Germany Flashcards
(102 cards)
1
Q
What percentage of Germany’s plantings are riesling?
A
25% of Germany’s plantings are riesling
2
Q
What percentage of the world’s riesling is produced by Germany?
A
Germany produces nearly 40% of the world’s riesling
3
Q
What wine became the face of German wine exports in the 1980s?
A
Liebfraumilch
4
Q
What historical event in the 17th century caused a decline in the German wine industry?
A
The 30 years war
5
Q
What new laws were introduced in the 1830s that impact modern German wine law?
A
Minimum must weight for grapes
6
Q
In what year was Germany unified?
A
1871
7
Q
What are two famous wine institutes founded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
A
- Geisenheim
- Julius Kuhn-Institut
8
Q
What grape became a key part of average blends after the wars?
A
Muller Thurgau
9
Q
What was the aim of the vineyard restructuring program initiated after the wars?
A
Increase efficiency and reduce costs
10
Q
What was established by the fifth German wine law passed in 1971?
A
Protected labelling and classification of styles based on must weights
11
Q
What is the latitude range for Germany’s main wine regions?
A
49-50ºN
12
Q
What type of climate does Germany’s vineyards experience?
A
Cool and continental
13
Q
What are the best vineyard locations in Germany?
A
Steep, south-facing slopes
14
Q
What was Germany’s vineyard area in 2018?
A
Around 100,000 ha
15
Q
What was the average annual production of wine in Germany from 2017 to 2021?
A
8.7 million hl
16
Q
What is the average yield for Deutscherwein and Landwein?
A
Around 150hl/ha
17
Q
What is the significance of Pendelbogen in vineyard management?
A
Increases sap flow and number of viable buds
18
Q
What percentage of vineyard area in Germany is certified organic?
A
9%
19
Q
What is the most planted black grape variety in Germany?
A
Spatburgunder
20
Q
What now-succesful grape variety was created in the 1880s?
A
Muller-Thurgau AKA Rivaner
21
Q
Describe a typical dornfelder wine
A
Deeply coloured, high acid with fruity and floral tones
22
Q
What are the two primary types of wines Silvaner produces?
A
- Simple, inexpensive wines
- High-quality, dry wines in Franken
23
Q
What is the significance of sussreserve in German winemaking?
A
Sweetening agent made from grapes of the same region and quality
24
Q
What is the maximum allowed enrichment for wines in EU Zone A?
A
Up to 3%
25
What is the traditional fermentation vessel size in the Mosel?
1000l Fuder
26
What has been the trend in the German domestic market since the 1980s?
Shift towards trocken or halbtrocken wines
27
What is the impact of high sugar levels on fermentation for Beernauslese?
Fermentation can be slow, resulting in low alcohol and high RS
28
What does the term 'Pradikatswein' refer to?
Quality wine classifications in Germany
29
What year was the current German wine law established?
1971
30
What is the harmony found in German wines?
Ness in German wines is in harmony with fruit and acidity, rather than being used to hide bitterness.
31
What is thermovinification used for in red wine production?
Thermovinification is used to extract colour and fruit without tannins.
32
What processes do higher quality German wines, particularly Spätburgunder, undergo?
Cold maceration, whole bunch and aging in oak.
33
What is the current German wine law established?
The current German wine law was established in 1971.
34
What are the four quality levels of German wine?
* Deutscher Wein
* Landwein
* Qualitätswein
* Prädikatswein
35
Define Deutscher Wein.
Deutscher Wein, aka Tafelwein, is made exclusively from grapes grown in Germany.
36
What is the alcohol content requirement for Deutscher Wein?
Alcohol must be between 8.5% and 15%.
37
What is Landwein in German wine classification?
Landwein is the German equivalent of PGI, introduced in 1982.
38
What are the requirements for grapes in Landwein?
85% of grapes must originate in the Landwein region named on the label.
39
What is the PDO category that is less strict than Prädikatswein?
Qualitätswein.
40
What must be true for grapes in Qualitätswein?
Grapes must come exclusively from one of 13 Anbaugebiete.
41
What is the minimum ABV for Qualitätswein?
The lower ABV is 7%.
42
What must Qualitätswein undergo before release?
Laboratory analysis and blind tasting.
43
What is Prädikatswein?
Prädikatswein is a PDO category similar to Qualitätswein but more stringent.
44
What is the must weight requirement for Prädikatswein?
Grapes must come from one of 40 Bereich with the highest must weights.
45
What are the levels of Prädikatswein?
* Kabinett
* Spätlese
* Auslese
* Beerenauslese
* Eiswein
* Trockenbeerenauslese
46
What characterizes Kabinett wines?
Highest acid, lowest must weights, dry to medium-sweet in style.
47
What does Spätlese mean?
Spätlese means 'late picked' and involves grapes picked about 2 weeks later than Kabinett.
48
What is Auslese?
Auslese is made from extra ripe bunches of grapes, often with honey and botrytis notes.
49
What is required for Beerenauslese production?
Must be hand picked and often has very ripe and dried stonefruit flavors.
50
What is Eiswein?
Eiswein is made from grapes picked when frozen at temperatures below -7ºC.
51
What is Trockenbeerenauslese?
Trockenbeerenauslese requires extremely high must weights and is affected by botrytis.
52
What defines the sweetness levels in German wines?
