Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2) > Germany > Flashcards

Germany Flashcards

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1
Q

Be familiar with where German wine regions are located.

A

You got this!

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2
Q

Most wine regions in Germany are located in the _______ corner of the country on the borders with these three countries.

A
  • Southwest corner
  • France, Belgium and Switzerland
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3
Q

In Germany, vineyards are planted at this latitude and above.

A

49°N

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4
Q

Fill in the blank.

The overall climate of Germany is ______.

A

Cool Continental

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5
Q

Fill in the blank.

The main river that runs through Germany’s winegrowing regions is the ______ River.

A

Rhine

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6
Q

Select the correct answer.

The Rhine River in Germany has many:

a. rocks
b. tributaries
c. fish

A

b. tributaries

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7
Q

Name 3 important influences rivers in Germany have on winegrowing.

A
  1. Rivers provide a moderating influence.
  2. Rivers reflect sunlight back up to the vineyards increasing warmth to aid in ripening.
  3. Rivers create airflow which can discourage fungal disease.
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8
Q

How do mountain ranges affect Germany’s winegrowing regions?

A
  • Provide protection from cold north winds.
  • Create rain shadows.

It’s already quite cool up at the 49th parallel, so protection from cold northerlies is important!

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9
Q

What is the dominant soil type found in the Mosel in Germany?

A

Slate

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10
Q

Select the correct answer.

The grape growing season in Germany is:

a. Cool
b. Arid
c. Mediterranean

A

a. Cool

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11
Q

How is it possible that a place as northerly and as cool as Germany can successfully grow grapes?

A
  • Vineyards are planted on steep, south-facing hillsides maximizing sun exposure and warmth.
  • Vineyards are carefully selected for successful ripening.
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12
Q

Define Deutscher Sekt.

A

Sparkling wine made by any method from grapes grown in Germany.

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13
Q
  • What is Chaptalization?
  • When is it used?
A
  • The process of adding sugar to unfermented grape must in order to increase the alcohol content after fermentation.
  • Used when grapes do not achieve sufficient sugar ripeness.
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14
Q

What are the most commonly used fermentation and aging vessels in Germany?

A
  • Stainless-steel fermentation
  • Large wooden fuder or stück
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15
Q

Why is residual sugar often left German Riesling?

A

To counterbalance acidity (not all sugars are fermented to alcohol).

Think lemonade: if the acidity (lemon juice) is too high, it needs to be balanced with a little sugar.

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16
Q

Select the correct answer.

The alcohol level in off-dry German Rieslings is typically:

a. low
b. medium-plus
c. high

A

a. low

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17
Q

German Rieslings can be fermented to what levels of dryness to sweetness?

A

Dry, off-dry, or lusciously sweet.

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18
Q

Fill in the blank

The most planted and most important grape variety in Germany is ______.

A

Riesling

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19
Q

Name 4 other white grape varieties grown in Germany.

A
  1. Müller-Thurgau
  2. Silvaner
  3. Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
  4. Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
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20
Q

What is the most important red grape variety grown in Germany?

A

Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

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21
Q

Fill in the blank.

In Germany, wines below the quality wine category without a Geographic Indication are called _______ ____.

A

Deutscher Wein

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22
Q

Fill in the blank.

In Germany, wines below the quality wine cateogory with a Geographic Indication are called _______.

A

Landwein (regional wines)

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23
Q

What is a Qualitätswein?

A

Quality wine from one of the 13 major wine regions.

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24
Q

What is a wine region called in Germany?

A

Anbaugebiete

There are 13 Anbaugebiete in Germany.

