Germany

Question 1

What percent of German Sekt is inexpensive, high volume wine?

Answer 1

Over 90%

Question 2

What are the 4 quality levels of German Sekt?

Answer 2

Sekt, Deutscher Sekt, Deutscher Sekt bA, Winzersekt

Question 3

German Sekt

Answer 3

Wines made from the tank method. Typically made with a range of base wines sourced from OUTSIDE of Germany. Most grapes/must comes from inexpensive regions of Southern Europe, and made sparkling in Germany. They can only be sold 6 months after second fermentation has started, with a minimum of 90 days on the lees, or 30 days if the lees are stirred. German Sekt is Non-Vintage.

Question 4

Deutscher Sekt

Answer 4

Sparkling wines made from German-grown fruit. Wines can be made via Tank Method or by Traditional Method. These wines are light in fruit intensity and contain no autolytic notes. Sweetness level is typically brut or Extra Dry with noticeable residual sugar. They are acceptable to good in quality, and inexpensive in terms of price.

Question 5

Deutscher Sekt bA

Answer 5

bA is a common abbreviation of bestimmter Anbaugebiete, “of a defined region.” This is sparkling wine related to the general quality catagory, Qualitatswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete, quality wine from one of the 13 defined wine-growing regions. The name of the Anbaugebiete must appear on the label. bA wines can be made by Tank Method or Traditional Method.

Question 6

Winzersekt

Answer 6

Winzersekt (Winzer = Winegrower) refers to a sparkliong wine which is estate-bottled, uses only grapes grown on the estate, is made by the Traditional Method and is kept for a minimum of 9 months on the lees. It is most typically made with riesling, but a range of other varieties can be used. The vintage, grape variety and producer name must appear on the bottle. Wine are typically brut in style, and are very-good to outstanding.

Question 7

Perlwein

Answer 7

More commonly known as ‘Secco,’ this wine is made via the Tank Method or by Carbonation. The grapes or must are sourced from inexpensive locations. Wine is typically below 3 atmospheres of pressure. These wines are ultra cheap and do not attract tax.

Question 8

The Growing Environment & Grape Growing - Sekt

Answer 8

Grapes are grown in high volume areas in souther Europe. Low aromatic grape varieties from Italy, Spain & France are typically used. Grapes are usually crushed at the point of origin, musts are chilled and transported by truck or train to Germany.

Question 9

The Growing Environment & Grape Growing - Deutcher Sekt, Deuthscher Sekt bA and Winzersekt

Answer 9

Grapes are typically picked early for sparkling wines. with under-ripe grapes being selected out. Single variety wines are most common (traditionally riesling), however blends based on Chardonnay & Pinot Noir are also made. Wines can either be hand harvested or machine harvested.

Question 10

What is Germanys grape growing climate?

Answer 10

Cool, Continental

Question 11

German Sekt Tank Method production

Answer 11

First fermentation is carried out at low temperatures to retain freshness of fruit. Wines are then blended to ensure consistancy across batches and within the style of the brand. Second fermentation is conducted in tanks with the higher quality wines being aged on the lees for 3-6 months. The tank method means that large volumes of wine can be made and released after a relatively short production cycle, reducing cost and prices.

Question 12

How are most German sekts’ made?

Answer 12

German grown grapes are made into base wines, then deliver to large Sekt-producing specialist companies for the second fermentation.

Question 13

The Traditional Method (In Germany)

Answer 13

Wines are made via the Traditional Method, either with Chardonnay & Pinot Noir or with Riesling. If Riesling is the base wine, producers tend not to undergo malolactic conversion. Due to Rieslings distinctive floral aromas, it is typical for Trad-Method producers to undergo as short lees aging time frames as possible (unlike all other regions), in an attempt to not over shadow Riesling delicate floral aromas.

Question 14

Wine Law (German sparkling)

Answer 14

Sekt must be produced though second fermentation (no carbonation). It must have an alcohol content of at least 10% abv and a CO2 pressure of at-least 3.5 atmospheres. Wines labelled Sekt can be made from base wines from grapes grown in any EU country. For tank method Sekt wines, the period from tirage to release from the winery for sale must last for a minimum of 6 months with a minimum of 90 days on the lees. The period of lees aging can be lowered to 30 days if the wine is in a tank with stirrers.

Question 15

How long must Sekt wines made with the Traditional Method age on the lees?

Answer 15

Minimum 9 months.

Question 16

How many months must Transfer Method wines spend on the lees?

Answer 16

Minimum 3 months. The wines may then be released for sale after 9 months.

Question 17

What does Flaschengarung mean?

Answer 17

‘Bottle fermented.’ However, these wines may be disgorged via the transfer method.

Question 18

what does Klassische Flaschengarung mean?

Answer 18

‘Classic bottle fermentation.’ This means the wine has undergone second fermentation in the bottle. The Transfer Method is not allowed.

Question 19

Wine Business (German Sekt)

Answer 19

There are 3 major sectors for German sparkling wines -
‘Low End’ - Wines that retail for up to 4 Euros per bottle. This accounts for over 1/2 of the sale of German sparkling wines.
‘Standard-Quality’ - Sparkling wines that retail for up to 6 Euros per bottle.
‘High Quality Sparkling Wines’ - Wines with a considerably higher price point.

Question 20

What is strange about German Sekt laws in terms of Taxes?

Answer 20

The price of every bottle of Sekt automatically includes a goverment tax of 1.02 Euros. This tax has been levied since 1902.

Question 21

What is unique about the German Sekt wine production market?

Answer 21

Sekt production is extremely competitive. Wines are very cheap and there is little room for high priced wines. Sekt production is dominated by a small number of very large companies. Rotkappchen-Mumm, Henkell & Co and Schloss Wachenheim, each with multiple brands.

Question 22

Who is the largest producer of German sparkling wine?

Answer 22

Rotkappchen

Question 23

What percent of Sekt is consumed domestically?

Answer 23

About 90%.

Question 24

What percent of sparkling wine in Germany is sold in the retail sector?

Answer 24

About 75%

Question 25

VDP Sekt

Answer 25

in 2018 the VDP incorporated Sekt into its own statutes. VDP standards include:
Fruit must be grown on the estate of a VDP member and be produced specifically for Sekt production.
Fruit must be picked early, by hand, whole cluster pressed, and wine must be made via the Traditional Method.
There are two tiers:
1) 15 months on the less
2) 36 months on the lees, and all grapes must be harvested from a single vineyard and vintage.