Germany

Question 1

Which German wine region is seen as a continuation of Alsace?

Answer 1

Pfalz

Question 2

Describe the Pfalz region.

Answer 2

2nd largest region
Grape: Riesling
Style: Fuller body

GG varietals: Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weißburgunder
Important villages: Forst, Deidesheim

Question 3

What is Weißburgunder?

Answer 3

Pinot Blanc

Question 4

What is Spätburgunder?

Answer 4

Pinot Noir

Question 5

Describe the Rheingau region.

Answer 5

Small but prestigious
Grape: Riesling
Style: Dry, med-full body, ripe peach

High quality Spätburgunder also produced
Humid conditions = some of the best BA & TBA

GG varietals: Riesling, Spätburgunder
Important villages: Johannisberg, Rudesheim

Question 6

Describe the Rheinhessen region.

Answer 6

Largest wine growing region
Grapes: Riesling, Muller-Thurgau

GG varietals: Riesling, Spätburgunder
Important village: Nierstein

Area around Nierstein (aka Rheinterrasse) makes some of Germany’s fullest body Rieslings

Question 7

Describe the Mosel region.

Answer 7

Best vineyards are very steep slopes, slate soil, next to river
Grape: Riesling

GG varietal: Riesling
Important villages: Piesport, Bernkastel, Wehlen

Question 8

Describe the Nahe region.

Answer 8

Best vineyards are on banks of river Nahe, steep south-facing slopes
Grape: Riesling
Style: Between Mosel & full-body from Rheingau/Rheinhessen/Pfalz

GG varietal: Riesling
Important village: Schlossbockelheim

Question 9

Describe the Baden region.

Answer 9

Warmest and most southern region
Grape: Spätburgunder
Style: High quality, full body, high alcohol

GG varietals: Variety of white and black grapes

Question 10

Describe the Franken region.

Answer 10

Wine bottles are distinctive flask shape
Grape: Silvaner
Style: Dry, rich, earthy, flavor concentration rare for Germany

GG varietals: Variety of white and black grapes

Question 11

Describe the climate of Germany.

Answer 11

Cool, continental climate
Wet summer but decline in Autumn during final ripening
Annual weather conditions vary = quality, quantity, wine style also vary

Question 12

Describe the grape growing of Germany.

Answer 12

Small difference in vineyard location have big impact on wine
Best vineyards are south-facing, steep, stoney slopes
Rivers help with sunlight and flowing water protects against frost
Harvest can be spread out over weeks/months (wines are classified by must weight)
Noble rot can develop in every region

Question 13

List the Pradikat levels for Riesling in order of lowest to highest must weight.

Answer 13

Kabinett
Spatlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese (“selection of berries”)
Trockenbeerenauslese (“dried berry selection”)
Eiswein

Question 14

What is Grauburgunder?

Answer 14

Pinot Gris

Question 15

What does Feinherb mean?

Answer 15

An off-dry wine. Same as Halbtrocken, but not legally defined.

Question 16

What is Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter?

Answer 16

VPD

An independent group of winemakers who classify the quality of wines.
(In Germany, Pradikat labels only indicate the style, not quality.)

Question 17

What is Grosses Gewächs?

Answer 17

GG

A label from the VDP to show dry wines from the best vineyards.
The wines are usually Qualitatswein.