How do you know a German wine is a higher quality?
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 flavor. The riper the grapes, the higher the position on the pyramid the wines made from those grapes will be.
What does GG mean in German wine?
Grosses Gewächs
Grosses Gewächs, or “great growths,” (GG) is Germany’s top designation, which can be used for grapes like Pinot Noir and Silvaner. But Riesling is the most common. These German Rieslings are always vinified completely dry with acidity that is often described as searing.
How many sweetness levels do German wines have?
Sweetness of the wine
| Designation | English translation | Maximum sugar level allowed |
|---|---|---|
| High acid wines | ||
| trocken | dry | 9 grams per liter |
| halbtrocken | half-dry | 18 grams per liter |
| feinherb | off-dry | Unregulated designation, slightly sweeter than halbtrocken |
How many levels of ripeness is in QmP?
The scale for German QmP wines is based on six ascending degrees of ripeness. They start with Kabinett, then Spätlese, Auslese, and finally the dessert wines: Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein.
What does Grosse Lage mean?
GROSSE LAGE® is the designation for the highest quality German vineyards. This is where Germany’s finest wines grow – wines notable for their individual character and ability to express the essence of their vineyard of origin. They are also known for their long potential cellarability.
What does halbtrocken mean?
half-dry
German for “half-dry”—defined as less than 1.8% residual sugar. Wines labeled halbtrocken usually still taste extremely dry because of the high corresponding acidity in German wines.
What is a bereich?
area, region range, scope, compass, bounds field, sphere, domain, province, realm division area, range, zone, reach, sweep domain, extent, range, field, region band, range zone region reach. area. Bereich örtlich.
What is the difference between trocken and Kabinett?
Kabinett wines range in style from dry to off-dry. Spätlese Spätlese means “late harvest” and grapes have a sweetness level of 76-90 Oechsle (172–209 g/L sugar). Spätlese wines are rich and usually sweeter than Kabinett, although if you see “Trocken” on the bottle you can assume it’s in a dry style with higher alcohol.