Germany: The Growing Enviro and Grape Growing

Question 1

Germany: Climate

Answer 1

• Most lie around 49-50 degrees N
• Cool, continental climate
• Site selection is essential
• Most are along River Rhine and its trbutaries
• River: radiates heat, moderates temperature and extends the growing season
• Best vineyards are on steep sloped reaching 70 percent gradients - overlooking river Mosel
• Winter can be cold enough to produce ice wine
• Spring frost is a major risk
• Summers are wet and warm -500-800mm of rain
• Fungal disease, hail and frost are all major issues
• Autumn is warm and dry allowing for late harvest production
• Warm morning mists along the river promote botryis
• Taunus and Haardt are the important mnt ranges that shelter vineyards from the rain
• Plantings are at around 200m max.
• Baden is noticeably warmer and and sunnier but still contends with frost

Question 2

Germany : Soil

Answer 2

• Wide variety of soils :
• Mosel and Ahr: dark coloured slate retains and radiates heat
• Baden, Pfalz and Rheinhessen plantede with Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc - pockets of calcerous soil
• Franken soils for Silvaner
• Pinot Gris prefers heavy, clay soils
• Mosel and Rheingau have erosion problems = adding to cost to rock and winch back soil
• *

Question 3

Germany: Vineyard Management

Answer 3

• Yields vary from vintage to vintage -
• Rheinhessen and Pfalz around 100hl/ha
• Still around 150hl/.hc as a country average fro Deutscher Wein and Landwein
• 105hl/hc for Qualitatswein
• VDP work with much lower yields
• Cliamte Change is not affecting the northerly vineyards - although this is helping with vintage variation
• Fruit ripeness has been imporved by clonal selection , summer pruning , green harvesting and selective hand picking
• Good canopy management is essential to max sun exposure and improve air circualtion in the wet summers
• Vines on slopes were staked with canes tied at the top howver very labour intense / skill required- only now used in the steepest vineyards
• Mjost common is single and double replacement cane pruning with VSP and Pendelbogen ( canes are arched in the trellis helping to imporve the sap in the vine and increase bud viabilty
• Germany needs to spray alot against disease so Organic and Bio production is not common (only 9%)
• The Mosel uses helicopters to spray
• Topography is challenging
• Steeper slopes and terraced meaning workers have to be winched up and down -more labour = $$$$
• There are some new caterpillar tractors
• Only Rielsing can command reasoanble and sustainable prices
• Even on flatter land - all BA and TBA grapes must be hand harveste with many passes through the vineyard adding to cost
• Large scale commercial operations use machines to harvest
• *

Question 4

Germany: Riesling

Answer 4

• Focus on white - grows better in cool climates
• 90% white in 1980, now 32% Spatburgunder
• 1/4 of all plantings
• Late budding with thick wood and relatively frost resistant
• Late ripening - needs sun exposure and dry autumns
• Imporved vineyard management has increased ripe yields
• High quality wines in a variey of styles from dry to sweet
• High acid, even when ripe
• Good for ageing
• Can produce high natural levels of sugar and is susceptible to botyrtis
• Can be pronounced, floral and white flowers and honeysuckle
• With age- toast, honeyed and petrol aromas

Question 5

Germany: Muller- thurgau

Answer 5

• Sometimes know as Rivaner
• earliest german crosses to produce high , ripe yields
• Most planted in 70s and 80s for the production of Liebefraumilch
• Plantings now halved in favour of Riesling
• Medium acid, less structure, simple and floral, fruity and made for early drinking

Question 6

Germany: Spatburgunder

Answer 6

• Most planted red grape 11.5 % of all plantings
• Thrives in warmer areas such as Baden
• Rise in popularity due to high prices in Burgundy for PN
• High qulaity complex and dry wines
• Perfecing clone selection and canopy management to balance alcohol, acidity and ripeness of fruit and tannins
• Less new oak and more large vessels

Question 7

Germany: Dornfelder

Answer 7

• Wines are deep in colour, high in acid and fruity and floral
• Easy drinking style ( blackberry and sour cherry with RS ) and complex style with ageing potential fermented in oak
• Most planted in Pfalz and Rheinhessen

Question 8

Germany: Other Grape Varieties to mention

Answer 8

• Silvaner - In decline
• lower acid and less aromatic than Rielsing
• Inexpensive ,simple green to tropical fruit
• FRanken produces some low yield, high quallity wines dry, medium body, with medium to medium + acid and earthy
• Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder- sizeable plantings in Rheinhessen, PFALZ AND now Baden
• GB - likes heavier soils and wines are medium acid with aromas of stone fruit and troppical fruit and honey
• Dry and med body to fuller body and sweeter
• Chardonnay -Very low plantings and only allowed in Germany since 1990
• Usually planted in warmer areas Baden and Pfalz
• Also Pinot Meunier, Schiave and Blaufrankisch

Question 9

Germany: Winemaking