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Germany - CMS Intro Somm Flashcards

1
Q

What is the northernmost extreme of viticulture in the northern hemisphere?

A

Germany

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2
Q

What type of wine is Germany famously known for producing?

A

Riesling

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3
Q

What is notable about some of Germany’s top vineyards?

A

They are among the world’s steepest.

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4
Q

Where are the majority of vineyards in Germany located?

A

In the southwestern corner near the borders of Belgium, France, and Switzerland

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5
Q

What is the latitude range for most wine regions in Germany?

A

49°N latitude or above

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6
Q

What type of climate does Germany have for viticulture?

A

Cool and continental with strong moderating influences from rivers and mountain ranges

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7
Q

Describe the topography of Germany’s vineyards.

A

Rolling hills with rivers and steep hillside vineyards on river banks

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8
Q

What types of soil are considered best for vineyards in Germany?

A

Heat-retaining soils and rocks such as slate and basalt

These soils are prized for absorbing sun during the daytime and retaining heat at night.

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9
Q

What percentage of grape production in Germany is white?

A

70%

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10
Q

Name three prominent white grape varieties grown in Germany.

A
  • Riesling
  • Müller-Thurgau
  • Silvaner
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11
Q

What is the primary red grape variety in Germany?

A

Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

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12
Q

Where are vineyards typically planted in Germany?

A

On steep, south-facing hillsides

The grapes enjoy a long, cool growing season.

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13
Q

What is a challenge faced by grapes in German vineyards?

A

They often struggle to fully ripen

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14
Q

Along which rivers are most vineyards in Germany located?

A

Rhine, Mosel, and their tributaries

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15
Q

How do bodies of water affect the climate for vineyards?

A

Act as a climate moderator and provide warmth from the reflection of sunlight

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16
Q

What materials are most wines in Germany fermented in?

A

Stainless-steel or large oak casks

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17
Q

What is chaptalization in winemaking?

A

Sugar addition to wine

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18
Q

Is chaptalization allowed for most quality levels in German wine?

A

No, it is controversial and against the law

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19
Q

What are the possible fermentation styles for wines in Germany?

A
  • Dry (trocken)
  • Off-dry
  • Lusciously sweet
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20
Q

How are German wines without geographic indication labeled?

A
  • Wein
  • Landwein (PGI)
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21
Q

How are German wines with geographic indication labeled?

A
  • Regional wines—rarely exported
  • Qualitätswein (PDO)
  • Prädikatswein (PDO)
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22
Q

What is Qualitätswein (PDO) in the context of German wine labeling?

A
  • Quality wine from one of 13 major regions called Anbaugebiete
  • This category includes top trocken wines
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23
Q

What does Prädikatswein (PDO) mean in the context of German wine labeling?

A

A subset of Qualitätswein categorized by ripeness at harvest. There are six prädikate levels of quality. These wines are often, but not necessarily, sweet.

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24
Q

What are the six Prädikat levels of wine quality in Germany?

A
  • Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
  • Eiswein
  • Beerenauslese
  • Auslese
  • Spätlese
  • Kabinett

