What is the basis for the Pradikats Wein classification?
Level of sugar
What does the Ochsle scale measure?
The density of grape must, which is an indicator of grape ripeness and sugar content.
What year was the first German wine law passed?
1909, creating a natural wine designation for unblended wine.
What year was the “anti-elite” wine law passed and what did it change for German wine classification?
The law passed in 1971 and based the quality assessment on alcohol potential of grapes regardless of terroir or technique.
What two organizations were established due to winemaker dissatisfaction with the 1971 wine law?
The VDP (Verband Deutscher Pradikatswein) in Germany and the Vinea Wachau is Austria we established by winemakers in 1984 to reestablish true quality classifications for wine.
What are the quality classifications established by the VDP and on what are they based?
VDP classifications are based on vineyard or Lage. They are:
- The base quality: ORTS-Guts Wein (village wine)
- Middle quality: classified Lage (classified site)
- Top quality: Erste Lage (first site)
- Best quality: Grosse Lage (biggest site)
What are the German labeling terms used to indicate how wine will taste (how sweet/dry)?
- Trocken (dry): up to 4g/L RS, but if balanced with acidity, up to 9g/L RS.
- Halbtrocken (medium-dry): up to 9g/L, but if balanced up to 18g/L.
- Lieblich (medium): 18 a 45g/L
- Suss (sweet): more than 45g/L
What are the important white grape varietals of Germany?
- Riesling - #1 variety to quality amend quantity
- Weisburgunder (Pinot blanc)
- Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
- Muller-thurgau - Germany’s 2nd most important grape
What is the most important red varietal of German?
Spatburgunder (Pinot noir)
What are the German Wine regions?
- Ahr Valley 10. Hessische Bergstrasse
- Mosel 11. Baden
- Rheingau 12. Wurttemberg
- Saar 13. Taubertal
- Ruwer 14. Franken
- Mittelrhein 15. Sachsen
- Nahe 16. Saale-Unstrut
- Rheinhessen
- Pfalz
What are the 6 Pradikats levels?
- Kabinett (Regular Dry Wine): 67-82 Ochsle
- Spatlese (Late Harvest): 76-90 Ochsle
- Auslese (Late Harvest Selected): 83-100 Ochsle
- Beerenauslese (Grape Selected): 110-128 Ochsle
- Trokenbeerenauslese (Dried Grapes): min 150 Ochsle
- Eiswein (Frozen Grapes): min 100 Ochsle
What is the primary grape of Mosel-Saar-Ruwer?
Riesling
What is the soil type of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer?
Slate
In what type of terroir is Riesling best grown?
On the sunniest south and south facing slopes, steep enough and close enough to the river, on porous slate soils.
What grape is the Ahr Valley known for?
Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir)
What are characteristics of the Nahe region?
*sandstone soils *lower Nahe has slate and Quartz
Ahr produces mainly red grapes but what are the the top 3 grapes?
- Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir)
- Portugieser
- Riesling
True or False:
The Mosel has slate soil (which stores heat), half of the grapes grow in steep hills with an incline exceeding 30%.
True
What are the main grapes of the Mosel?
- Riesling
- Rivaner/Muller-Thurgau
- Elbling
Describe the soil in the Nahe
- Slate
- Sandstone
- Volcanic rock
Name the main grapes of Nahe.
- Riesling
- Rivaner/Müller-Thurgau
- Dornfelder
True or False
The Pfalz is Germany’s second largest growing region.
True
What are the main grapes of RHEINGAU?
- Riesiling
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
Where was Spätlese born?
spätlese was born Germany’s Rheingau in 1775.
