L3- Germany Chapter 22 Flashcards
Describe the typical German wine region?
What is rainfall like in Germany?
How does the climate impact grapes?
Cool, continental climate
Summers are wet but the typically rain declines in autumn during the final stage of ripening
The long cool ripening period gives grapes the time to reach sugar ripeness while retaining their acidity
variations in weather can lead to variations in the quality, quantity, and styles of the wine from year to year
Where are the best sites for German wines?
How must these sites be worked/harvested (by hand or machine)?
How are they pruned?
South facing slopes with steep and stoney aspects which maximize the available heat and light. Vineyards located near the river reflect sunlight to help grapes ripen and air movement created by flowing water protect against frosts.
These sites must be worked by hand. Sometimes equipment is manuveured into place by winches
Vines are head-pruned, individually staked and canes tied at the top to maximize grape exposure to light and circulation of air
How are wines in Germany classified?
As a result, how long do German harvests last?
Some harvests can be spread out over a number of weeks and months because the wines in Germany are classified by their “must weight” which is the level of sugar in the grape juice.
So some vineyards can make a range of Qualitatsweine and Pradikatsweine from an individual vineyard by having pickers pass through the vineyards several times picking ideal grapes for each category.
(grapes can also be picked and sorted and categorized later after each picking)
What is the most widely planted German grape varietal?
Describe it
Riesling is the most widely planted varietal in Germany and it is very versatile.
Riesling expresses itself different depending on the region, vineyard, climate and soil.
Flavors range from delicate and floral to richer and peachy fruit.
Wines can be bone dry to lusciously sweet
What is the difference between Qualitatsweine and Pradikatsweine?
Qualiatsweine are dry style wines that can range from light and fruity to concentrated and intense. The best wines are labeled Grosses Gewachs (GG).
Pradikatsweine styles will always have some sort of residual sugar. However up to the level of the category of Auslese, it is possible for these wines to be dry in style.
What are the levels of Pradikatsweine?
In ascending order of the least residual sugar to the most residual sugar
-Kabinett
(Light in body, high acid, flavors of green
apple citrus, balanced w/ residual
sweetness. Low alc 8-9% for sweeter
styles, & up to 12% for drier styles)
-Spatlese
(Made in the same way as Kabinett, but the
wines tend to be more ripe, more body,
more alcohol & can have more sweetness
compared to Kabinett. Citrus & stone fruit
aromas (peach or apricot) are common in
this style)
-Auslese
(Made from individual selected bunches of
extra ripe grapes. Whether dry or sweet,
Auslese will always be richer, riper,
compared with Spatlese
-Beerenauslese (BA)
(Sweet style only, must achieve a certain
“must weight” to be classified this way.
But unlike TBA it does not necessarily
require noble rot to get to that level,
although it is typical ). Not made every
year. Sweet, low alc, honey, dried stone
fruit, candied peel and flowers)
-Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
(Higher must weight than BA , requires
noble rot). Not made every year. Sweet,
low alc, honey, dried stone
fruit, candied peel and flowers)
-Eiswein -
RARE. no noble rot. Focus on varietal
purity. High acid & sweetness. Grapes
picked when frozen on vine. Wine makers
must carefully select yeasts and avoid
processes such as malolactic conversion or
new oak.
How are Pradikatsweins sweetened after fermentation?
How are the best sweet Pradikatsweins made?
In Kabinett wines on the Pradikatswein scale, unfermented grape juice known as Sussreserve can be added to sweeten the wines.
However this is NOT a technique used in high quality wines.
The best styles of Kabinett are made by stopping fermentation early, before the yeast has converted all the sugar in the juice into alcohol -achieving a better sugar/acid balance.
What conditions are most ideal for noble rot?
-Ripe grapes
-damp, misty morning.
-warm dry afternoons
How is Eiswein made?
healthy/non-botrytised grapes are picked while frozen, and pressed while frozen. they display pure stone fruit aromas and floral aromatics. Have a high & concentrated sugars and acid
What other white grape varieties are important in Germany?
(1) Muller-Thurgau
-a crossing between Riesling & Madeleine Royal
-High level of acidity
-High flavor intensity
-Produces attractive floral & fruity wines
-Rarely produces high quality in Germany
-second most planted white grape
(2) Silvaner
-Made in both dry and sweet styles
-less acidic than riesling
-less fruity than riesling
-can have an earthy quality
-can do well on the right site
(3/4) Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc -more widely planted than Silvaner
What are the most important red varieties in Germany?
(1) Spatburgunder (aka Pinot noir) - grows in the warmest sites - particularly Pfalz and Baden
Wines are dry and either light and fruity OR
made in a more concentrated style that often includes oak aromas
(2) Dornfelder - widely planted
-produces deeply colored wines
-light bodied and fruity although intensely colored and flavored examples with some oak exist
-most sold are qualitatsweine
Describe the Mosel region in Germany?
Located along the Mosel river and adjoining the Rhein along with the two small tributaries of the River Saar and Ruwer . Riesling is the only permitted variety for GG wines.
Best quality sites are in Middle Mosel (the center of the region) and in particular the villages Piesport, Bernkastel and Wehlen.
The best vineyards are found on stony, steep slopes with slate soils next to the river.
Rieslings from this region tend to be lighter in body, lower in alcohol and higher in acidity compared with the Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz.
Floral and green fruit flavors predominate.
Along the tributaries of Saar and Ruwer the wines can be similar to style and quality but have an even higher level of acidity.
In cooler vintages when grapes do not fully ripen, sparkling wines are made.
Describe the Nahe region in Germany?
Located between Mosel and Rheinhessen regions, the best sites are on the banks of the river Nahe between Schlossbockenheim and Bad Kreuznach.
Best vineyards are south facing, steep slopes
Best wines -rieslings. Style is between the light style of Mosel and the fuller bodied styles of Rheingau, Rheinhessen, and Pfalz
Wines tend to have the pronounced acidity of Mosel but with slighter riper fruits due to the warmer climate.
Describe the Rheingau region in Germany?
A small but prestigious region
Located in the north - east of Mosel, on the slopes of the north bank of the river Rhine, above Nahe, Rheinhessen and Pfalz.
Majority of vineyards lie on southfacing slopes to teh west of the region between villages of Johannisberg and Rudesheim
Majority of wines made in a dry style, medium to full body and a distinct ripe peach character to their fruit flavors
Rieslings can be riper and fuller bodied due to a slightly warmer climate
Some excellent Spatburgunder is also made
GG wines made from Riesling or Spatburgunder
Describe the Rheinhessen region in Germany?
Broad range of grape white and red varieties are grown here. Muller-Thurgau and Riesling are the two most planted varieties of either color.
Black varieties are mostly Dornfelder, Spatburgunder adn Portgieser (30%). GG wines made from either Riesling or Spatburgunder
Based on steeply sloping vineyards on the west bank of the Rhine centered around the village of Nierstein, produces some of the fullest bodied Rieslings from Germany
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