^Increasing quality, price, and ripeness at harvest.
*Can be sweet or dry

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25
What determines the Prädikat levels in German wines?
The Prädikat levels are determined when the grapes are picked in the vineyard. ## Footnote What happens in the winery and how the wine is fermented is a different story.
26
Can Kabinett, Spätlese, and Auslese wines be fermented dry?
Yes, Kabinett, Spätlese, and Auslese wines can be fermented dry.
27
How can you determine if a German wine is dry?
Look at the alcohol levels or for the word trocken. ## Footnote 'Trocken' means dry in German.
28
What does VDP stand for in the context of German wines?
Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter
29
What is the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) in the context of German wines?
It is a German association of more than 200 top producers
30
How many top producers are part of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP)?
More than 200
31
In what year was the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) founded?
1910
32
What type of wine does the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) emphasize making?
Dry riesling from the best terroir and vineyard sites
33
What is the purpose of the quality levels set by the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP)?
To provide a more restrictive classification of vineyards, or einzellagen ## Footnote Designed to emulate the grand cru model of Burgundy
34
What does 'einzellagen' refer to in the context of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP)?
Vineyards
35
What does GG stand for in the context of German wines?
Grosses Gewächs ## Footnote GG refers to a classification of high-quality dry wines in Germany.
36
What type of wines are classified as Grosses Gewächs (GG)?
Dry (trocken) wines from the top vineyard sites in the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP)
37
What is the significance of the suffix '-er' in German?
It is a possessive meaning 'from that place' ## Footnote Ürziger means from the village of Ürzig, just like a New Yorker is from New York.
38
What are the wine regions of Germany?
* Mosel * Rheingau * Rheinhessen * Pfalz
39
What is Germany’s oldest winemaking region?
Mosel ## Footnote Known for the pure expression of Riesling.
40
Where is the Mosel wine region located?
It is located at the northern limit of viticulture at the 49th parallel along the Mosel River ## Footnote Features some of the most northerly vineyards in the world.
41
What type of climate does the Mosel wine region have?
Cold and continental, moderated by the Mosel River
42
What is notable about the topography of the Mosel vineyards?
* Very steep vineyards, among the steepest in the world * Facing south to capture the warmth of the sun
43
What type of soil is found in the Mosel wine region?
Slate that is porous yet heat-retaining
44
Which grape variety is predominantly grown in Mosel?
Riesling
45
What are key characteristics of viticulture in the Mosel region?
* A long growing season to achieve ripeness * Vines are planted on steep, south-facing slopes very close to the Mosel River
46
What challenges do growers face in the Mosel region?
Northerly growing conditions make ripening a challenge
47
What is the typical acidity and sugar content of harvested grapes in Mosel?
High in acidity and low in sugar
48
What is the primary method of vinification in Mosel?
Mainly stainless-steel fermentation
49
What is done with residual sugar in Mosel wines?
Residual sugar is left in the wine to counterbalance the intense acidity
50
What is the typical alcohol content in finished Mosel wines?
Generally low, often topping out at just 8%
51
Where is the Rheingau located?
South of the Mosel on the Rhine River with a backdrop of the Taunus Mountains
52
What type of climate does the Rheingau, Germany have?
Continental and slightly warmer with the more southerly latitude ## Footnote The climate is influenced by its geographical location and the surrounding mountains.
53
What geographical features influence the climate of Rheingau, Germany?
* The Taunus Mountains provide protection * The Rhine River reflects sunlight directly up into the vines, providing additional light for photosynthesis and warmth for ripening
54
What is the soil composition in the Rheingau, Germany?
Mixture of slate and others
55
Describe the topography of the Rheingau, Germany.
One long south-facing slope on the north bank of the Rhein
56
What are the primary white grape varieties grown in the Rheingau, Germany?
Riesling
57
What is the primary red grape variety grown in the Rheingau, Germany?
Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
58
How does the ripeness of grapes in the Rheingau compare to that of the Mosel?
More reliable ripeness than the Mosel
59
What is the geographical location of Rheinhessen?
Large, sprawling wine area just south of the Rheingau in Germany
60
What type of climate does Rheinhessen, Germany have?
Continental
61
Describe the topography of Rheinhessen, Germany.
Flat, fertile farmland
62
What type of soil is found in Rheinhessen, Germany?
Red sandstone mixed with slate
63
What grape variety is considered the best in Rheinhessen, Germany?
Riesling ## Footnote The best but not the most planted.
64
List the three white grape varieties found in Rheinhessen, Germany.
* Riesling (the best but not the most planted grape) * Müller-Thurgau * Silvaner
65
What is the largest wine region in Germany?
Rheinhessen
66
Where are the best vineyards located in Rheinhessen, Germany?
On a small strip along the steep west bank of the Rhein
67
What does the quality of wine in Rheinhessen, Germany range from?
From Liebfraumilch (e.g., Blue Nun) up to top vineyards for modern, dry Riesling
68
What is key to the quality of wine in Rheinhessen, Germany?
Specificity of village and vineyard
69
What percentage of all German wine exports were of Liebfraumilch in the 1980s?
Over 60% ## Footnote Liebfraumilch is a sweet, cheap wine that was mainly made from Müller-Thurgau.
70
What type of wine is Liebfraumilch (Germany)?
Sweet, cheap wine ## Footnote Liebfraumilch was primarily made from Müller-Thurgau.
71
What grape variety is mainly used to make Liebfraumilch in the context of German wines?
Müller-Thurgau
72
What impact did Liebfraumilch have on the perception of German wine?
Severely damaged the image of quality German wine for decades
73
Where is Pfalz located?
It is geographically contiguous with Alsace, despite the important fact that the Rhine River separates the two regions.
74
What river separates the Pfalz from Alsace?
The Rhine River
75
What is the dominant geographical influence in Pfalz, Germany?
The Haardt Mountains ## Footnote The Haardt Mountains are the northern extension of the Vosges Mountains from France.
76
How do the Haardt Mountains affect the climate of the Pfalz region in Germany?
They provide protection and create a particularly sunny environment for the vineyards ## Footnote Similar to the Vosges' influence on Alsace.
77
What is the climate of Pfalz, Germany?
Sunny and dry, one of the warmest growing areas in Germany
78
What type of soil is primarily found in Pfalz, Germany?
Limestone
79
Name three white grape varieties grown in Pfalz, Germany.
* Riesling * Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) * Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
80
What is the primary red grape variety in Pfalz, Germany?
Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
81
Why is ripening of grapes less challenging in the Pfalz than in most Germany regions?
Due to its more southerly latitude and abundant sunshine ## Footnote This advantage helps in the overall viticulture process.
82
What is the focus of vinification in Pfalz, Germany?
Dry wines

CMS - Intro Somm (16 decks)

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