Germany: Mosel + Ahr + Sachsen + Saale Unstrut Flashcards
German term for estate bottled
Gustabfüllung
Erzeugerabfüllung
German term for noble rot
edelfaule
German term for old vines
alte reben
German term for vineyard
einzellage
In which river’s valley is Sachsen located?
(in former East Germany)
Elbe River.
Anbaugebiet formerly in East Germany?
Sachsen and Saale-Unstrut. Following Germany’s 1990 reunification, the country’s total number of Anbaugebiete increased from 11 to 13 with the addition of these two.
Sachsen main grapes?
Muller Thurgau is most planted, then Riesling and Weissburgunder
Also goldriesling - an aromatic crossing developed in Alsace
What is Germany’s northernmost wine growing region?
Saale-Unstrut, at 51 degrees latitude
Germany easternmost region
Sachsen
Saale-Unstrut grapes?
Müller-Thurgau, Weißburgunder, Riesling, Silvaner
Cold climate, 51st degree latitude!
List the 5 annual German wine auctions
March: Hessische Staatsweingüter, held at Kloster Eberbach in Rheingau. Wines from Rheingau and Hessische-Bergstrasse
September, on a Thursday - Sunday:
Thursday: Bernkasteler Ring in Mosel
Friday: VDP Grosser Ring in Mosel
Saturday: VDP Rheingau holds an auction at Kloster Eberbach.
Sunday: VDP Nahe-Ahr. From 2007, some VDP wineries from Rheinhessen and Pfalz also participate
What is a bereich?
translates to area - larger than a village, smaller than anbaugebiete
List the six bereich of the Mosel
Bernkastel- 3/4 of mosel plantings are here
Burg Cochem (Terrassenmosel)
Obermosel
(along the Mosel)
Saar
Ruwertal
Moseltor
Mittelmosel- soil type? average annual temperature?
lots of dark blue Devonian slate
some red slate near Erden
soils are heat retaining, and well draining.
average annual temperature is 49 F - quite cool! slate soil retains heat, and the river reflects heat back into the vineyards
What is the german word for monopole?
alleinbesitz, translates to “sole ownership”
Saar - important villages?
Saar is an area in Mosel, along Saar river
Wiltingen, Saarburg
Ruwer important villages?
Ruwer is an area in Mosel, along the Ruwer river (more of a stream)
Eitelsbach
Mertesdorf
Trittenheim - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Apotheke
Piesport - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Goldtröpfchen, Domherr
Brauneberg - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Juffer,
Juffer Sonnenuhr*
Bernkastel-Kues- where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Doctor
Lay
Badstube
Johannisbrünnchen
Graben
(all GL)
Graach an der Mosel - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Domprobst
Wehlen - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Sonnenuhr
Zeltingen - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Sonnenuhr
Ürzig - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Würzgarten
Erden - where is it? List a vineyard
village in Mosel
Prälat, Treppchen
red slate!
List 5 producers Mosel
Selbach Oster
AJ Adam
Schloss Lieser
Loewen
Dr Loosen
Karthauserhof
Egon Muller
Willi Schafer
Where does the Mosel start and end?
starts in the Vosges Mountains in France (Moselle AOP)
meets the Rhine river in Koblenz
traditional vine training in the Mosel?
single-post system: growers train vines upright, without wires, employing either a vertical cordon or two canes, wrapped in a characteristic heart-shaped bow. Absent wires, vineyard workers have much more freedom of movement to navigate the difficult terrain. (Pulleys and cables are still required in some places to move machinery.)
downside: In order to improve airflow and reduce botrytis, leaf removal is necessary, but this increases sun exposure, which can lead to TDN-based flavors (petrol) in Riesling.
What is ortsteil
german for ‘district’
On which line of latitude does the Ahr lie? Describe the climate
50th parallel!
Warmer than the Mosel though, it is sheltered from cold winds by the Eifel Mountains. Volcanic slate retains heat.
