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Understanding German Wine Labels
Appellation of Origin - Wine Growing Region
Levels of Ripeness at Quality Categories
German
wine labels are very informative once all the information given can be
identified and interpreted. While many other wines will list only the
producer, vintage, region, and country; German labels will state the
quality level of the wine, the grape, the vineyard, and a style or taste
indication.
Producer
vs. Bottler
Name of producer or estate in this case is "Dr Strieth Selections".
There are about 100,000 grape growers in Germany, yet only about one fourth as many wine producers. If the label indicates "Erzeugerabfüllung" (estate bottled), it assures you that the grapes were grown and the wine was produced by one and the same grower or cooperative of growers (Winzergenossenschaft). As an alternative to "Erzeugerabfüllung", estates and growers that grow, produce, and bottle their own wine can use the term "Gutsabfüllung" on the label. The grower or collective group of growers is responsible for and guarantees the quality of the wine. Sometimes the bottlers or shipper will assume responsibility and will be identified on the label as "Abfüller."
Vintage The vintage
is the year in which the grapes were harvested. Wine is an agricultural
product and consequently very dependent on the weather, which in
Germany, unlike in more southern climates, can be extremely variable.
Village
and Vineyard The often
difficult to pronounce names on the label indicate the village where the
vineyard is located (identified by the -er suffix) followed by another
name (often ending in -berg [=mountain, slope] indicating the vineyard
site. Therefore, the name of the vineyard on the label to the left is
the "Wehlener Sonnenuhr". Proprietary names like "Liebfraumilch" and
"Bishop of Riesling" have no vineyard designation; they are a blend of
wines from several vineyards.
Grape
Variety The grape
variety used to make a wine is the single most influential factor
determining its taste. Different grapes have different flavours, just
like different fruits have different flavours. For example: Riesling is
a very fruit-driven variety, while Gewürztraminer has very floral,
perfumed flavours reminiscent of rose petals. In comparison, Chardonnay
is a spicy grape with elements of ripe apple, tropical fruit and
occasionally butter.
Quality
Classification German wine
is classified into four quality categories: Deutscher Tafelwein,
Landwein, Qualitätswein and Qualitätswein mit Prädikat. The latter is
further divided into levels of ripeness: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese,
Beerenauselese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese. See below for more
information.
Levels
of Ripeness at Quality Categories Each of the
quality categories is determined by the level of ripeness that the
grapes have achieved by the time they are harvested. Riper grapes
provide more aroma and more flavour. The riper the grapes, the higher
the position on the pyramid the wines made from those grapes will be.
See
the "Quality Categories" chart to the Right.
DEUTSCHER TAFELWEIN- German Table wine-Made from normally ripe and slightly under ripe grapes. Primarily consumed in Germany; very little is exported to the US. These wines only have to comply with few restrictions and the wines are not officially tested. They do not have an AP-Number.
LANDWEIN- Country Wine-A superior Deutscher Tafelwein with a minimum of .5% more alcohol. The wine must come from one of 19 specified wine districts. A Landwein must not contain more than18 grams of sugar per litre.
QUALITÄTSWEIN Bestimmter Anbaugebiete [QbA]- Quality Wine of a Specified Appellation-These wines have to obey the regional appellation laws and are tested for compliance by an official committee just like quality wine with attribute and subsequently receive an AP-Number, which table wine does not need to be sold. These laws ensure that the wine is from one specific wine-growing region, is made of approved grape varieties and reached sufficient ripeness for a quality wine. Nevertheless, these wines are chaptalized (chaptalization: sugar is added to the juice before fermentation to increase the alcohol level after fermentation. Chaptalization is commonly used in all wine producing regions of the world). The chaptalization adds body to these otherwise lighter wines and makes them great simple food wines, enjoyable on a day-to-day basis also by themselves or as spritzers (mixed with Club Soda).
QUALITÄTSWEIN MIT PRÄDIKAT [QmP]- Quality Wine with Attributes -The German wine law refers to the following category as "Qualitätswein mit Prädikat" (quality wine with attributes); representing graduating ripeness levels, which are in ascending order: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, BA, and TBA. These wines are all naturally produced, no chaptalization.
