Germany: Principle Wine Regions Flashcards by Megan O'Rahilly

Which German wine region is the largest in terms of production?

Rheinhessen

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Which German wine region has the highest yields?

Rheinhessen

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What is the most planted white grape in Rheinhessen?

What is the most planted black grape in Rheinhessen?

Riesling, just ahead of Müller Thurgau

Dornfelder

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Where are the majority of the Rheinhessen’s vineyards planted? Consequently, what type of wines are produced here?

Most vineyards are on the warm, fertile, valley floors, ideal for high volume production of inexpensive wines

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What are the names of some of the mountain ranges around Rheinhessen? What affect do these mountains have on the growing conditions?

Hünsruck and Taunus Mountains

The region is relatively warm and dry as these mountains shelter the region

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What is the name of the Rheinhessen’s high quality wine producing area on the west-bank of the Rhine around Nierstein and Oppenheim?

Describe the growing conditions here

Rheinterrasse

East facing aspect of slopes means vines receive warming morning sun in the coolest part of the day, enhancing ripeness

Proximity to the Rhine and its moderating influences means autumn and winter temperatures remain warmer, extending the ripening period

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What is the name of the strip of vineyards around Nierstein and Nackenheim (within the Rheinterrasse in Rheinhessen)?

What type of soils are found here?

What is the distinctive characteristic of Rieslings from these vineyards?

Roter Hang (Red slope in English)

Rotliegenden soils aka red, iron-rich soil consisting of clay, slate and sandstone

Rieslings from Roter Hang show smoky characterestics

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Where would you find the Wonnegau area?

Wonnegau is gaining a reputation for high quality wines from which grapes?

South of Rheinhessen

High quality Riesling and Spätburgunder

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Which German wine region is the driest?

Pfalz - drought can be a concern here

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What is the effect of the Haardt mountains on the Pfalz region?

They create a rain shadow

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What percentage of plantings in Pfalz are white?

65%

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Name the four most planted white grapes in Pfalz

Riesling
Müller Thurgau
Grauburgunder
Weissburgunder

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Compare how a Riesling from Rheinhessen would differ from a Riesling from Pfalz and why

Pfalz is warmer than Rheinhessen - wines are fuller bodied with riper fruit flavours

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What is the most planted black grape in Pfalz?

Dornfelder

Spätburgunder plantings are increasing

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What is the name of the area where Pfalz’s best vineyards are found?

Describe the growing conditions here

Mittelhaardt

South/east facing slopes in the foothills of the Haardt mountains
Gain maximum sunshine exposure
Protection from winds
Range of soils

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Where would you find Mittelhaardt?

Name different soil types found here

In the northern part of the Pfalz region, known for quality

Limestone
Sandstone
Basalt
Clay

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Where would you find the Südliche Weinstrasse?

What type of soils dominate here?

What types of wines are made here?

South of Pfalz

Fertile sandstone soils

Was typically an area for inexpensive volume production, although more producers are moving towards quality production, especially with Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder and Weisburgunder

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What is Germany’s warmest wine producing region?

What natural factors give it this warmth?

Baden

It is the most southerly wine region in Germany
It benefits from the rain shadow of the Vosges mountains

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What is the most planted grape variety in Baden?

Spätburgunder

Wines from here are among Germany’s best, with complex flavours often enhanced with oak ageing

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Which area in Baden is known for producing the fullest bodied Spätburgunders?

The steep south facing slopes around Kaiserstuhl, an extinct volcano

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Give a typical tasting note for a Spätburgunder from Kaiserstuhl

Smoky, complex, ripe red fruit
Full bodied
High alcohol
Often enhanced by oak ageing

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Why is Baden suited to high volume wine production?

It is a warm and dry region

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What is the second most planted variety in Baden?

What quality / style of wines is this used for?

Müller Thurgau

Mostly used for high volume inexpensive blends

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What percentage of Baden wine is produced by co-ops?

Name the largest co-op in the area

75%

Badischer Winzerkeller

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What style of wine is Wüttemberg typically known for?

Light fruity reds, mainly for domestic consumption

What percentage of Wüttemberg plantings are red? What are the 3 most planted black grapes

70% Trollinger Lemberger Schwarzriesling Spätburgunder is increasing

What percentage of Mosel vineyards are planted to Riesling?

60%

Why is site selection so important in the Mosel? Describe what soils and aspects you would look for in the best sites

Due to it's northerly latitude, good sites are needed to ensure grapes ripen fully Dark slate soils - radiate heat South facing steep slopes overlooking the Mosel river: good exposure and reflection of light off the river

Which area of the Mosel is the largest and home to the best vineyards?