What is the predominant grape in the Ahr?
Spätburgunder
Frühburgunder
early ripening mutation of Spatburgunder. Pinot Noir Precocé in France
it ripens 2 weeks earlier than almost anything else- so it’s a target for birds and wasps- netting is necessary. it’s thicker skinned than Spatburgunder, with more color and less acidity in the glass
Ahr- Village and vineyard?
Bereich: Walporzheim-Ahrtal
Grosslage: Klosterberg
Ahr - geography and soil
the Ahr is a tiny river, and the vineyards are too far from it to really be affected.
Slopes are steep, slate soil.
Lower Ahr: Basalt derived clay, sand atop slate
Upper Ahr: almost pure slate. no phylloxera, very old vines
50 degrees N!
Ahr Climate
or- how can they ripen Pinot Noir?!
benefits from the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream, and the growing season here is longer than in nearby regions like Mittelrhein or the Mosel.
The whole region is a canyon, protected from wind and rain amidst the low Eifel Mountains. In this rain shadow, sunlight hours are correspondingly higher, and the region experiences fewer bouts of botrytis than the Mosel.
The dark slate soils of Ahr vineyards store heat for chilly evenings, and south-facing aspects are essential. All of the Ahr’s best vineyards and Grosse Lage sites are on steep slopes above the river’s northern banks. Despite the threat of erosion, almost all Ahr vineyard rows run down the slopes (north-south) in order to maximize sun exposure
all this being said- chaptalization is common, and whole cluster is impossible b/c stems are green still at harvest
Ahr grapes allowed for GL?
Pinot Noir, Frühburgunder. Exclusively noble sweet: Riesling
Where is the Mittelrhein?
it follows the course of the Rhine before it reaches Rheingau. Perpendicular to the Mosel. In the center is Koblenz, and where the Mosel meets the Rhine.
Mittelrhein- grapes? Village and Vineyard?
predominantly Riesling
Bereich:
Loreley- in the south. most vineyards and all GL are here
Siebengebirge
Villages: Bacharach and Oberwesel - best sites in side valleys, not many south facing slopes here
devonian slate soils
lieblich
medium sweet- term used in Mosel
What is the Ochsle range for Kabinett wines?
minimums range form 70-85 degrees
What is the Ochsle range for Spatlese wines?
minimums range from 76-95 degrees
What is the Ochsle range for Auslese wines?
minimums range from 83 to 105 degrees
What is the Ochsle range for Beerenauslese wines?
minimums range from 110-128 degrees
What is the Ochsle range for TBA wines?
minimums range from 150-154 degrees
What is the Ochsle range for Eiswein?
minimums range from 110-128 degrees
What does the Ochsle scale measure? What is one degree Ochsle?
The Oechsle scale is a hydrometer scale measuring the density of grape must, which is an indication of grape ripeness and sugar content used in wine-making. It is named for Ferdinand Oechsle
On the Oechsle scale, one degree Oechsle corresponds to one gram of the difference between the mass of one litre of must at 20 °C and 1 kg (the mass of 1 litre of water)
VDP Grosse Lage requirements?
grapes harvested by hand at a maximum yield of 50 hl/ha.
If dry, the wines are denoted by the initials “GG” (Grosses Gewächs), sweet wines are labeled by traditional prädikat levels.
Grosses Gewächs wines are legally considered trocken and may not contain more than 9 g/l of residual sugar.
In the Rheingau, Grosses Gewächs wines frequently carry the alternative label of Erstes Gewächs, a trademarked term established by Charta. While Grosses Gewächs is barred by German wine law from appearing on wine labels—hence its indication by initials—Erstes Gewächs is a legally authorized term, and it may be spelled out in full
What does an AP number tell you? (Germany)
Region Tested
Commune Where Bottled
Bottler’s Code
Cuvee Code
Year Sample Submitted
Where does the Rhine River start and end?
