Germany - Whites

Question 1

Pinot Noir is known in Germany as…

Answer 1

Spätburgunder

Question 2

1. Most regions in Germany have what climate type?

2. Weather - stable or not?

Answer 2

Cool, continental

Once year can vary significantly to the next affecting quality, quantity and style.

Question 3

Long cool ripening period in German vineyards is beneficial how:

Answer 3

Allows the grapes to reach sugar ripeness whilst retaining acidity

Question 4

How do growers cope with growing and harvesting on very steep slopes

Answer 4

All work has to be done by hand
Equipment sometimes needs to be winched into place
Vines are head-pruned, individually staked and canes tied in at the top of the stake to maximise light and air.

Question 5

How is it possible to make a range of Qualitätsweine and Prädikatswine from a single vineyard in a single year?

Answer 5

The wines are classified by the grapes Must Weight (sugar level) at harvest, thus several passes can be made at different times of year to make different wines all from the same vineyard.

Question 6

GG

Not a horse… what does it stand for?

Answer 6

Grosses Gewächs

A trademark of the VDP, not part of German wine law

Question 7

Kabinett Reisling style?

Answer 7

Light body
High acidity
Green apple, citrus fruit
Some residual sweetness
Sweeter wines: 8-9% ABV. 
Dry to Medium Sweet

Question 8

Spätlese Reisling style

Answer 8

Same as Kabinett but…
Little more body, concentration, ripeness alcohol and possibly sweetness.
Citrus, stone fruit (peach, apricot)
Dry to medium sweet

Question 9

Auselese Reisling style

Answer 9

Made from individually selected extra ripe (late harvest) and possibly noble rot.
Richer and riper style
Dry to sweet

Question 10

Beerenauslese (BA) and Trokenbeerenauslese (TBA) style

Answer 10

Must be noble rot if TBA

BA must weight must simply be achieved with or without noble rot. Usually does tho.

Question 11

Eisewine Reisling.

Style and production notes

Answer 11

Noble rot not needed
Fine balance between acidity and sweetness
Avoid MLF and new oak
Carefully selected yeasts.
Very pure Melon, mango, tropical citrus - massive acidity to balance.

Question 12

Other German variatels…

Answer 12

Silvaner
Müller-Thurgau
Dornfelder

Question 13

VDP… what is it

Answer 13

Verband Deutcher Prädikatsweingüter
(Similar to DAC in Austria)
A membership driven organisation who have classified their vineyards which now include most of the best sites in Germany