Kabinett
Usually light wines made of fully ripe grapes. Intended to be a light quaffing wine or to go with light food. Generally light in alcohol and calories. Can be dry, medium-dry or sweet. These light wines have about 2 to 5% less alcohol than Californian wines but they are no less tasty.
Spätlese - Late Harvest -
It literally means late harvest. Wines of superior quality made from grapes harvested after the normal harvest. These wines are more intense in flavour and concentration than quality wines and Kabinetts. Good with richer food or by themselves. The later harvest lets the grapes dry and ripen on sunny autumn days, which increases the intensity of the fruit and the flavours. Can be dry, medium-dry or sweeter style. Good values.
Auslese - Select Picking -
Harvest of selected, very ripe bunches. Noble wines, intense in bouquet and taste. Often resembling dessert wines and sweet, but they can be dry, medium-dry or sweet. Dry Auslese wines are similar to Alsatian Grand Cru Rieslings.
Beerenauslese (BA) - Berries Select Picking -
Harvest of individually selected, overripe berries. Remarkably rich, sweet dessert wines to be enjoyed by themselves or with dessert.
Eiswein - Ice-Wine -
Wines of at least BA intensity, made from grapes harvested and pressed while frozen. Truly unique wines with a remarkable concentration of fruity acidity and sweetness.
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)- Dry Berries Select Picking -
Harvest of individually selected berries that are overripe and
dried up on the vine almost to raisins. Rich, sweet,
luscious, honey-like wines.
NOTE: All wines up to Auslese (Tafelwein, Qualitätswein (QbA), Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese) can be DRY, MEDIUM-DRY or SWEETER STYLE. The winemaker decides whether he or she wants these grapes to make a dry or a sweet wine. Riesling is the grape that CAN do both.
Degree
of Dryness The taste
and style in terms of sweetness of a wine depend on the cellar master
and are determined in the cellar; totally independent of the grape. This
is not to be confused with quality category, or ripeness, which depends
on the weather and is determined in the vineyard. Whether a wine is dry
or sweet can be indicated on the label.
Two new classifications of dry wines, Classic and Selection, were established in 2000, which simplify matters for the consumer. Winemakers in all 13 German wine-growing regions can produce these wines, provided they are above average in quality, harmoniously dry in taste, and made from a traditional grape variety, such as Riesling, Silvaner, Rivaner or a Burgunder (Pinot) variety. The concept is designed to impart a clear profile regarding a wine¹s quality and taste.
Trocken
This indicates a dry wine without perceptible residual sweetness. It never contains more than 9 grams of residual sugar per liter and often less. It is very dry.
Halbtrocken
These wines are semi-dry and may have not more than 18 grams of residual sugar per liter. With this barely perceptible sweetness, halbtrocken wines are considered "dry" by most wine lovers.
Classic
These wines are easy to recognize. The labels bear the Classic logo next to the name of a traditional grape variety. The name of the producer and wine-growing regions are also mentioned, but vineyard names have been deliberately omitted.
Selection
Selection wines must meet additional quality criteria: grapes must originate from an individual vineyard site (it is named on the label) and be harvested by hand; yields are lower than prescribed by law; first release is September 1st of the year following the harvest. Because all Classic and Selection wines are harmoniously dry in style, the terms "trocken" (dry) and "halbtrocken" (off-dry) are superfluous.
If none of the above dryness levels can be found on the label the wine is most likely a sweeter style wine, but it can range from off-dry to fully sweet. Generally, the sweetness in the wine does correlate with the ripeness levels.
A.P.
NumberThe A.P.
Number or "Amtliche Prüfnummer", meaning "official approval number"
identifies the wine and is required for all QbA and QmP wines. It
consists of several blocks of numbers identifying the wine like:
05 023 164 010 05
05 = The testing centre, where the wine was approved
023 = The village in which the producer is located
164 = The code number for the producer
010 = The producer's application number
05 = The year in which the producer filed the application
This coding enables the official testing centres to identify a wine. If there is any complaint or doubt of authenticity of the wine, sealed bottles which the winery has to keep for a number of years can be cross checked and tasted to investigate.