Germany General Flashcards
What is Absetzen?
The process settling of solids (dead yeast cells, leftover grape skin fragments, etc.) to the bottom of a vat of wine or must.
What is Affenthaler?
Red german wine from the Black Forest foothills near Baden-Baden.Made from the Spatburgunder or Pinot Noir it is a light red but not a rosè. Affenthaler is German for monkey and there is often a monkey embossed on to the bottle
What is Ahr?
Wine region in north-western Germany, not famous for its wine quality in particular, but rather because the vineyards are the most northern in the world! The region is small, but very old as European wine regions go. Wine records there have been found dating from the third century, A.D. In recent centuries, the wines were mostly Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir originally brought from Burgundy) but, in this century, white varieties bred for cold resistance and the ability to ripen crops in short summers have become more important.
Name the white Grape that is a cross between Riesling and a Sylvaner clone and created in Wurzburg . Limited growths in Rheinhessen region. Used to create good “Auslese” style white wines in better years, as it is susceptible to botrytis.
Albalonga
What is Alte Reben?
Literally, old vines, in French called vieilles vignes. An old vine differs according to vintner, usually 30-years plus, some as old as 80 years on sites such as Mühlheimer Sonnenlay.
What is an AP number? What’s the purpose?
is number is an Official Quality testing number given to wines that have passed ridged testing and tasting examinations.
2 / 596 / 738 / 008 / 14
2 = code for the testing station (2 stands here for Wittlich).
596 = code for the village of the producer (596 stands for Piesport).
738 = unique code for each Estate.
008 = Lot number (a serial number, different for each bottling).
14 = year of the submission (as most wines are commercialized in the year after the vintage, this number is typically Vintage + 1).
What is an Anbaugebiet?
A wine region in Germany ,for example the Rheingau is an Anbaugebiet
What is Anreicherung?
Broad term for sweetening must before or during fermentation. Whereas chaptalization means the addition of sugar only, enrichment also includes the addition of grape must, concentrated grape must, and RCGM.
What is a Bereich?
The German word for “region.” Under the German wine laws established in 1971, a Bereich is a district or subregion within an anbaugebiet (quality-wine growing region). There are forty-three Bereiche throughout the thirteen Anbaugebiete. Within a Bereich there are grosslagen (general sites) and einzellagen (individual sites or vineyards).
What is the name of a rotling made from the Baden region made from Grauburgunder (min 51%) and Spatburgunder. Composition must be declared on label
Badisch rotgold
What is the German name for malolactic fermentation?
Biologische Saureabbau
What is the German term for a rose wine?
Bleichert
What is the name of the Flagon shaped bottle in which Franken wines are bottled?
Bocksbeutel
What is the German word for noble rot?
Edelfaule
What is an Einzellage?
Single vineyard
What is the name for a vine individually trained to a single stake . Used on very steep slopes such as the Mosel
Einzelpfahlerziehung.
What is Federweiss?
A really young wine in fact one that’s not finished fermenting. In some German regions you can buy glasses of Federweiss (White Feather), which is wine that’s still fermenting. An autumn speciality served with onion quiche or roasted chestnuts
What is Feinherb?
Half dry
What is a Flasche?
German word for bottle
What is Flaschengarung?
Bottle fermented sekt
What is the German name for Ovalwine casks which hold about 1,000 liters used in the Mosel?
Fuder
What is Geisenheim?
Town in the Rheingau of Germany. Known for its school of Viticulture, the most important in Germany and one of the most important in the world. Its vineyards also produce wines of outstanding quality in most years.
What is Gross Gewächs?
VDP classification of dry wines from the best vineyards, must be Spatlese ripeness
What is Grosslage?
A collection of einzellagen under one name. Misleading term for inexpensive wines
What is the name of the Mosel growers association?
Grosser ring
What is Gutsabfüllung?
Wine that is grown, produced and bottled by the same person/estate
What is the most planted grape variety in Germany?
Riesling
What is Muller Thurgau a crossing of?
Riesling and Madeleine Royale
What is Dornfelder a crossing of?
Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe
What is the name of the crossing of Riesling and Bukettrebe?
Scheurebe
What does VDP stand for?
Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter
What is the most planted red grape in Germany?
Spatburgunder
What are the 4 tiers of wine in Germany?
