Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) > Germany: Wine Regions > Flashcards

Germany: Wine Regions Flashcards

Learn the specifics about Germany's wine regions and the grapes grown there, the styles produced, and why they taste they way they do.

1
Q

Which of Germany’s wine regions is the oldest?

A

Mosel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

On what parallel is the Mosel wine region?

A

49th parallel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the climate of the Mosel?

A

Cool Continental

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which river helps moderate the Mosel wine region?

A

Mosel River

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the landscape of the Mosel wine region?

A

Very steep, south-facing vineyards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the soil of the Mosel wine region?

A

Slate

  • porous, well draining
  • excellent heat retention
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What grapes are grown in the Mosel?

A

Riesling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Riesling grown in the Mosel is typically:

  • ultra-ripe, low acid, high alcohol, dry
  • ripe, medium acid and alcohol, dry
  • just-ripe, high acid, low alcohol, off-dry
A

Just-ripe, high acid, low alcohol, off-dry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Most Mosel Rieslings are vinified in what type of vessel?

A

Stainless steel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why do most Mosel Rieslings have residual sugar?

A

To balance out the ripping-high acidity.

Think lemonade: if there’s too much lemon juice (acidity), you need sugar to balance out that sharpness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why are most Mosel Rieslings so low in alcohol?

A

Because the grapes struggle to ripen at that northerly latitude, their sugars are low which in turn means a lower-alcohol wine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Name two gemeinden (villages) in the Mosel famous for their Rieslings.

A
  1. Ürzig
  2. Piesport
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The Rheingau is north or south of the Mosel?

A

South of the Mosel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What mountain range is on the north side of the Rheingau?

A

Taunus Mountains

These mountains protect the Rheingau from cold northerly winds.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the climate of the Rheingau?

A

Continental

Rheingau is a bit warmer than the Mosel due to its being further south.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Which river runs through the Rheingau?

A

Rhine River

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the soil of the Rheingau?

A

Slate for the top vineyards with some clay and sand on lower slopes.

18
Q

Where are the vineyards of the Rheingau located, and which direction do they face?

A

South-facing vineyards on the long slope on the north side of the Rhine River.

19
Q

What are the grapes grown in the Rheingau?

A
  • Riesling (white)
  • Spätburgunder (red)
20
Q

Name 1 famous vineyard in the Rheingau.

A

Schloss Johannisberg

21
Q

What is Kloster Eberbach?

A

Originally, it was a monastery founded by Cistercian monks in 1135.

The monastery dissolved in the 1800s and today it’s known as a top-tier, single vineyard.

22
Q

Where is the Rheinhessen in relation to Rheingau?

A

South of Rheingau

23
Q

What is the climate of Rheinhessen?

A

Continental

24
Q

What is the landscape of the Rheinhessen?:

  • flat with fertile soil
  • steep hills with infertile soil
A

Flat and fertile

25
Q

What are the soils of the Rheinhessen?

A
  • Red sandstone
  • Slate
26
Q

What are the white grapes of Rheinhessen?

A
  • Riesling
  • Müller-Thurgau
  • Silvaner
27
Q

Rheinhessen is the ___est wine region in Germany.

A

Largest

28
Q

What is Liebfraumilch?

A

An inexpensive, sweet white wine made mostly from Müller-Thurgau. It was heavily exported in the 1980s and very popular at the time, but it ended up being a blemish on the perception of German wines for decades.

29
Q

Where are the top vineyards in the Rheinhessen located?

A

A thin ribbon of steep hills on the WEST bank of the Rhine River, between Nackenheim and Nierstein.

This area is best known for today’s high quality, dry Rieslings.

30
Q

Clue to German pronunciation of “ie” and “ei”:

A

You pronounce the second vowel, meaning:

  • If the i is after the e, you pronounce the i
    • e.g. Nackenheim (nack-en-hime)
  • If the e is after the i, you pronounce the e
    • e.g. Piesporter (peece-porter)
31
Q

The Pfalz region in Germany is pretty much a continuation of the ____ region in France.

A

Alsace

32
Q

What river separates the Pfalz from Alsace?

A

Rhine River

33
Q

What is the mountain range on west side of Pfalz?

A

Haardt Mountains

34
Q

The Haardt Mountains are an extention of what other mountain range?

A

Vosges Mountain range

35
Q

The Haardt Mountains provide the Pfalz with a ____ _____.

A

Rain shadow

36
Q

Between the Pfalz’s southerly latitude and it being in a rain shadow, it has one of the ____est growing areas in Germany.

A

Warmest

37
Q

What is the soil in Pfalz?

A

Limestone

38
Q

What are the white grapes of Pfalz?

A
  • Riesling
  • Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
  • Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
39
Q

What is the red grape of the Pfalz?

A

Spätburgunder, aka Pinot Noir

40
Q

What style of wine does the Pfalz mainly produce?

A

Dry wines

Pfalz Rieslings tend to be fuller, riper, and higher in alcohol vs. Mosel Rieslings.

Introductory Sommelier Exam (CMS) (40 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions