Germany

Question 1

What is the most important grape variety in Germany?

Answer 1

Riesling.

Question 2

What it Pinot Noir called in Germany?

Answer 2

Spatburgunder

Question 3

What is the climate of Germany?

Answer 3

Cool Continental.

Question 4

How do climatic conditions affect wine growing?

Answer 4

Summers can be wet; rain declines in the Autumn during final stages of ripening; a long, cool ripening period gives the grapes time to reach sugar ripeness while retaining acidity; noble rot can develop in every region. Annual conditions vary considerably.

Question 5

Where are the best vineyard sites?

Answer 5

Steep and often stoney slopes with a Southerly aspect.

Question 6

How are vines trained?

Answer 6

Head-pruned, individually staked and the canes tied at the top to maximize grape exposure to light and circulation of air.

Question 7

Name two benefits of locating vineyards near a river.

Answer 7

Reflected sunlight helps grapes to ripen; flowing water can protect against frosts.

Question 8

How are wines classified?

Answer 8

Minimum must weight at harvest, allowing the harvest to be spread out over weeks or months.

Question 9

Which GI are the majority of German wines?

Answer 9

PDO

Question 10

How are the PGI wines labeled?

Answer 10

Landwein.

Question 11

How is a wine with no GI labeled?

Answer 11

Deutscher Wein.

Question 12

How many PDO regions are there?

Answer 12

13

Question 13

What are the two fundamental levels of wine?

Answer 13

Qualitastwein and Pradikatswein.

Question 14

Name the six categories of Pradikatswein wines.

think of these designations as an indicator of style

Answer 14

Kabinett, Spaltete, Auslese, Beerenausles (BA), Eiswein, Trockenbeerenausles (TBA). [from driest to sweetest]

Question 15

How many wine regions can be included in a PDO wine?

Answer 15

Only one. The name of the region will appear on the label. If it is a Pradikat wine, the Pradikat level will also appear on the label.

Question 16

What additional information may also be included on the label?

Answer 16

Level of sweetness, vineyard location and indications of quality.

Question 17

In France, quality may be indicated by terms such as Premier Cru, Grand Cru. What is the German equivalent?

Answer 17

There is no legally defined indicator. However, an independent group of producers called the Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter (VDP) have classified their vineyards by consensus. The very best of which bear the label GG (Grosses Gewachs) and have a bunch of grapes embossed on the neck of the bottle.

Question 18

While dry reds and whites at all quality levels are sold as Qualitattsweine, Pradikatsweine wines are most always what color?

Answer 18

White.

Question 19

Nearly all Pradikatswein wines will have residual sugar, but up to which category can they be made in a dry style?

Answer 19

Auslese.

Question 20

Which are the most delicate Pradikatswein wines?

Answer 20

Kabinett.

Question 21

Describe a Kabinett wine.

Answer 21

Light in body with high acidity and flavors of green apple or citrus fruit, balanced with residual sweetness. The sweet wines will have an alcohol level of b/w 8-9%. Drier styles can reach 12%.

Question 22

Name a method you can sweeten a Kabinett after fermentation.

Answer 22

By adding unfermented grape juice (Sussreserve). A better approach involves stopping the fermentation early before the yeast has converted all the sugar to alcohol.

Question 23

How do Spatlese wines differ from Kabinett?

Answer 23

Made in the same way but are more concentrated, riper and have more body, alcohol and, where relevant, more sweetness. Citrus and stone fruit (peach or apricot) are common.

Question 24

Compare a Auslese to a Spatlese.

Answer 24

Auslese wines are made from extra ripe grapes. They are richer and riper. And noble rot can be an important part of their flavor profile.

Question 25

Name the category of PDO wine for which noble rot is essential.

Answer 25

TBA. Required to reach the necessary must weight. While it is not necessary for BA, it is typical. It is not necessary for Eiswein.

Question 26

Describe a typical BA or TBA wine.

Answer 26

Not necessarily made every year. Vary considerably when made. Sweet and low in alcohol with honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers.

Question 27

Describe an Eiswein.

Answer 27

Made infrequently. Noble rot is not required. Focus on varietal purity. Fine balance b/w acidity and sweetness. Seek to maintain varietal flavors which requires careful selection of yeast, handling the juice with care, and avoiding masking the flavors by MLF or new oak.

Question 28

What is the second most widely planted white variety?

Answer 28

Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner).

Question 29

Muller-Thurgau is a cross between what two parents?

Answer 29

Riesling and Madeline Royale, made in the 1880's.

Question 30

What are the characteristics of Muller-Thurgau?

Answer 30

Ripens earlier than Riesling but does not have the same level of acidity or flavor intensity; can produce a floral and fruity wine but rarely of high quality. Its production is declining.

Question 31

What is the third most widely planted white grape?

Answer 31

Silvaner.

Question 32

Name two additional white grapes grown in Germany:

Answer 32

Grauburgunder/Rulander (Pinot Gris) and Weisburgunder (pinot blanc)

Question 33

Name two regions Sylvaner is strong in?

Answer 33

Rheinhessen and Franken.

Question 34

While Sylvaner is the third most planted white grape, it is not the third most planted grape variety. What is?

Answer 34

Spatburgunder (Pinot Nor). It is particularly important in Pfalz and Baden (warmer)

Question 35

What are the two different styles of producing Spatburgunder?

Answer 35

Light and fruity, or more concentrated that often includes oak.

Question 36

Name one black variety, other than Spatburgunder, that is widely planted? What are its characteristics?

Answer 36

Dornfelder. Deep color.

Question 37

Name three other black varieties?

Answer 37

Portugieser, Trollinger and Schwarzriesling (Meunier). Typically produce light bodied and fruity wines, but when oaked, can produce intensely colored and flavored examples. Generally sold as Qualitastweine and sold domestically.

Question 38

Name the six main wine regions.

Answer 38

Mosel, Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Baden

Question 39

Define the boundaries of the Mosel region.

Answer 39

The River Mosel from where it joins the River Rhine to the German border. It includes two small tributaries, the Saar and the Ruwer.

Question 40

GG wines in Mosel can be made from only one variety. What is it?

Answer 40

Riesling.

Question 41

Name three of the villages in the Middle Mosel known for producing top-quality wine.

Answer 41

Piesport, Bernkastel and Wehlen.

Question 42

What soils do the best Mosel vineyards have?

Answer 42

Slate, on steep slopes next to the river.

Question 43

Contrast Mosel Rieslings with those from Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz.

Answer 43

Lighter in body, lower in alcohol and higher in acidity. Floral and green fruit flavors predominate.

Question 44

When grapes from the best sites do not ripen in cooler vintages, what is done with them?

Answer 44

Used in sparkling wine production.

Question 45

What two wine regions does Nahe lie between?

Answer 45

Mosel and Rheinhessen.

Question 46

The best vineyards are on steep south facing slopes on the river Nahe between what two towns?

Answer 46

Schlossbockelheim and Bad Kreuznach.

Question 47

What varieties are allowed for GG wines in Nahe?

Answer 47

Only Riesling

Question 48

Distinguish a Riesling from Nahe from those from Mosel or regions to the south.

Answer 48

They can have the pronounced acidity of those from Mosel but a slightly riper fruit character due to the warmer climate. They have less body than those from Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz.

Question 49

Rheingau is a small but prestigious region. Where do most of its slopes lie?

Answer 49

The north bank of the Rhine in the west of the region. They have a southerly aspect.

Question 50

What protects the Rheingau from the north?

Answer 50

Taunus hills.

Question 51

What varieties/variety can be used for GG wines in the Rheingau?

Answer 51

Riesling or Spatburgunder.

Question 52

The majority of vineyards in the west of the Rheingau lie around what two villages?

Answer 52

Johannisberg and Rudesheim.

Question 53

What distinguishes a Rheingau Riesling?

Answer 53

Medium to full body and distinct ripe peach character. The humid conditions from the Rhine allow for some of the best BA and TBA wines.

Question 54

The vineyards around Hochheim in the east of the Rheingau differ how?

Answer 54

Riper and fuller bodied due to the slightly warmer climate.

Question 55

What is the village of Assmannshausen known for?

Answer 55

It's excellent Spatburgunder.

Question 56

What is the largest vine growing region?

Answer 56

Rheinhessen.

Question 57

What are the two most planted varieties in Rheinhessen?

Answer 57

Riesling and Muller-Thurgau.

Question 58

Name the three black varieties that make up approximately 30% of the plantings.

Answer 58

Dornfelder, Portugieser and Spatburgunder.

Question 59

What variety/varieties can make GG wine?

Answer 59

Riesling or Spatburgunder.

Question 60

Name the Rheinhessen village on the West Bank of the Rhine that produces some of the fullest bodied Rieslings in Germany.

Answer 60

Nierstein. Often referred to as the Rheinterrasse.

Question 61

What is the second largest wine growing region?

Answer 61

Pfalz.

Question 62

Where is Pfalz located?

Answer 62

A narrow strip north from the French border and to the east of the Haardt Mountains (which are a continuation of the Vosges). They can be seen as a continuation of the vineyards of Alsace. It is the driest of the German regions and can suffer from water stress in warm years.

Question 63

What is the most widely planted variety in Pfalz?

Answer 63

Riesling.

Question 64

What is the second most widely planted white variety in Paflz?

Answer 64

Muller-Thurgau. Grauburgunder and Weisburgunder are gradually increasing.

Question 65

What is the most widely planted black variety in Pfalz?

Answer 65

Dornfelder.

Question 66

In Pfalz, what variety/varieties can constitute GG wines?

Answer 66

Riesling, Wiesburgunder or Spatburgunder.

Question 67

The most established vineyards in Pfalz are in what is known as Mittelhaardt. Name its two main villages.

Answer 67

Forst and Deidesheim. They produce a riper, fuller bodied style of Riesling.

Question 68

Which German region produces the fullest-bodied wines with the highest alcohol?

Answer 68

Baden. The warmest and most southerly region. It is the third largest wine growing region.

Question 69

Where is Baden located?

Answer 69

On a narrow strip of land that follows the Rhine to the Swiss border.

Question 70

What is the Kaiserstuhl?

Answer 70

An extinct volcano that has south facing slopes that makes the most of the available warmth.

Question 71

What is the most widely planted variety in Baden?

Answer 71

Spatburgunder.

Question 72

What wine can be used to make GG wines in Baden?

Answer 72

A range of both black and white.

Question 73

What is the most widely planted grape in Franken?

Answer 73

Silvaner.

Question 74

Why is Silvaner popular in Franken?

Answer 74

Early flowering and early ripening, but susceptible to frost. Therefore planted in the warmest sites. And achieves a concentration rarely achieved elsewhere in Germany.

Question 75

The best Silvaners in Franken come from south facing slopes around what village?

Answer 75

Wurzburg. Dry, rich palate and earthy quality. Bottled in distinctive flask shaped bottles.

Question 76

GG wines can be made from what varieties?

Answer 76

Silvaner, Riesling Weisburgunder, Grauburgunder or Spatburgunder.