Qualitatswein
Pradikatswein
Landwein
Deutscher Wine
Name the 13 Anbaugebite in Germany
Saxony (Sachsen) Saale-Unstrut Mittelrhein Ahr Mosel Franken Rheingau Rheinhessen Nahe Hessiche Bergstrabe Pflaz Baden Wurttemberg
Praikatswein must carry a minimum alcohol of?
5.5% BA, TBA and Eiswein
7% Kabinett, Spatlese, Ausles
What is the minimum ochsle Range for Kabinett wines in Germany?
70-85°
What is the minimum ochsle Range for Spatlese wines in Germany?
80-95°
What is the minimum ochsle Range for Auslese wines in Germany?
88-105°
What is the minimum ochsle Range for Beerenauslese wines in Germany?
110-128°
What is the minimum ochsle Range for Trockenbeerenauslese wines in Germany?
150-154°
What is the minimum ochsle Range for Eiswein in Germany?
110-128°
Which 2 Pradikat levels have the same minimum Ochsle Range?
Beerenauslese and Eiswein
When was the VDP founded ?
1910
What 2 terms did the German Wine Institute at Mainz create that debuted in the 2000 vintage?
Classic wines are considered “harmoniously dry,” with a maximum residual sugar content of 15 g/l, and wines labeled “Classic” are single varietal wines and omit any mention of a vineyard on the label. They show a superior minimum alcohol content of 12% (11.5% in the Mosel).
Selection wines are “superior dry” with a maximum residual sugar content of 9 g/l (12 g/l allowed for Riesling). Selection wines are single vineyard wines from a single variety. Yields are restricted to 60 hl/ha. Must weight for Selection wines must be equivalent to Auslese, and vineyards are hand-harvested. The wines may not be released prior to September 1 of the year following harvest.
What are the requirements for wines labelled classic according to the German Wine Institute
- Wines are ‘harmoniously dry’ with a max RS of 15g/l
- Single vineyard wines that omit any mention of vineyard on the label
- Min alc content of 12% (11.5% in the Mosel)
What are the requirements for wines labelled Selection according to the German Wine Institute
- Wines are ‘Superior dry’ with a max RS content of 9 g/l (12 for Riesling)
- Yields restricted to 60hl/ha
- Must weight must be equivalent to Auslese
- Hand harvested
- Not released until September 1 of the year following harvest
What grape variety is Liebraumilch primarily produced from?
Muller Thurgau although it cannot carry a grape name on it’s label
Erste Lage represented the top tier in the VDP hierachy until what year?
2012
What changes did the VDP make to their hierachy in 2012?
- The VDP elected to create a new 4 tier system
- The top site wines previously known as Erste Lage would now be known as Grosse Lage
- Erste Lage would still exist in a ‘premier cru’ type capacity
True or False. Producers of sweet wines may make a range of prädikat levels from a Grosse Lage site, but only one dry wine may be produced in each of the top vineyards
True
What is the maximum amount of residual sugar allowed in GG wines?
9g/l
Which anbaugebite uses the term Erste Gewachs instead of Grosse Gewachs?
In the Reingau. Erste Gewach was trademarked by Charta the first organisation to attempt to redefine auality in Germany post 1971.
True or false Grosses Gewachs is barred by German wine law from appearing on the label
True this is why it is abbreviated to GG
Name the 4 tiers of the VDP hierachy and their maximum yields?
Grosses Lagen 50/hl/ha Just Vineyard
Erste Lagen 60 hl/ha Village and Vineyard
Ortswein 75 hl/ha Village name or soil name (blend of multiple vineyards from one Anbaugebiet)
Gutswein 75 hl/ha Anbaugebiet labeled
What was the minimum size set for vineyards by the 1971 German wine law
5 Hectares
Name 3 vineyards that escaped the mandate of a minimum of 5 hectares in German wine law
Forster Kirchenstück in the Pfalz
Bernkasteler Doctor in the Middle Mosel
Kiedricher Turmberg in the Rheingau
GG wines must be harvested at a ripeness equivalent to which pradikat level?
Spatlese
In which 3 Anbaugebiete does the Erste Lage category not exist
Mosel
Ahr
Rheinhessen
What is a Stück?
A 1200 litre oval cask that is a classic German vessel
What’s a goldkapsule on a bottle of German wine mean? What about ‘’ / ‘’ / ‘’ ?
A goldkapsule is used after the passing of the ‘71 wine law after the traditional qualifying terms of feine, feinste, and hochfeine, historically added to indicate reserve wines within a larger category, were abolished. It indicates a higher level of sweetness and distinction beyond a wine’s labeled Prädikat, vintners added a golden capsule. In some cases, an even longer golden capsule (lange Goldkapsule) indicates an even rarer and special selection. The capsule is also linked to the level of botrytis; for instance, a wine that reached Beerenauslese in the eyes of the law may be “declassified” to Auslese with a Goldkapsule because it showed more pure varietal character than the higher Prädikat would typically demonstrate.
In the Mosel, producers developed a second code to distinguish among different tiers of wine within a Prädikat and from the same vineyard: the star system. To indicate reserve bottlings, producers may apply one to three stars (, **, **), sometimes in conjunction with a Goldkapsule.
What year did ‘Eiswein’ become an official pradikat in the eyes of the German Wine Law?
1982
nAME THREE VINEYARDS THAT ESCAPED THE MINUMUM 5HA LAW IN GERMANY AFTER ‘71.
Forster Kirchenstück in the Pfalz
Bernkasteler Doctor in the Middle Mosel
Kiedricher Turmberg in the Rheingau
What’s the German term for ‘PDO?’
geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung
Pradikat ranges
Kabinett: 70-85° Spätlese: 76-95° Auslese: 83-105° Beerenauslese: 110-128° Eiswein: 110-128° Trockenbeerenauslese: 150-154°
Min abv for kabinett-auslese? Beerenauslese - Trockenbeerenauslese?
7%
5.5%
What min % of a VDP members holdings must they cultivate themselves?
80
When may a Grosses Gewächs wine be released?
White 9/1 year following harvest
Red 9/1 second year following harvest (at least 12 mo in wood)
What tier do Grosses Gewächs wines occupy in the eyes of the German government?
Qualitätswein - so chaptalization is technically possibile
In what three Anbaugebiete does the Erste Lage category not exist?
Mosel, Ahr, and Rheinhessen
What VDP producer labels it’s top sites as ‘GC’ or ‘PC?’
Bürklin-Wolf
Müller-Thurgau crossing?
Riesling and Madeleine Royale
What’s Frühburgunder
a natural mutation genetically identical to Pinot Noir, is a rare specialty of Germany
Dornfelder crossing?
Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe
What are the two most high-quality mutations of Silvaner?
Grüner & Gelber Silvaner
Crossing of Silvaner?
Traminer and Österreichisch-Weiss
Scheurebe crossing?
Riesling and Bukettrebe
What producers are leading the premium sekt charge?
Volker Raumland from Rheinhessen (founded german’ys first all sekt winery - most important)
Matthieu Kaufmann (former cellar master at Bollinger) of Reichsrat von Buhl
capacity of a halbstuck
600L
In what century did Silvaner first appear in Franken?
17th
what varieties that may legally be labeled as “Erstes Gewächs” in Germany?
Riesling / spatburgunder
Vineyards along the Neckar River are located in which of the following Anbaugebiete?
Württemberg
What is the correct parentage for Dornfelder?
Helfensteiner x Heroldrebe
The _____ Bereich, situated on an extinct volcano, is the warmest winegrowing district in all of Germany.
Baden
Name the great german vintages from: 2010-2020 2000-2009 1990-1999 1980-1989 1970-1979
‘10 (sweet wines only) / ‘11 / ‘15 (wines are flabby) / ‘17 / ‘18 (wines are flabby) / ‘19 (hailed has vintage of the century)
‘01 (amazing - first vintage of GG riesling) / ‘02 / ‘03 (reds) / ‘04 / ‘05 / ‘07 (amazing) / 08 /
‘90 / ‘92 / ‘93 / ‘94 / ‘95 / ‘97 / ‘99
‘83 / ‘88 / ‘89 (botrytis and sweet only)
‘71 / ‘76
Anreicherung
Broad term for sweetening must before or during fermentation. Whereas chaptalization means the addition of sugar only, enrichment also includes the addition of grape must, concentrated grape must, and RCGM.
Badisch Rotgold
A rotling from the Baden region. Made from Grauburgunder (min. 51%) and Spatburgunder grapes. Composition must be declared on label.
Biologische Sãureabbau
Malolactic fermentation
Erzeugerabfüllung
Grown and produced by the same grower or cooperative.
Flaschengärun
Bottle-fermented Sekt.
Flurbereinigung
Restructuring of German vineyards.
