Germany: Wine Regions

Question 1

Which of Germany’s wine regions is the oldest?

Answer 1

Mosel

Question 2

On what parallel is the Mosel wine region?

Answer 2

49th parallel

Question 3

What is the climate of the Mosel?

Answer 3

Cool continental

Question 4

Which river helps moderate the Mosel wine region?

Answer 4

Mosel River

Question 5

What is the landscape of the Mosel wine region?

Answer 5

Very steep, south-facing vineyards

Question 6

What is the soil of the Mosel wine region?

Answer 6

Slate

–porous, well draining
–excellent heat retention

Question 7

What grapes are grown in the Mosel?

Answer 7

Riesling

Question 8

Riesling grown in the Mosel is typically:

*ultra ripe, low acid, high alcohol, dry
*ripe, medium acid and alcohol, dry
*just ripe, high acid, low alcohol, off dry

Answer 8

Just ripe, high acid, low alcohol, off dry

Question 9

Most Mosel Rieslings are vinified in what type of vessel?

Answer 9

Stainless steel

Question 10

Why do most Mosel Rieslings have residual sugar?

Answer 10

to balance out the ripping-high acidity

Question 11

Why are most Mosel Rieslings so low in alcohol?

Answer 11

the grapes struggle to ripen at that northerly latitude, their sugars are low which in turn means a lower alcohol wine

Question 12

Name two gemeinden (villages) in the Mosel famous for their Rieslings.

Answer 12

1. Urzig
2. Piesport

Question 13

The Rheingau is north or south of the Mosel?

Answer 13

South of the Mosel

Question 14

What mountain range is on the north side of the Rheingau?

Answer 14

Taunus Mountains

(protect Rheingau from cold northerly winds)

Question 15

What is the climate of the Rheingau?

Answer 15

Continental

it is a bit warmer than Mosel

Question 16

Which river runs through the Rheingau?

Answer 16

Rhine River

Question 17

What is the soil of the Rheingau?

Answer 17

Slate for the top vineyards with some clay and sand on lower slopes

Question 18

Where are the vineyards of the Rheingau located, and which direction do they face?

Answer 18

south facing vineyards on the long slope on the north side of the Rhine River.

Question 19

What are the grapes grown in the Rheingau?

Answer 19

Riesling (white)
Spatburgunder (red)

Question 20

Name 1 famous vineyard in the Rheingau.

Answer 20

Schloss Johannisberg

Question 21

What is Kloster Eberbach?

Answer 21

Originally, it was a monastery founded by Cistercian Monks in 1135.

The monastery dissolved in the 1800s and today it’s known as a top tier single vineyard.

Question 22

Where is the Rheinhessen in relation to Rheingau?

Answer 22

South

Question 23

What is the climate of Rheinhessen?

Answer 23

Continental

Question 24

What is the landscape of the Rheinhessen?
*flat with fertile soil?
* steep hills with infertil soil?

Answer 24

flat and fertile

Question 25

What are the soils of the Rheinhessen?

Answer 25

red sandstone slate

Question 26

What are the white grapes of Rheinhessen?

Answer 26

Riesling Muller-Thurgau Silvaner

Question 27

Rheinhessen is the _______est wine region in Germany.

Answer 27

Largest

Question 28

What is Liebfaumilch?

Answer 28

an inexpensive, sweet white wine made mostly from Muller-Thurgau. It was heavily exported in the 1980s and very popular at the time, but it ended up being a blemish on the perception of German wines for decades.

Question 29

Where are the top vineyards in the Rheinhessen located?

Answer 29

A thin ribbon of steep hills on the west bank of the Rhine River, between Nackenheim and Nierstein. This area is best known for today's high quality, dry Rieslings.

Question 30

Clue to German pronunciation of "ie" and "ei":

Answer 30

You pronounce the second vowel, meaning: If the i is after the e, you pronounce the i if the e is after the I, you pronounce the e

Question 31

The Pfalz region in Germany is pretty much a continuation of the ______ region in France.

Answer 31

Alsace

Question 32

What River separates the Pfalz from Alsace?

Answer 32

Rhine River

Question 33

What is the mountain range on the west side of Pfalz?

Answer 33

Haardt Mountains

Question 34

The Haardt Mountain are an extention of what other mountain range?

Answer 34

Vosges Mountain range

Question 35

The Haardt mountains provide the Pfalz with a ______ ________.

Answer 35

Rain Shadow

Question 36

Between the Pfalz's southerly latitude and it being in a rain Shadow, it has one of the ______est growing areas in Germany.

Answer 36

warmest

Question 37

What is the soil in Pfalz?

Answer 37

Limestone

Question 38

What are the white grapes of Pfalz?

Answer 38

Riesling Weissbugunder (Pinot Blanc) Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)

Question 39

What is the red grape of the Pfalz?

Answer 39

Spatburgunder, (Pinot noir)

Question 40

What style of wine does the Pfalz mainly produce?

Answer 40

Dry wines Pfalz Rieslings tend to be fuller, riper and high in alcohol vs Mosel rieslings.