Swiss Alps, flows into the North Sea (2nd longest after the Danube)
Exceptions to Germany’s 1971 Wine Law size requirement (i.e. smaller than 5ha)
Bernkasteler Doctor
Forster Kirchenstuck
Forster Freundstuck
Schloss Vollrads
Sachsen important villages?
Proschwitz
Rottewitz
Pillnitz
Where is Proschwitz? Vineyard and Producer?
Village in Sachsen
GL Vineyard Schloss Proschwitz is an alleinbesitz (monopole) of producer Schloss Proschwitz
Where is Rottewitz? Vineyard and Producer?
Village in Sachsen
GL Vineyard Schloss Proschwitz is an alleinbesitz (monopole) of producer Schloss Proschwitz
Where is Pillnitz? Vineyard?
Village in Sachsen
GL Vineyard Königlicher Weinberg
Important village in Saale-Unstrut?
Karsdorf
Freyburg
Naumberg
Where is Karsdorf? Vineyard?
Village in Saale-Unstrut
GL vineyard Hohe Gräte
Where is Freyburg? Vineyard?
Village in Saale-Unstrut
GL vineyard Edelacker
Weingut Bernard Pawis
Where is Naumberg? Vineyard?
Village in Saale-Unstrut
GL vineyard Steinmeister
Name a producer from Saale-Unstrut?
Weingut Bernard Pawis
Name a producer from Sachsen?
Schloss Proschwitz
Villages in Bernkastel?
(area in Mosel)
Pünderich, Enkirch, Traben-Trarbach, Wolf, Kröv, Lösnich, Erden, Ürzig, Zeltingen, Wehlen, Graach an der Mosel, Bernkastel-Kues, Lieser, Brauneberg, Kesten, Wintrich, Piesport, Dhron, Neumagen, Trittenheim, Leiwen
What are the top 3 planted white grapes in the Mosel?
Riesling: 5,395 ha
Müller-Thurgau: 1,092 ha
Elbling: 512 ha
What hills are on either side of the Mosel River, creating the valley?
Hunsrück hills and the Eifel Mountains
Who mandated Riesling plantings in the Mosel early on?
Archbishop of Trier, Clemens Wenceslaus, who in 1786 decreed a mandatory shift to Riesling throughout the vineyards- previously Elbing and field blends dominated
What is the steepest recorded vineyard in the world? Where is it?
At 65° degrees incline, Bremmer Calmont is often cited as the steepest recorded vineyard in the world
however, Engelsfelden vineyard in the Bühler Valley (Bühlertal) in the Baden region is documented at 75°
What are the Ochsle minimums for Riesling in Mosel?
Kabinett 73,
Spatlese 80,
Auslese 88,
BA/Eis 110,
TBA 150
Important vineyards in Grach?
(in Bernkastel, Mosel)
Himmelreich GL - best
also Josephshöfer GL
Ruwer- where is this? Important producers?
area in the Mosel, also a tributary to the Mosel
Maximin Grunhaüs
Karthäuserhof
Saar - important villages and vineyards
Saarburg - Rausch
Kanzem- Altenberg, Hörecker (Von Hövel mp)
Wiltingen - Scharzhofberg, Brauner Kupp
What is the german word for chaptalization?
anreicherung
translates to “enrichment”
What is Gallization?
process in which sugar solution is added to the finished wine, which was widely considered to undermine quality - part of what sparked the formation of the VDP
also: Nassverbesserung
What was the precursor to the VDP called?
Verband Deutscher Naturweinversteigerer (VDNW) - formed in 1910, looking to set a higher standard than the wine law at the time. Focused on naturally ripened / unadulterated wines
Top producers in Saar?
Egon Müller
Marcus Molitor
Van Volxem
What are some benefits of the slate soil in the Mosel?
Heat retaining- average annual temp is 50 F, well draining, phylloxera resistant
What is the soil type in the Obermosel?
Calcareous soils replace slate here- in the Paris Basin (Champagne, Chablis, eastern Loire)
Top producers in Piesport?
