Key Anbaugebiete + Characteristics

Question 1

• Regions conc in S/W of GER, exc Sachen + Saale Unstrut
• Key Regions:

1. M (formerly M-S-R) 8,900ha
2. N - 4,200ha
3. Rh - 3,200 ha
4. Rh - 26,500ha (biggest)
5. Pf - 23,500ha
6. B - 15,900ha
7. A - 560 ha
8. Mittel 450ha
9. Hess Berg
10. F
11. Wurt
12. Sachen
13. Saale-Un (ex DDR)

Answer 1

• The wine regions are concentrated in the Southwest of the country. Exceptions: Sachen, Saale Unstrut, Ahr.
• Key regions (from west to east):

1. Mosel (formerly Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) – 8,900ha
2. Nahe – 4,200ha
3. Rheingau – 3,200ha
4. Rheinhessen – 26,500ha (#1)
5. Pfalz – 23,500ha
6. Baden – 15,900ha
7. Ahr – 560ha
8. Mittelrhein 450ha
9. Hessische Bergstrasse
10. Franken
11. Wurttemburg
12. Sachen
13. Saale-Unstut (ex DDR)

Question 2

8,900ha

1. From Vosges FR and Lux along M River to Rh
2. Mostly W W 91% esp Rie
3. Steep sl of sl - absorb heat + rad at night
4. Mid M, S + Ruw best areas, finest Einz around Pp and Bern. Key Prod: Mos Co-Op; Loosen; Max-F Richter (famous for Einz.
5. Delicate, steelier Ac + more robust in S + Ru

Answer 2

Mosel (formerly Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) – 8,900ha

1. From border with France (Vosges) and Luxembourg along the Mosel river up to the Rhein.
2. Predominance of white wine (91% of plantings) and esp. Riesling
3. Steep slopes made of slate that absorb the heat and radiate it at night
4. Middle Mosel, Saar and the Ruwer are the best areas w finest Einzellage around the villages of Piesport & Bernkastelo Key producers: Moselland cooperative; Loosen; Max-Ferd Richter (famous for Eiswein).
5. Delicate style; steelier acidity and more robust in Saar and Ruwer

Question 3

4,200 ha

1. Along N River, prot by Huns Mount
2. Mainly Rie, but M-T, Silv + Dorn grown

Key areas

1. Schlossbockelheim (centre) benefitted from Flurb, complex soil, w/Sandst + Sl
2. Felsenberg in Schloss top vy for late-r Rie
3. Bad Kruznach - famous for Rie, Loess + clay soil for relatively subst W
4. Lower Nahe - Sl + quartzite soil on steep Terr v/y for WeissB + Rie, Goldloch = top v/y
5. Co-Op

Answer 3

Nahe – 4,200ha

1. Along the Nahe river; protect by the Hunsruck mountains
2. Mainly Rieslings but Muller-Thurgau, Silvaner (both declined dramatically since 70s) & Dornfelder also grown

Key areas:

1. Area around Schlossbockelheim (centre): benefited from Flurbereinigung; complex soils with sandstone & slate;
2. Felsenberg in Schlossbockelheim is a top vineyard for late-ripening Riesling.
3. Around Bad Kreuznach: famous for Rieslings, loess & clay soils for relatively substantial wine
4. Lower Nahe: slate & quartzite soils on steep terraced vineyards for Weissburgunder & Rieslings; Goldloch is one of the top vineyards.
5. Predominance of cooperatives

Question 4

3,200 ha

1. N bank of Rh, facing S; W of Frank
2. Protect by T Mount = optimal cond for Grape
3. Slate, L + L Soil on Steep sl and Sandy L in Valley
4. Dark soil abs H + rad at night = allows riper, more conc Rie
5. Best v/y around Rudesheim, Geisenheim and Joh
6. Balanced, Ele F wine from Hills, richer in Valley
7. Some Hi Q Spat esp Hochheim on the Main & Assmanshausen
8. Geisenheim, World’s Leading Viti centre. Charta Org merged with local VDP
9. Only 7 Co-op, 10% of H, iconic Ch

Schloss J - 900yr old 60ha est, claims disc of Bot wine in 18C

Schloss Vollrads - 800yr old est, Member of VDP

Kloster Eberbach - Monestary 1135 w/powerful infl on region, hi rated W

Answer 4

Rheingau – 3,200ha

1. North bank of the Rhine facing south; west of Frankfurt;
2. protected by the Taunus mountains -> optimal conditions for grape growing
3. Slate, loess and loam soils on steep slopes and sandy loam in the valley
4. Dark soils absorb heat & radiate it at night, allowing for riper, more concentrated Rieslings.
5. Best vineyards around Rudesheim, Geisenheim and Johannisberg
6. Balanced, elegant fruity wines from hillsites; richer style in the valley
7. Pockets of high quality Spatburgunder esp. Hochheim on the Main & Assmanshausen
8. Geisenheim: world’s leading viticulture centre; Charta organisation merged with local VDP organisation
9. Only 7 cooperatives that account for 10% of harvest; iconic Chateaux:

