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Wine Diploma > Germany: Wine Laws and Regulations > Flashcards

Germany: Wine Laws and Regulations Flashcards

1
Q

Name the four levels of German wine in increasing order of must weight

A

Deutscher Wein
Landwein
Qualitätswein
Prädikatswein

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2
Q

What wines come under the Deutscher Wein level?

A

Wines without a geographical indication made exclusively with German grown grapes

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3
Q

What are the minimum and maximum alcohol levels for Deutscher Wein?

A

8.5% - 15% ABV

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4
Q

What price point is most Deutscher Wein?

A

Inexpensive, to be consumed young

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5
Q

What is the name given to the German equivalent of IGP wine?

A

Landwein

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6
Q

What percentage of grapes must be from the Landwein region on a label?

A

85% minimum

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7
Q

What are the minimum and maximum alcohol levels for Landwein?

A

8.5% - 15% ABV

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8
Q

Is Landwein mostly made in a trocken, halbtrocken, or sweet style?

A

In most regions, wines can only be made in a trocken or halbtrocken style

In some regions sweet Landwein is permitted

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9
Q

Where must grapes come from to be labelled as Qualitätswein?

A

All grapes must come exclusively from one of the 13 designated quality wine regions (Anbaugebiete), the name of which must appear on the label

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10
Q

What style of wines can be made as Qualitätswein?

A

All styles are permitted

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11
Q

What are the minimum and maximum alcohol levels for Qualitätswein?

Is enrichment permitted?

A

Minimum 7%
There is no maximum

Enrichment is permitted

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12
Q

What levels of wine in Germany must undergo lab analysis and blind tasting prior to release?

A

Qualitätswein

Prädikatswein

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13
Q

Where must grapes come from to be labelled as Prädikatswein?

A

Grapes must come exclusively from a Bereich, one of forty recognised wine producing districts, smaller than the Anbaugebieten

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14
Q

For Prädikatswein, does the Bereich need to feature on the label?

A

The Bereich does not need to, and increasingly does not, feature on the wine label.

The name of the Anbaugebiete must feature

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15
Q

What grape varieties are permitted in Prädikatswein?

A

Any, although it is mainly associated with Riesling

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16
Q

How much Prädikatswein is produced each year in comparison to Qualitätswein?

A

Prädikatswein production is usually half that of Qualitätswein

In the best vintages, the amounts can be the same

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17
Q

Name the six Prädikat levels in order of increasing must weights

A 
Kabinett
Spätlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese
Eiswein
Trockenbeerenauslese
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18
Q

Give a typical tasting note for a Kabinett Riesling

A 
Green and citrus fruit aroma
High acidity
Dry to medium sweet
Light to medium (-) body
Low to medium alcohol (depending on sweetness)
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19
Q

What is the minimum alcohol level for Kabinett wines?

A

7% ABV

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20
Q

Give a typical tasting note for a Spätlese Riesling, comparing with Kabinett

A

More stone fruit than Kabinett (riper fruit)
High acidity (marginally lower than Kabinett)
Dry to medium sweet
Fuller bodied than Kabinett
Higher alcohol at a comparable level of residual sugar

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21
Q

What is the minimum alcohol level for Spätlese wines?

A

7% ABV

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22
Q

How do harvest dates for grapes destined for Spätlese and Kabinett wines differ?

A

Spätlese is produced from fully ripened grapes that are picked two weeks later than those destined for Kabinett

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23
Q

What is the minimum alcohol level for Auslese wines?

24
Q

Why might some producers add additional labelling terms not defined by law to Auslese wines?

A

Because the range of must weights for the category is so wide and there are a range of sweetness levels

25
Q

Give a typical tasting note for a Auslese Riesling, comparing with Spätlese

A

Riper and more concentrated fruit flavours, some honeyed characteristics
Some grapes may have been affected with botrytis, adding complexity
Range of sweetness levels, although some of teh best are sweeter in style

26
Q

Would you expect grapes for Auslese wines to be hand harvested?

A

Auslese is made from specially selected, extra-ripe bunches of grapes

Although bunches are carefully selected, hand harvesting is not compulsory, and some producers harvest mechanically before hand sortinf in the winery

27
Q

Would you expect grapes for Beerenauslese wines to be hand harvested?

Would you expect grapes for Beerenauslese wines to be botrytised?

A

Yes - it is made from individual berries and so must be hand harvested

Grapes do not have to be botrytised, although it is a typical feature of these wines

28
Q

What is the minimum alcohol level for Beerenauslese wines?

29
Q

What aromas and flavours would you expect from a Riesling Beerenauslese wine?

