German Wine Law

Question 1

What is anreicherung?

Answer 1

Enrichment (chaptalization)

Question 2

What is the mandatory minimum size for einzellagen in Germany, and as of when?

Answer 2

5ha; as of the vineyard reorganization and registration of 1971.

Question 3

What are the exceptions to the 5ha rule?

Answer 3

Doctor (Bernkastel)
Freundstück (Forst, Baden)
Kirchenstück (Forst, Baden)
Schloss Vollrads (ortsteil, Rheingau)

Question 4

When was the auslese category introduced?

Answer 4

1787

Question 5

Where and when was the Geisenheim Wine Institute founded?

Answer 5

1872 in Geisenheim, Rheingau

Question 6

Name three important crossings in Germany

Answer 6

Müller-Thurgau (riesling x madeleine royale)
Kerner (riesling x trollinger)
Scheurebe (riesling x silvaner)
Dornfelder

Question 7

What is schwarzriesling?

Answer 7

Pinot Meunier

Question 8

What is weissherbst?

Answer 8

Single-varietal saignée rosé of at least QbA quality from Baden

Question 9

Define abfüller

Answer 9

bottler or shipper who assumes the responsibility for the origin and quality of a wine

Question 10

Define edelfäule

Answer 10

Noble rot

Question 11

Define erzeugerabfüllung

Answer 11

Wine grown and produced by the same grower or cooperative

Question 12

Define gutsabfüllung

Answer 12

Wine grown, produced, and bottled by the same person/estate

Question 13

Define füder

Answer 13

1000L cask (common in the Mosel)

Question 14

Define stück

Answer 14

1200L cask (common in the Rheingau)

Question 15

Define Kellerei

Answer 15

wine cellar or wholesaler

Question 16

Define lieblich

Answer 16

Medium sweet

Question 17

Define Rotling

Answer 17

Rosé produced from a mix of red and white varieties, with a pale or clear red color

Question 18

Define Schneewein

Answer 18

Snow wine: ice wine made from grapes gathered when snow covered the vineyards

Question 19

Define Winzergenossenschaft

Answer 19

Co-operative

Question 20

What is Deutscher Wein?

Answer 20

The lowest quality level in Germany. 100% of grapes must be from the country

Question 21

What is Landwein?

Answer 21

Grown in one of 26 landweingebiete; trocken or halb-trocken in style

Question 22

What is Qualitätswein?

Answer 22

Produced from approved varieties sourced from a single anbaugebiete. MAY BE CHAPTALIZED.

Question 23

May Prädikatswein by chaptalized?

Answer 23

NO

Question 24

What is Erstes Gewächs?

Answer 24

A legally defined term applying to Riesling and Pinot Noir from classified sites in the Rheingau, harvested at a max of 50hl/ha and aged before release. Must be trocken.

Question 25

What is the minimum abv for Kabinett through Auslese?

Answer 25

7% ABV

Question 26

What is the minimum abv for Beerenauslese through Trockenbeerenauslese?

Answer 26

5.5% ABV

Question 27

Kabinett Öchsle

Answer 27

70-85

Question 28

Spätlese Öchsle

Answer 28

80-95

Question 29

Auslese Öchsle

Answer 29

88-105

Question 30

Beerenauslese Öchsle

Answer 30

110-128

Question 31

Eiswein Öchsle

Answer 31

110-128

Question 32

Trockenbeerenauslese Öchsle

Answer 32

150-154

Question 33

How is Sekt typically made?

Answer 33

Charmat

Question 34

What is Deutscher Sekt?

Answer 34

Sekt comprising only german grape varieties

Question 35

May sekt be bottled at QbA quality?

Answer 35

Yes, if produced from traditional grapes from one of the 13 anbaugebiete

Question 36

Why does the term Grosses Gewächs appear as GG on german wine labels?

Answer 36

Because the term is legally barred from appearing on wine labels

Question 37

As of 2012, what terms have been established?

Answer 37

Grosse Lage - Grand Cru Erste Lage - Premier Cru

Question 38

May dry wines from Erste Lage sites be labeled Grosses Gewächs?

Answer 38

No, they must be labelled trocken

Question 39

Is the new Erste Lage tier mandatory?

Answer 39

No, it is adopted (or not) by individual anbaugebiete

Question 40

What is Ortswein?

Answer 40

Village wine (within one gemeinde)

Question 41

What is Gutswein?

Answer 41

Regional wine (within one anbaugebiet)

Question 42

Is estate bottling mandatory for VDP members?

Answer 42

Yes

Question 43

What does Classic entail?

Answer 43

Max 15 g/L RS; no mention of vineyard.

Question 44

What does Selection entail?

Answer 44

Max 9g/L RS (12g/L for Riesling); hand harvested, single vineyard, single varietal, harvested at auslese ripeness.

Question 45

When did Classic and Selection come into use?

Answer 45

2000 vintage

Question 46

What is Charta?

Answer 46

An organization founded in 1984, committed to advance dry styles of riesling, notated by its three arches icon.

Question 47

What is frühburgunder?

Answer 47

An early ripening strain of pinot noir.

Question 48

What is the German word for vintage?

Answer 48

Jahrgang

Question 49

As of 2013, which anbaugebiete will participate in the new 4 tier VDP system?

Answer 49

``` Rheingau Pfalz Franken Baden Württemberg Sachsen Saale-Unstrut ```

Question 50

Badisch Rotgold

Answer 50

Rotling - a special rosé-colored wine - is created by pressing red and white wine grapes together. "Badisch Rotgold" is a Rotling from Baden that is made exclusively from Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir grapes. Pinot Gris must have the higher proportion in this mixture.

Question 51

Schillerwein

Answer 51

“Schillerwein” is a traditional Rotling from the Württemberg wine region. No special grape varieties are required for its production. It probably did not get its name from the poet Friedrich Schiller, but rather from the iridescent color of the wine.

Question 52

Not German, but what is "Schilcher" wine

Answer 52

Austrian, rose made with Blauer Wildbacher