Date: Aug 1, 2011
Today, we learned about German Wines. There are only 13 wine regions in Germany. Basically, Germany is a very cold place, therefore, the more northern part you go, the more acidic grapes you will get, and thus the wine taste more sour. In general, German productions of wine is very limited, therefore, most of the wine are expensive. In Singapore, you don't get to see them very often too. They also imported a lot of wine into Germany. More white wines in the north, and in the western and south, more red wine.
In Singapore, there is this place call Magma, and they often bring in a lot of wines from Germany.
In Germany, Sweet == Quality. And recently, they realize that Sweet does not always equal to quality wine. So, they have been trying hard to change the system, but not much successful.
This is a German Wine Label. It is easy to differentiate a German classiciations.
When you buy German wine, you look for QmP, or QbA as a classifications. In Singapore, most of the germany wine are Qmp or QbA. And if you see the world of "Qualitatswein", that usually means it is a QbA wine. If you see "Pradikat", that means it is a higher grade wine of QmP. Below is another example of QmP wine.
This is another example of QbA wine. With only "Qualitaswein" word on it.
Out of the QmP classicationsl, there are 6 levels of different qualifications...
1. Kaninett - low alcohol, made of fully ripen grapes.
2. Spatlese - late havest wine. may be dry or off dry.
3. Auslese - more riper. usually sweet but could be dry or off dry.
4. Beerenauslese - sweet wine, made of over riped grapes often affected by noble rot.
5. Eiswein - must be naturally frozen grapes. (not artificial) not affected by noble rot.
6. Trokenbeerenauslese - very sweet dessert wine made from over riped grapes often affected by noble rot.
We drank 6 bottles today. Here are three oif them, personally, I like the 5th bottle which is Stellenzichy Syrah 2003. It reminds me about the wine I usually drank at the Wine Company. I guess all the Syrah taste and nose the same.
We also cover South African Wine today.
The wine maker there are very focus on Terroir of the vinyard. They make very complex and fruity wine there. The 4th Bottle and the 6 botthe are terrible. "It is a very unique wines from South Africa, no doubt".
The Pinotage and Chenin Blanc (Steen) is two of the famous grapes from South Africa. The Pinotage is taste like French's Cincault, and it is full body, intense but not so tanin.
The Classifications levels of wine in South Africa.
- Geographical Unit - Western Cape, Northen Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, tec
- Region
- District
- Ward
- Wine Estate
Also, today, we learned about the Vinifications for White and Red Wines. So, red wine goes to fermentation before pressing, that is becuse they want the skins to fermentate and gives the red color of the wine. But for white wine, they go for the press before put into the steel barrel for fermentation. So, it also gives a very good clear white wine color.
A nice picture of Wine Country of Germany...
OK, we review again how we tasted the wine...
Lastly, we study the wine list. What makes a successful wine list.
Still we have fun!
And I bought these wines... From the last wine tasting @ Vintry.
When I gets home, I have already open one to taste the Pandan swiss roll with my wive...
Nice combinations.
Very nice Gewurztraminer.
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