• Schloss Johannesberg – 900yr old 60ha wine estate; claims discovery of botrytised wines by mistake in 18
• Schloss Vollrads: 800yr old wine estate; member of VDP
• Kloster Eberbach: monastery founded in 1135 w powerful influence on the region; still producing highly rated wines

Question 5

26,500ha Largest

1. E of Nahe, other side of Rhein vs Rheingau
2. Largest area under V in GER
3. Area prot from W + Rain up to 600m on W, E facing slopev/y are best
4. Nierstein: key village w/red soil, E-facing slope along Rheinf for world famous Rie
5. Most grape V rep, but M-T + Sil more common. Lieb country
6. Large % of Grosslage / coop w/ 3/4 of wine sold in Bulk

Answer 5

Rheinhessen – 26,500ha (#1)

1. East of Nahe and other side of Rhein vs. Rheingau;
2. largest area under vine in Germany
3. Area protected from winds & rain by up to 600m hills on West; east facing slope vineyard are the best sites
4. Nierstein: key village with red soils, east-facing slopes along the Rhine for world famous Rieslings.
5. Most varieties represented but Muller-Thurgau & Silvaner more common; Liebfraumilch country
6. Large percentage of Grosslage / cooperative wines w 3⁄4 of wine sold in bulk

Question 6

23,500ha

1. S of Rheinhessen, along and W of Rhine
2. Haardt M on W provide shelter sim to V in Alsace, warm S, mild W.
3. Soil Mostly S/Stone, benefitted from Flurb
4. Spat, M-T, Rie, Kern dominate

Answer 6

Pfalz – 23,500ha

1. Directly south of Rheinhessen along & west of the Rhine
2. Haardt mountains on the west provide similar shelter to Vosges in Alsace -> warm summers, mild winters
3. Soils predominantly sandstone; benefited from Flurbereinigung
4. Spatburgunder, Muller-Thurgau, Riesling & Kerner dominate.
5. Key villages: both Forst and Deidesheim recognised for outstanding Rieslings
6. Von Buhl is the largest winery in Deidesheim; founded 1848; member of the VDP; international reputation.

Question 7

15,900ha

1. Longest region (400km), E side of Rhine, facing Alsace only GER Zone B region
2. Protect from Vosges and Schwarzwald = warmest and sunniest in GER
3. Spat dominates 1/3 of plantings, then M-T, PG + Rie
4. 77% co-op produce 80% of wine. Badische Winzer, largest W/Euro Coop

Answer 7

Baden – 15,900ha

1. Longest wine region (400km) along the eastern side of the Rhine; facing Alsace; only German Zone B region
2. Protection from the Vosges and the Schwarzwald -> warmest and sunniest regions in Germany
3. Spatburgunder dominates more than 1/3 of plantings, followed by Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris & Riesling.
4. 77% cooperatives produce 80% of the wines with Badische Winzer, largest western European cooperative.

Question 8

Ahr - 560ha

1. N part of country, viti pos due to Volc Soil + historic reasons
2. Small region, mostly Red (85%) incl Spatb,
3. Meyer-Nakel = quality

Answer 8

Ahr – 560ha

1. Northern part of the country; viticulture possible thanks to dark volcanic soils and historical reasons.
2. Small region; predominantly red production (85%)

Question 9

8. Mittelrhein - 45ha
   * Neighbour region to M and Rheing. Top Q Rie can rival top Rheing
9. Hessische Bergstrasse
   * Tiny, sold on local mark
10. Franken
    * In Bav (nr Munch), hi Q, FB Silv
11. Wurttemburg
    * Neighbour to B, Prod large quan of light f red, dom by co-op
12. & 13. Sachen and Saale-Unstrut

Answer 9

8. Mittelrhein - 450ha

• Neighbouring region to Mosel and Rheingau. Top quality Rieslings can rival top Rheingau.

9. Hessische Bergstrasse

• Tiny region, which produce is only sold on local market.

10. Franken

• Located in Bavaria (near Munchen); Hi quality full bodied Silvaner.

11. Wurttemburg

• Neighbouring region to Baden. Produces large quantities of light fruity reds; dominated by Cooperatives.
  12. & 13. Sachen and Saale-Unstrut (ex-DDR)