Overview, Environment, and Grape Growing

Question 1

What percentage of German wine is Riesling? Why so much?

Answer 1

23% Riesling is late-budding with thick wood, which is relatively frost resistant. However it is late ripening and needs good sun exposure and dry autumns. In cooler years and sites, it may not ripen fully.

Question 2

What was “Flurbereinigung”?

Answer 2

A program begun in Germany after WWII that involved the consolidation of many small, fragmented vineyards and the building of access roads, both aimed at increasing efficiency, making mechanization easier and so reducing viticulture costs.

Question 3

What law laid the foundation for modern German wine production, establishing protected geographical labelling and classification of wine styles based on must weights?

Answer 3

The fifth German wine law in 1971.

Question 4

Germany’s main wine-producing regions lie around what latitude? What region is the exception?

Answer 4

Except Baden, 49-50 degrees North.

Question 5

Most of Germany’s vineyards are along what river and its tributaries?

Answer 5

The Rhine.

Question 6

What role do the rivers play in Germany wine growing?

Answer 6

The rivers radiate heat, moderate temperature, and extend the growing season.

Question 7

What sites have the best vineyards?

Answer 7

Steep, south-facing slopes maximize sun exposure. Slopes can reach gradients of 70 percent overlooking the Mosel. Only Riesling can command the prices necessary for the cost of growing on steep slopes.

Question 8

What is the weather like in German wine-growing regions?

Answer 8

Very cold in winter, used to be cold enough to regularly make Eiswein. In spring, frosts are a major risk, although this is mitigated by rivers and planting on slopes. Summers are warm but wet (rainfall averages b/n 500 and 800 mm and much of it falls in the summer, increasing the risk of fungal disease, dilution of grapes, and hail. Autumns are long and dry, allowing for long ripening periods when grapes can develop the high levels of sugar required for Prädikatswein, and morning mists along rivers are ideal for botrytis.

Question 9

What mountain ranges in Germany are important for sheltering the vineyards areas from cold winds and the worst of the rains?

Answer 9

Taunus and Haardt. At such high latitudes, vineyards are usually planted at low altitudes, mainly below 200 meters above sea level.

Question 10

What kind of soil is predominant in Mosel and Ahr?

Answer 10

Dark-colored slate, which retains heat during the day and radiates it out again at night.

Question 11

Where in Germany do we find calcareous soils, and what grapes are grown on them?

Answer 11

In Baden, Pfalz, and Rheinhessen (Spätburgunder, Weissburgunder, and Chardonnay). In Franken (Silvaner).

Question 12

In Germany what grapes prefer heavy, clayey soils?

Answer 12

Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris).

Question 13

What is a major problem with steep slopes as in the Mosel and Rheingau?

Answer 13

Erosion. Vineyard owners are regulary forced to winch soil and rocks back up the slopes, adding to vineyard maintenance costs.

Question 14

In 2017, how many hectars did Germany have under vine. How many European wine countries had more vine hectars?

Answer 14

~100,000 ha. Sixth largest are under vine in Europe. Germany is the only traditional European country where the area under vine is not falling.

Question 15

In recent years the average Germany production in hL has been what?

Answer 15

9 million hL

Question 16

What are average yields in Rheinhessen and Pfalz?

Answer 16

They can average over 100 hL/ha and were even higher in the past.

Question 17

Why was Germany forced to impose lower maximum yields in the 1980’s?

Answer 17

Because of EU regulations.

Question 18

What are maximum yields for Deutscher Wein and Landwein?

Answer 18

About 150 hL/ha.

Question 19

What are maximum yields for Qualitätswein?

Answer 19

About 105 hL/ha, but quality-minded producers work with much lower yields.

Question 20

Why has vintage variation been decreasing in recent years?

Answer 20

Because of climate change and significant advances in vineyard management techniques, led by the various research institutes. Fruit ripeness has been improved by better clonal selection (esp. amongst black grape varieties), summer pruning, green harvesting, and selective hand harvesting.

Question 21

Why is good canopy management so essential in Germany?

Answer 21

In order to maximize sun exposure and improve air circulation in order to reduce disease rink caused by wet summers.

Question 22

What is the usual vine training in Germany?

Answer 22

On the slopes, vines were traditionally staked individually with canes tied at the top. However, this method is labour-intensive and requires skills that are gradually being lost. So, as a result of Flurbereinigung, all but the steepest vineyards now use single and double replacement-cane pruning with VSP trellising and Pendelbogen..

Question 23

What is Pendelbogen?

Answer 23

Pendelbogen is replacement-cane pruned with the canes arched in the trellis. The arching of the canes is thought to improve the flow of sap in the vine and increase the number of viable buds, in turn increasing yields.

Question 24

Does Germany have a lot of organic and biodynamic viticulture? What percentage are certified organic?

Answer 24

Germany is not widely suited to organic and biodynamic viticulture. Because of risk of disease, growers still have to spray their crops regularly. In Mosel, this is often done by helicopter and likely would spray adjacent vineyards. 8% are certified organic.

Question 25

Why are labor costs often higher in Germany than in other wine-producing countries, even on flatter sites?

Answer 25

Although mechanisation is now widespread, German wine law requires grapes fo wines of Beerenauslese level and above to be hand-harvested and many producers still hand harvest for other Prädikatsweine to ensure healthy, fully-ripe fruit. Large-scale commercial operations producing high-volume, are mechanized and efficient, however.

