: Honey notes
- additional descriptors may be put on the label due to range of styles, i.e. trocken, halbtrocken, feinherb
Beerenauslese classification?
Beerenauslese
- Made from individually selected berries – MUST BE Harvested by hand
- Must weights high, always sweet, slow ferment, low Alcohol level
- Min 5.5% abv; potential Alcohol 14.5-17% abv
- Botrytis typical of BA (but not legally needed!)
- Very ripe; Dried stone fruit
- Only produced in suitable years for Noble rot to form
- Small qtys; Low yields; labour intensive – picking single berries!
- Cannot be dry wines - sweet wines only.
- Rare & expensive
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)?
Trockenbeerenauslese
- Extremely high must weights
- Shrivelled raisin-like grapes
- Must have been affected by Botrytis.
- Highly concentrated sweet wines; Balanced by high Acidity
- Ferment long /slow due to very high must weights
- Ferments rarely continue beyond 8% abv
- Low Yields; grey rot risk, sticky juice difficult to vinify with many passes in the vineyard
- Rare & expensive; 100 bottles at a time
- Tend to be the most expensive wines produced in Germany
Eiswein classification?
Eiswein
- Min. must weight same as BA;
- Grapes must be picked while frozen – temperatures below -7 degrees
- Harvest can take place from December to February (of following year)
- Must be pressed while still frozen
- Pressing releases naturally concentrated juice with high levels of sugar and acid
- Entirely healthy grapes - otherwise unpleasant flavours amplified;
-
Riesling Eiswein:
- High acidity
- Pure peach and grapefruit flavours
- Only small amounts made – sells at premium prices
- Some growers cover grapes with plastic until they freeze to stop predators and other factors increasing their losses
- Year of Vintage is the year in which the grapes were picked/pressed
- Artificial freezing of the grapes is not allowed
