Germany

Question 1

Sekt

Answer 1

• german sparkling wine
• very low grade product of no individual character
• hardly exported

Question 2

Location

Answer 2

• majority made from inexpensive base wine sourced outside of germany, mainly italy, france and spain

Question 3

Grapes

Answer 3

• Classic varietals
• there is some good Reisling however it can never compete w/ the classic brut style as it’s varietal character is too strong
• Pinot blanc

Question 4

Vinification

Answer 4

• mainly tank method
• some traditional
• the fault is not in the tank method, the fault lies in the bulk production method attracting mediocre base wines and speedy throughput
• transfer method is also widely used
• pick underripe grapes, sell the products quick because they lack shelf-life, mask the green flavors w/ a liberal dosage which takes most up to trocken (17g/l) levels

Question 5

Classifications

Answer 5

• Sekt
• Deutscher Sekt
• Sekt bA
• Winzersekt
• Perlwein
• Vintage / Varietal Sekt

Question 6

Important Trade Structure

Answer 6

• Rotkappchen
• biggest issue with Sekt is it’s Euroblend image
• also has very limited production
• number of sekt producers have increased since the 1990’s from 200 to 1590
• Some VDP grown wines
• goverened by manufacturing, not wine law

Question 7

Deutscher Sekt

Answer 7

• must originate 100% from Germany

- if multiregional, region names not allowed on the label

Question 8

Sekt

Answer 8

• multiregional cuvees

Question 9

Sekt bA

Answer 9

• sekt from a specific region which is mentioned on the label
• can also be labelled by the name of a smaller gro unit, for instance a vineyard site, in which at least 85% of the wine must come from that appellation

Question 10

Winzersekt

Answer 10

• a varietal sparkling wine produced from grapes grown by the producer.
• always produced in the traditional method and vintage / variety are mentioned on the label

Question 11

Perlwein

Answer 11

• wine w/ 1-2.5 atm. like a frizzante

Question 12

Sweetness levels

Answer 12

• Naturherb
• Extra hetb
• Herb
• Extra trocken
• troken
• halbtrocken
• mild

Question 13

Pinot Blanc

Answer 13

• chardonnays understudy
• common in germany for so called premium quality brut made by traditional method
• not very successful

Question 14

Reisling

Answer 14

• classic Deutcher sekt
• steadily increased in production and quality over the last 15 years
• rich, honeyed, petrol like

Question 15

Pinot noir

Answer 15

• does not retain it’s freshness like CH
• provides for a more complex wine
• biscuity over toasty
• important when crafting Rose’s