* Trocken: less than 4g/l RS
* Halbtrocken: between 4-12g/l
* Lieblich: between 12 and 45g/l
* Süß: more than 45g/l
53
What is the trend for halbtrocken wines?
Halbtrocken wines are on the decline.
54
What is the legal status of Liebfraumilch?
Liebfraumilch is protected by law.
55
What is the VDP?
VDP is an association founded to promote wines made without enrichment.
56
What is the VDP's vineyard classification system?
* VDP Gutswein
* VDP Ortswein
* Erste Lage
* Grosse Lage
57
What is the maximum yield for VDP Erste Lage?
Max yield is 60hl/ha.
58
What is the Rheingau Charta?
The Rheingau Charta promotes the best dry wines from the Rheingau.
59
What is the significance of the 2021 classification update?
It introduced a hierarchy of Qualitätswein based on the size of the unit of origin.
60
What are the five most productive wine regions in Germany?
* Rheinhessen
* Pfalz
* Baden
* Württemberg
* Mosel
61
What percentage of German vineyards does Rheinhessen contain?
Rheinhessen contains just under a quarter of German vineyards.
62
What grape variety leads in Rheinhessen?
Riesling leads in white grape plantings.
63
What mountain ranges shelter the wine region mentioned?
Hunsruck and Taunus
64
What percentage of plantings in the region are white grapes?
73%
65
Which grape variety leads the white grape plantings?
Riesling
66
What is the most planted black grape variety?
Dornfelder
67
True or False: Bulk production is key in the region.
True
68
What is the significance of Rheinterasse?
Location for quality production benefiting from eastern sunshine
69
What type of soil is found in Roter Hang?
Rotliegenden, an iron-rich soil of clay, slate and sandstone
70
Which area is gaining a reputation for Riesling and Spatburgunder?
Wonnegau in the south Rheinhessen
71
What climate effect does the Haardt Mountains have on Pfalz?
Rainshadow effect
72
What is the most planted variety in Pfalz?
Riesling
73
Fill in the blank: Baden has been split into multiple _______.
Bereiche
74
Which variety is known for producing some of the best wines in Baden?
Spatburgunder
75
What percentage of plantings in Baden are white grapes?
61%
76
Which cooperative is one of the largest in Baden?
Badischer Winzerkeller
77
What grape varieties dominate wine production in Wurttemberg?
*Lemberger*
* Trollinger*
* Schwarzriesling*
78
What is the main grape variety in Mosel?
Riesling
79
What soil types are common in the Mosel region?
*Slate*
* Grey*
* Blue*
* Brown*
* Red*
80
What is the significance of Eiswein in Mosel?
Produced in reliably cold winters
81
Fill in the blank: Franken has the most _______ climate of Germany’s principal wine regions.
Continental
82
What is the second most planted grape variety in Franken?
Silvaner
83
What percentage of plantings in Nahe are white grapes?
77%
84
What is the most planted red variety in Nahe?
Dornfelder
85
Which region is known for producing some of Germany's best and most age-worthy Rieslings?
Rheingau
86
What percentage of plantings in Rheingau are Riesling?
77%
87
What is the historical significance of the name 'Schloss' in Rheingau?
Denotes a castle or manor
88
What is the oldest co-operative in the world located in Ahr?
Mayschoss co-operative
89
What percentage of German businesses involved in the wine trade own vineyards of 3ha or less?
53%
90
True or False: The number of wine businesses in Germany has increased since 2010.
False
91
What was Germany's wine consumption in 2018?
Approximately 20 million hl
92
What percentage of German wine production was exported in the mid-2010s?
Around 10%
93
What are the top destinations for German wine exports?
*USA*
*Netherlands*
*UK*
*Norway*
*Sweden*
94
What was the average annual wine export from Germany in the decade of the 2000s?
2 million hectoliters (hl) per year
## Footnote
This represented about 20-25% of Germany's total wine production during that time.
95
What was the price range for German wine exports from the 2000s to the mid-2010s?
Moved from below 200 euros to over 300 euros per hectoliter
## Footnote
This indicates a significant increase in value over the decade.
96
What was the annual wine export from Germany by the mid-2010s?
Around 1 million hectoliters (hl) per year
## Footnote
This was closer to 10% of Germany's total wine production.
97
What contributed to the decline in bulk wine shipping from Germany?
An increase in bottled exports as part of Wines of Germany’s strategy
## Footnote
This reflects a shift in market focus and consumer preferences.
98
List the top destinations for German wine exports.
* USA
* Netherlands
* UK
* Norway
* Sweden
## Footnote
These countries represent the primary markets for German wines.
99
Which countries are particularly important for sales value per unit of German wines?
USA and Norway
## Footnote
These countries tend to have higher price points for German wines compared to others.
100
Why are the prices of wines for the UK and the Netherlands considerably lower?
Due to the presence of inexpensive wines like Liebfraumilch
## Footnote
This indicates a competitive market that affects pricing.
101
What is the role of the promotional body Wines of Germany?
To promote the quality and sales of German wines in domestic and import markets
## Footnote
Their efforts include various marketing campaigns and initiatives.
102
What notable campaign does Wines of Germany run?
Riesling Weeks campaign in 13 different countries
## Footnote
This campaign aims to highlight and promote Riesling wines specifically.