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25
Above the Qualitätswein level there is Prädikatswein. What does Prädikatswein translate to?
'Distinction'
26
Is Chaptalization allowed or not allowed for Prädikatswein?
Not allowed
27
# Select the correct answer. Which level is considered the highest quality level for wines with residual sugar? a. Deutscher Wein b. Landwein c. Prädikatswein
Prädikatswein
28
List the 6 levels of prädikate in order of ripeness.
1. Kabinett 1. Spätlese 1. Auslese 1. Beerenauslese 1. Eiswein 1. Trockenbeerenauslese ## Footnote These designations are categorized by ripeness at harvest, however choices made in the winery will determine finished sweetness of the wine.
29
Briefly describe the style of a German Riesling Kabinett.
Typically off-dry in style, but can also be made trocken (dry).
30
Briefly describe the style of a German Riesling Spätlese.
Typically off-dry in style, but can also be made trocken (dry). ## Footnote Grapes for Spätlese are harvested later than Kabinett, so the fruit profile will taste more ripe compared to a Kabinett.
31
Briefly describe the style of a German Riesling Auslese.
Often off-dry in style, they can sometimes be made trocken (dry).
32
Briefly describe the style of a German Riesling Beerenauslese.
Very sweet in style, often affected by botrytis (but not always).
33
Briefly describe the style of a German Riesling Eiswein.
* Very sweet in style, grapes must be frozen when harvested. * No effects of botrytis. ## Footnote Eisweine have the same ripeness-level as Beerenauslese.
34
Briefly describe the style of a German Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese.
Very sweet in style. ## Footnote TBAs typically have been affected by botrytis.
35
What does the VDP acronym stand for?
Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweingüter
36
What exactly is the VDP?
A national German association of producers committed to traditional quality winemaking. ## Footnote It developed its own classification system on Burgundy model with classified top vineyard sites.
37
Which German organization has this as their logo?
VDP
38
What does Grosses Gewächs mean?
Great Growth ## Footnote Used for single vineyard, dry, Grand Cru wines.
39
What is the term Erstes Gewächs used for?
Single vineyard Premier Cru wines
40
In Germany, what is a Gemeinde?
Local community or village
41
In Germany, what is an Einzellage?
Single vineyard
42
In Germany, what is the Oechsle Scale | Also written as Öchsle
The German scale used to measure must weight. ## Footnote Measured in degrees, e.g. Kabinett's Öchsle Scale is 70-85°
43
What is a Bocksbeutel?
Unique, flattened ellipsoid wine bottle specific to the Franken anbaugebiete.
44
What does the term Trocken mean on a bottle of German wine?
Dry
45
What does the term Halbtrocken mean on a bottle of German wine?
Half-dry
46
What is Edelfäule?
Noble Rot in German ## Footnote [This is how you pronouce it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSBCRsW22qo)
47
What is the German word for 'castle'?
Schloss ## Footnote It's similar to the French word for château.
48
# Fill in the blank The Mosel region in Germany is situated along the \_\_\_\_\_\_ River.
Mosel
49
What are the soil and vineyards like in Mosel, Germany?
* Soil: slate that is porous and heat-retaining. * Vineyards: South-facing to capture warmth of the sun.
50
Name 5 important villages in the Mosel.
1. Erden 2. Ürzig 3. Wehlen 4. Bernkastel-Kues 5. Piesport
51
# Fill in the blanks. The Nahe region in Germany is situated on the \_\_\_\_\_ River, a tributary of the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
* Nahe * Rhine
52
What is the climate of the Nahe?
Continental
53
Which region in Germany is essentially a continuation of Alsace, France?
Pfalz
54
Which river moderates the climate of Pfalz?
Rhine River
55
Why is Pfalz one of the warmest areas in Germany?
Protection of mountains to its west, creating a rain shadow.
56
The two main grape varieties grown in Pfalz are:
1. Riesling 2. Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder)
57
Where is the region Franken located?
Along the Main river near Frankfurt.
58
What is the main white grape variety in Franken?
Silvaner
59
What is the main red grape variety in Franken?
Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
60
In which German wine region are wines in Bocksbeutel?
Franken
61
In Germany, which Anbaugebiete is largest in size and in production volume?
Rheinhessen
62
# Fill in the blank The \_\_\_\_\_\_ River flows through Rheinhessen.
Rhine
63
Baden border which two countries?
France and Switzerland
64
Which anbaugebiete in Germany is the warmest?
Baden
65
What are the two main grape varieties in Baden?
1. Spätburgunder 2. Müller Thurgau
66
# Fill in the blanks. The Rheingau is essentially one long \_\_\_\_\_-facing slope facing the \_\_\_\_\_ River.
South-facing slope facing the Rhein River
67
How does the Rhine River affect the Rheingau region and its vineyards?
* Moderates climate * Reflects light
68
What is the climate of Rheingau?
Continental
69
What are the two main grapes of Rheingau?
1. Riesling 2. Spätburgunder
70
# Fill in the blank A major and important village in Rheingau is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
Johannisberg
71
What protects the Rheingau from cold northerlies?
Mountains
72
Which river flows through Mittelrhein?
Rhein River
73
What is the climate in Mittelrhein?
Continental
74
# Fill in the blanks. The main grape variety in Mittelrhein is \_\_\_\_\_\_ grown on \_\_\_\_\_ soils.
* Riesling * Slate
75
This region is one of Germany’s smallest and most northerly winegrowing regions, situated north of the 50th parallel.
Ahr
76
# Fill in the blank. The main grape variety in Ahr is \_\_\_\_\_\_.
Spätburgunder | (some of the best in Germany)
77
How can the Ahr successfully grow Pinot Noir at such a high latitude?
* The winegrowing area surrounds the Ahr River, a tributary of the Rhine, and its terraced vineyards are sheltered from cold winds by the Eifel Mountains. * Steep slopes of rocky, volcanic slate offer warmth, and the region is actually warmer than the Mosel.
78
Name an important producer in Nahe.
Hermann Dönnhoff
79
Name an important producer in Franken.
Hans Wirsching
80
Name 3 imporant producers in Rheingau.
1. Franz Künstler 1. Robert Weil 1. Josef Leitz
81
Name one important producer in Rheinhessen.
Gunderloch
82
Name 5 important producers in Mosel, Germany.
1. Fritz Haag 1. Dr. Loosen 1. Egon Müller 1. Joh. Jos. Prüm 1. Selbach-Oster ## Footnote Photo is of Egon Müller's famous Scharzhofberger Riesling.
83
What were the two major outcomes from the 1971 German Wine Law?
1. Stipulated ripeness level at harvest as the prime determinant for quality. 1. Established the top two categories of wine QbA and QmP. ## Footnote Qualitätswein (formerly QbA, or Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete) and Prädikatswein (formerly QmP, or Qualitätswein mit Prädikat) represent the two tiers of German “quality” wine.
84
Which 3 levels of Prädikatsweine belong in the dessert wines section?
1. Beerenauslese 2. Eiswein 3. Trockenbeerenauslese
85
What foods would you pair with a German Riesling Kabinett or Spätlese?
1. Thai 2. Vietnamese 3. Salads 4. Fresh or light cheeses
86
What foods would you pair with German Riesling Auslese?
1. Duck 2. Pork 3. Sausages 4. Hard or stinky cheeses
87
What would you pair with BA, TBA, or Eiswein?
1. Peach desserts 2. Pineapple desserts 3. Blue or stinky cheeses
Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2)
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