A

Very ripe and dried stone fruit flavours with wome honeyed notes

30
Q

When are grapes for Eiswein allowed to be picked?

Which Prädikat has the same must weight?

A

Grapes must be picked when frozen at temperatures below -7 degrees. Harvest can begin in November/ December and last until February the following year. The grapes are processed while frozen

Eisweins have the same must weights as Beerenauslese

31
Q

Would you expect grapes for Eiswein wines to be botrytised?

A

No - grapes need to be healthy when they freeze as any flavours of rot would be amplified

32
Q

Would you expect grapes for Trockenbeerenauslese wines to be botrytised?

A

Yes - these wines have extremely high must weights that would require the grapes to have been affected by noble rot

33
Q

List the German labelling terms for sweetness, from driest to sweetest

A

Trocken
Halbtrocken
Lieblich
Süss

These definitions are based on the level of residual sugar and not how dry or sweet a wine will taste

34
Q

What is the maximum residual sugar for Trocken wines?

A

4g/l (dry)

35
Q

What is the maximum residual sugar for Halbtrocken wines?

A

12g/l (off-dry)

36
Q

What is the maximum residual sugar for Lieblich wines?

A

45g/l (medium / medium sweet)

37
Q

What is the minimum residual sugar for Süss wines?

A

Must have more than 45g/l (sweet)

38
Q

Would you expect more dry wines to be made in warmer or cooler regions of Germany?

A

Warmer - ripeness of fruit can balance acidity without the need for sugar

39
Q

Put the following in order of size, from smallest to largest, and give their English definition:

Grosslage
Anbaugebiete
Bereich
Einzellage

A

Einzellage - individual vineyard site
Grosslage - collective vineyard sites, usually comprising several Einzellagen
Bereich - wine producing district
Anbaugebiete - quality wine producing region

40
Q

How many Anbaugebieten are there in Germany?

41
Q

How big is the average Einzellage?

42
Q

How big is the average Grosslage?

A

Between 600 to 1,800ha

43
Q

Can the quality of Einzellage or Grosslage be determined on the label?

A

No - there is not currently a ranking system for the different vineyards

44
Q

How many members are there of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter?

How much of Germany’s vineyard area is owned by VDP members?

What percentage of Germany’s wine, in terms of volume and value, is made by VDP members?

A

Around 200 members own 5% of vineyard area

Volume: 3%
Value: 7.5%

45
Q

How much VDP wine is exported?

A

Less than a quarter

46
Q

What regulations must VDP members adhere to?

A

Stricter rules than German wine laws
Lower yields
Higher minimum must weights
Predominantly traditional grapes local to that particular region
Encouraged to follow sustainable viticulture

47
Q

How do VDP members label their dry wines?

A

Qualitätswein Trocken - Prädikat levels are only used for wines with residual sweetness

48
Q

Name the four levels in the VDP’s tier system, from least prestigious to most prestigious

A

VDP Gutswein: Regional wines

VDP Ortswein: Village level wines

VDP Erste Lage: Equivalent to Burgundy 1er Cru

VDP Grosse Lage: Equivalent to Burgundy Grand Cru

49
Q

What is the maximum yield for VDP Gutswein?

50
Q

What is the maximum yield for VDP Orstwein?

What grapes are permitted?

A

75hl/ha

Must be produced from grapes typical of the region

51
Q

What is the maximum yield for VDP Erste Lage?

What grapes are permitted?

A

60hl/ha

Must be produced from grapes varieties which the local VDO association has deemed to be suited best to a particular site or parcel

52
Q

What is the maximum yield for VDP Grosse Lage?

What grapes are permitted?

A

50hl/ha

Must be produced from grapes varieties which the local VDO association has deemed to be suited best to a particular site or parcel

53
Q

When is the earliest that dry white wines from VDP Grosse Lage can be released?

A

September the year after harvest

54
Q

When is the earliest that dry red wines from VDP Grosse Lage can be released?

A

September 2 years after harvest

12 months must be in oak

55
Q

When is the earliest that sweet white wines from VDP Grosse Lage can be released?

A

May the year after harvest

56
Q

What designation are dry wines from VDP Grosse Lage given? How is this displayed on the label?

A

Grosse Gewächs

This term cannot appear on the label; instead the VDP trademark is used

57
Q

What is Liebfraumilch?

What is the minimum level of residual sugar?

What grapes are permitted?

A

Medium wine of Qualitätswein level

Min. 18g/l

Must contain at least 70% Riesling, Silvaner, Müller Thurgau or Kerner, although generally Müller Thurgau dominates

Wine Diploma (62 decks)

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