Question 26

How does the cool climate affect the grapes that Germany grows?

Answer 26

The cool climate means that German wine production has traditionally been focused on white wine and grape varieties which can naturally tolerate the conditions, such as Riesling, or which have been bred specifically for that purpose (Müller-Thurgau (developed in early 1880s to ripen earlier than Riesling), Scheurebe (can produce full-bodied wines with intense aromas of grapefruit and peach with high enough acidity), and Kerner (can produce quality wines up to Prädikat levels with high acidity and some of the fruity, floral characteristics of Riesling).

Question 27

In 1980, what percentage of white grapes were grown in Germany? In 2017, what percentage o white grapes were grown?

Answer 27

1980: 90% white
2017: 61% white

Question 28

Germany red wine used to be light and fruity with some RS. Why has quality improved?

Answer 28

Because of 1. better clones ()esp. for Spätburgunder and Dornfelder) 2. better vineyard management and winemaking techniques 3. increasing temperatures in the vineyards

Question 29

Since the 1990s, what international grape plantings have grown?

Answer 29

Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder and Chardonnay. Otherwise, there are only small plantings of other international varieties, with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc showing promise in limited volumes.

Question 30

Why is Riesling so great?

Answer 30

Riesling produces high-quality wines in a full range of styles, from dry to sweet. It retains high acidity even when fully ripe, providing balance in sweet wines and giving the wines significant potential for ageing. In the right conditions it can produce high natural sugar and is susceptible to botrytis, making it ideal for sweet wines. It can make wines of pronounced intensity and great aromatic complexity. Fruit flavors range rom green fruit to tropical, and it can also show floral aromas, such as white flowers or honeysuckle. With age, the wines develop toast, honeyed, and petrol aromas.

Question 31

What are the properties of Müller-Thurgau (a.k.a. Rivaner)?

Answer 31

One of earliest German crosses. Earlier ripening than Riesling, can produce high yield in almost any conditions. Was Germany’s most planted grape variety in the 1970s and 1980s and was widely used in the production of inexpensive blends such as Liebfraumilch. As popularity has fallen, plantings have halved. It has much lower acidity than Riesling (generally medium ac.) and gives wines with less structure and character but can produce wines with attractive but relatively simple floral and fruity aromas for early drinking.

Question 32

What are the properties of Spätburgunder?

Answer 32

Spätburgunder is Germany’s most planted black grape (11.5% of total plantings) and has enjoyed a rapid rise in popularity, domestically and on export mkt. Plantings have almost trebled, and it thrives in warmer areas, such as Baden. Germany is increasingly being recognized as producing high-quality, complex and dry Spätburgunder, often with oak aging. Vineyard mngmt. is constantly improving with producers using higher quality clones, perfecting canopy management, and selecting harvest dates to balance alcohol, acidity, and ripeness of fruit and tannins. Some producers use whole bunch fermentation; the tannins from stems contributing to tannins without needing to use oak. In general, producers are tending to use less new oak and some are using more larger oak vessels than 10-20 years ago.

Question 33

Tell me about Dornfelder.

Answer 33

Dornfelder is the most significant of the black German crosses and has grown from nothing to be Germany’s second most planted black variety in the past 30 years. Its wines are deep in color, high in acidity, with fruity and floral notes. It is used to produce two distinct styles of wine: 1. a fruity, easy-drinking style, occasionally with a little residual sugar, with aromas of sour cherry and blackberry, and 2. a more complex style with aging potential produced from lower yields showing greater focus on tannins and structure, fermented or aged in oak. Dornfelder has been particularly successful in Rheinhessen and Pfalz, where it is the most planted black variety.

Question 34

Tell me about Silvaner (a.k.a Sylvaner in Alsace).

Answer 34

Silvaner plantings have nearly halved since 1980, although the decline has now stabilized. Lower in acidity and less aromatic than Riesling, it too, produced large amounts of simple, inexpensive wines with subtle fruit aromas that can range from green fruit to tropical. Where yields are controlled, though, particularly in Franken, it can produce high-quality, dry, medium-bodied wines with med to med + acidity and a distinctive earthy characteristic.

Question 35

Tell me about Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder.

Answer 35

Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder have overtaken Silvaner. Both have grown much more popular since the 1990s. There are now big plantings in Rheinhessen, Pfalz, and particularly in Baden. Both varieties can produce high quality wines, some of which are aged in oak. Grauburgunder particularly likes heavier soils and can produce wines with med. acidity and aromas of stone fruit and tropical (sometimes dried ) fruit and honey. In style they range from dry and medium-bodied to fuller-bodied sweeter wines (often labelled as Ruländer) Weissburgunder can produce well-balanced wines iwth medium (+) acid and delicate citrus and stone fruit aromas.

Question 36

Tell me about Chardonnay in Germany.

Answer 36

Chardonnay has only been allowed in Germany since 1990, and plantings remain low. However, high-quality examples are being produced, often with oak aging, in warmer areas such as the southern Pfalz and Kaiserstuhl in Baden.

Question 37

Name the also-ran grapes that produce mainly simple fruity wines for drinking young, especially in Württemberg.

Answer 37

Portugieser, Schwarzriesling (Pinot Meunier), Trollinger (Schiava), and Lemberger (Blaufränkisch). Some higher-quality examples are now being produced from lower-yielding sites, particularly from Lemberger.