Reichsgraff von Kesselstatt
Reinhold Haart
What are the two most common grosslagen within Bernkastel?
Badstube, Michelsberg
Mosel climate
one of the coolest in Germany- average annual temperature is around 50 F, growing season is 100 days
warmest sites are on the Mosel itself, on south and SW facing slopes
Germany’s first single-vineyard PDOs?
in Burg Cochem (Terrassenmosel), in the village Uhlen: Blaufüsser Lay, Roth Lay, and Laubach. These were approved by the EU in 2018.
Terrassenmosel
aka Lower Mosel
aka Burg Cochem
Mosel grapes allowed for VDP GL?
Riesling
Spatburgunder
Regional co-op Mosel
The Moselland eG in Bernkastel is the largest winegrowers’ cooperative in Rhineland-Palatinate. It was founded in 1968 and is an association of regional cooperatives.
around 1/5th of mosel production is in region co-ops in Bernkastel Kues
Mosel ha planted
8536 ha
524 einzellagen
5th largest in Germany
3rd largest in production
Maximin Grunhaus
where?
vineyards?
on left bank of the Ruwer, in the Mosel. Vineyards: Abtsberg, Herrenberg, Bruderberg.
synonym for Müller Thurgau in Luxembourg
Rivaner
Saar producers
Egon Muller
Markus Molitor
Van Volxem
Peter Lauer, Ayl
Goldtropfchen
where
climate/geo
producers
in Piesport, Mosel
south facing bowl of vines. dramatic amphitheater. deep clay like slate. cliffs to the north protect vines from cold winds
Reinhold Haart
Julian Haart
Weingut St. Urbans-Hof
AJ Adam
Schloss Lieser-Thomas Haag
Doctor Vineyard
where
producers
in Bernkastel, Mosel. 3.25 ha / 1.8 acre plot. South facing, slope of 45-60 degrees. Dark, weathered slate soils.
Markus Molitor
Schloss Lieser
Wwe Dr. H. Thanisch
Lay Vineyard
in Bernkaste, Mosel. lay = slate. soils are blue shale and slate, heavier and deeper than found in either Graach or Wehlen to the north. 8ha / 20 acres. faces west to SW
Dr Loosen
Joh. Jos. Prum
Bernkasteler Badstube
both a Gross Lage and a Grosslage. upslope from Lay, reaches 65 degrees slope.
Mosel alleinbesitz
Egon Muller (Wiltingen) Brauner Kupp - Saar;
Max Grunhaus (Mertesdorf) - Herrenberg, Abstberg, Bruderberg;
Karthaushofberg - Ruwer (Eitelsbach)
Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt - Josephshofer in Graach
Josephshofer
Von Kesselstat alleinbesitz in Graach, Mosel
Würzgarten
in Urzig, Mosel
JJ Prum
Dr Loosen
JJ Crhistoffel
Benefits of slate soil in mosel
retains heat- helps ripening
well draining
helps to prevent erosion
limits incursion of phylloxera- the bug can’t thrive on slate.
pros and cons of single post training in Mosel
easier for vineyard workers to navigate the slopes
non trellised vines can have lower airflow, so leaf removal is necessary. however the increased sunlight to the grapes can bring TDN flavorskirch
most planted grapes in Mosel
Riesling: 5,395 ha
Müller-Thurgau: 1,092 ha
Elbling: 512 ha
Spätburgunder: 396 ha
Mosel - grapes allowed for VDP Grosse Lage
Riesling
Spatburgunder
german word for slate
lay
german word for hill
berg
VDP GG white wine aging
may be released after roughly 1 year, on Sept 1 year following harvest
VDP GG red wine aging
may be released Sept 1 2nd year following harvest, with at least 12 months in oak
VDP GL max yield
50 hl/ha
additional 10 hl/ha allowed for vines planted on steep slopes
What is the length of time after Kabinett harvest is declared before Spätlese harvest may begin?
at least 7 days
