German and Austrian Wines

This region has some of the world's most elegant and aromatically pure white wines.

March 23, 2014

Thank You Silver Coast

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Winery discounts

FedEx Office discount of 20%. Discount # 0134139323

AVIS offers 25% discount. Discount # S671300

Total Wine mixed case discount of 15%. Need discount letter from AWS.

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Belk Charity Day cards are available.

Wine Fest tickets and donations

Future Chapter Events

Apr 27th New York Finger Lakes Wines or New Zealand

May 3rd Wine Fest

May 25th Next Glass

June 22nd Summer Wines

July No Meeting

Aug 24th National Wine Tasting Project

Sept 28th TBD

Oct 26th TBD (May be an issue for Silver Coast)

Nov No Meeting

The Most Beautiful Tasting Rooms in Napa

Hall Rutherford Vineyard 7&8

Castello di Amorosa Mount Veeder Winery

The Most Beautiful Tasting Rooms in Napa

Ovid Winery Merus Winery

Robert Mondavi Round Pond Estate

Pet Friendly Beer and Wines

German Wine

The majority of German wine is produced in the western part of the country along the Rhine and its tributaries.

Wine production dates back to the Romans.

Vineyards planted are 1/10 of Spain France or Italy.

Germany ranks eighth in production.

Germany has a mixed reputation

German wine regions are some of the most northerly in the world.

German wine has high levels of acidity, caused both by less ripeness in a northerly climate and by the selection of grapes such as Riesling—which retain acidity, even at high ripeness levels.

German Wine cont.

The wines have been predominantly white, and the finest made from Riesling.

Many wines are sweet and low in alcohol, light and unoaked.

Much of the wine sold in Germany is dry (trocken). However most exports are still of sweet wines, to the traditional export markets such as Great Britain.

Red wine is hard to produce in the German climate, and was usually light colored, closer to rosé or the red wines of Alsace. However darker and richer red wines are produced from grapes such as Dornfelder and Spätburgunder, the German name for Pinot noir.

German wine are also associated with certain bottle shapes. For example, wines from Franken in the characteristic round bottles (Bocksbeutel).

German Wine Classification

German wines are classified solely on the ripeness levels of the grapes, as measured by must weight.

• Does not account for other factors such as: region, vintage, and winemaking that determine the quality and style of the finished wine. • Classification system reflects basic style and sweetness.

As sweetness increases alcohol goes down from about 11% for a dry kabinett to as low as 5% for eiswein.

Dry wines labeled QbA or qualitätswein are harvested at lowest ripeness

Kabinett are next tend to be dry or off-dry styles Spätlese the auslese which are off-dry or sweet

Highest ripeness are the super sweet, dessert style wines. These include: beerenauslese, trockenbeerenauslese and eiswein.

These have more concentrated flavors and sugars made either through botrytis (noble rot) or by letting the fruit freeze on the vine.

Austrian Wine

• Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape.

• About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch, Pinot noir and locally bred varieties such as Zweigelt.

• Most wine is produced in the eastern part of the country.

• There is archaeological evidence of grape growing in Traisental 4000 years ago.

• The “antifreeze scandal" of 1985, had a major impact on Austrian wine industry.

• The country is also home to Riedel.

1: Wachau 2: Kremstal 3: Kamptal 4: Traisental 5: Donauland 6: Weinviertel 7: Carnuntum 8: Thermenregion 9: Neusiedlersee 10: Neusiedlersee-Hügelland 11: Mittelburgenland 12: Südburgenland 13: Wien 14: Südoststeiermark 15: Südsteiermark 16: Weststeiermark

Deppisch Rivaner Trocken Golf 2012 SHRIMP Price $15.99 This wine is made from the Rivaner grape variety which is typical of the Franken-Baden area. It is a crisp, dry wine with a great fruity quality and tender acidity. Serve chilled along with pasta, seafood or white meat dishes. The distinctive bottle shape indicates a Franken wine. 12% alc. Winzer Krems Gruner Veltliner 2012 CURRY CHICKEN Price: $13.99 Kremstal, Austria __The perfect introductory wine for those interested in tasting the great wines of Austria. This crisp, dry white is filled with bright citrus fruit. Notes of spice and mineral are found on the lingering finish. Enjoy with shrimp, or spicy Asian dishes. Dr Loosen Riesling 2012 WS91 RED CABBAGE with APPLES Price: $12.99 Mosel Germany __ A succulent white, filled with plush red peach, cherry and white currant flavors that are supported by zesty acidity. Long and creamy on finish, offering plenty of spicy overtones. Dr Heidemanns Pinot Noir 2012 GERMAN POTATO SALAD Price: $14.99 Germany __This elegant and approachable German Pinot Noir displays delicious flavors of cherries and red berries. It is a fragrant and balanced wine with a soft, fruity finish. Pair with pasta or grilled meats. Gerd Anselmann Pfalz Dornfeider KEILBASA BUNDLES Price: $12.99 Pfalz, Germany __Dornfelder is the most successful of the new German red varietals. Known for its depth of color, floral aromatics and velvety texture, this easy drinking wine provides plenty of drinking pleasure. Enjoy with chicken, sausage, or braised meats. Best served chilled. Winzer Krems Blauer Zweigelt 2010 CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS Price: $13.99 Krems, Austria __This fresh and fruit-filled red is made from the Zweigelt grape, the most widely planted red grape varietal in Austria. This nicely-balanced and easy drinking red boasts bright, fresh cherry flavors and is reminiscent of Beaujolais.

German and Austrian Wine

Happy Birthday Jeffrey Salter

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." ~ Henny Youngman