Middle Mosel

Give a typical tasting note for a Mosel Riesling

``` Pale in colour Pronounced fruity and floral aromas High acidity Low to medium alcohol Lighter in body than Rieslings from elsewhere ```

What is the name of the biggest co-op in Mosel? What percentage of the region's wine is produced by them?

Moselland 20% - it is the world's largest Riesling producer

Why are temperatures in Saar and Ruwer slightly lower than in the Mosel? How does this impact the wines?

Vineyards are at higher altitudes | Acidity in these wines is higher

Where would you find the Sonnehuhr vineyard? What type of soils are here, and what type of wines does it produce?

Wehlen, Mosel | Shallow stony slate soils producing rich wines

Where would you find the Doctor vineyard?

Bernkastel, Mosel

In which Anbaugebiete would you find Piesport, Wehlen and Bernkastel?

Mosel

What is the specialist variety in Franken? What is the most planted variety there?

Silvaner Müller Thurgau

Where can you find very good quality Silvaner? Give a typical tasting note for wines from here

On south and south east facing slopes around Würzberg in Franken Floral, wet stone aromas Full bodied Dry

How would you describe the climate in Franken? Talk about general weather patterns here

Climate is more continental than other regions, meaning warmer summers and shorter growing seasons Autumns are cooler, winters are harsh Spring frost is a common hazard

Where in Franken might you expect to find Spätburgunder plantings? Describe the soils here

To the west of the region, on steep terraces Soils are mostly sandstone

The vineyards of Franken form a W shape along the south bank slopes of which river?

The Maine

Give the key characteristics of the Silvaner vine

Early budding | Early ripening

What is the name of the typical bottle used for Franken wines?

Bocksbeutal

Nahe is situated between which two Anbaugebieten?

Between Mosel and Rheinhessen

What is the name of the mountains protecting the Nahe growing area? What effect do these mountains have on the growing environment?

The Hünsruck mountains Temperatures are milder Rainfall is lower

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

In which Anbaugebiete would you find the village of Schlossböckelheim?

Nahe

Forst and Deidesheim are both villages in?

Pfalz

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.

Nahe Rieslings have slightly ___ levels of acidity that Mosel Rieslings, but ___ body. This is because average temperatures in Nahe are ____

- lower levels of acidity - fuller body - temperatures are warmer

The Nahe River is a tributary of which River? Name the two villages that bookend the vineyards of Nahe. What is regarded as the top village of Nahe?

- The Rhine - Schlossbockelheim & Bad Kreuznach - Niederhausen

What is the main red varietal planted in Nahe?

Dornfelder

What is the name of the mountain range that protects the Rheingau from cold, northerly winds?

Taunus mountains

Describe the body and fruit character of Rheingau Riesling in comparison to those from the Mosel

Fuller body | Riper fruit

Name two important villages in Rheingau

Johannisberg | Rudesheim

What is the name of the river running through Rheingau? What effect does it have on the growing conditions here?

The Rhine Moderates temperatures, reduces frost risk, increases humidity (useful for botrytised wines)

What kinds of soils might you expect to find in Rheingau?

Sand, loess and loam to the east | Sandstone and slate to the west

What percentage of plantings in Rheingau are Riesling?

78%

Is Rheingau a region focused on quality or quantity? What are the main styles of wines produced here? What is the most planted variety?

Quality Most wines are made in a dry style, but there are some well reputed botrytised styles as well. Riesling dominates

On what part of the slope would you expect to see the best Rheingau Rieslings destined for dry wines planted? Why?

Mid-slope Sites receive some moderating influence from the river but they are far enough away from the river to avoid some of the humidity leading to fungal disease

Do black or white grapes dominate in Ahr? What style of wines is commonly produced?

Black (83% of plantings) Spätburgunder, fermented to dryness with relatively high tannins and spicey notes from oak age

Describe the soils in Ahr

Dark, heat retaining slate, and a dark sandstone called Greywhacke

What percentage of wine in Ahr is made by co-ops?

75%

Land under vine in Germany has increased since 2010; what type of land has been favoured and why?

More plantings on flatter land For vineyards on steeper slopes, the high cost of labour and low yields, coupled with vintage variation, means there is high cost to the producer. Flatter land is more suited to cheaper bulk production.

What is Generation Riesling? When was it started?

An initiative from the German Wine Institute to give winemakers under 35 a national and international platform 2005

What are Weinkellerei and what do they do?

Merchant houses They produce high volume wines or process them through co-ops

Has the average price of German wine increased or decreased over the past decade? Why?

Increased Reduction in bulk shipping Increase in bottled exports

What is the name of German wine's promotional body?

Deutches Weininstitut (DWI)

The average price of German exports to ____ and ____ is considerably lower than other markets due to the continued, but shrinking, presence of ____ ____ wines like ____ sold in _____

Exports to the Netherlands and the UK Due to continued, but shrinking, presence of cheap bulk wines like Liebfraumilch sold in supermarkets