Wine Law/VDP COPY Flashcards
What is the difference between an “Einzellage” and “Grosslage?”
Einzellage - Single Vineyard Site
Grosslage - Collection of Single Vineyard Sites
Grosslage more often than not indicates a wine of inferior quality
What are the most planted red and white varieties in Germany today?
Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) & Riesling
What is VDP? When was it established and for what reason?
Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter; established in 1910, it’s an association of Top German Producers committed to top quality.
What is Charta? How can you tell if a wine is Charta or not?
Another organization, formed in 1984 to advance the classic, dry style of Rheingau Riesling. The bottles have an icon of three Roman arches.
What is the top tier of the VDP quality pyramid? What does the name translate to?
Erste Lage; “First Site”
What logo do “Erste Lage” wines carry?
A “1” followed by a cluster of grapes; this is to specify that the wine comes from a single superior vineyard site.
What is the max. Yield for Erste Lage Wines? Minimum Must Weight?
50 hl/ha, must weight equivalent to Spatlese
How would you distinguish a dry Erste Lage wine from a sweet one?
The label for dry Erste Lage Wines says “Grosses Gewachs,” while sweet versions carry typical Pradikat levels.
What sweetness level are GG Wines legally considered? What does this equate to?
“Trocken,” they may not contain more than 9g/l of residual sugar.
What is different about Grosses Gewachs in the Rheingau?
They are labeled not as “Grosses Gewachs,” but instead as “Erste Gewachs,” a term coined by Charta
Why will you never see the words “Grosses Gewachs” on a German Wine Label?
The term is barred by German Law from appearing on wine labels.
When are GG wines able to be released?
September 1 of the year following the harvest for whites, 1 year later for reds.
When are Erste Lage wines labeled by Pradikat able to be released? What labeling rule likened these wines to those of Burgundy?
May 1st of the year following harvest; the Einzellage MUST be listed on the label, and the village name is dropped.
What distinguishes VDP Einzellage demarcation from that of German Law?
VDP is generally much more restricted, allowing a smaller portion of the vineyard to qualify as Erste Lage
How did the VDP change their classification system in 2012?
They elected to move to something closer to Burgundy-style classification:
Grosse Lage - Grand Cru (former Erste Lage)
Erste Lage - Premier Cru
Ortswein - Village
Gutswein - Regional
