Weingut Toni Wintrich *********************************************************

Weingut Toni Wintrich

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Worth knowing


Worth knowing about wine: In most cases, the consumer has to rely on the label as the only source of information in order to learn more about the wine. The German wine-law regulates all information displayed on the label. The wines quality and its origin are therefore protected and ensure the knowledgeable consumer the wines genuity. In general however, the wine has to be tasted. To buy from a competent and trustworthy winegrower is the only guarantee that you get what you tasted.

	Auslese The German word for "selection," used in the wine trade to describe specially selected, perfectly ripened bunches of grapes. Auslese ranks above Kabinett and Spätlese The natural sugar content of the grapes must reach a certain minimum 88 to 100 degrees or more Oechsle.
	Eiswein A German term meaning "ice wine," referring to a rich, flavorful dessert wine. Eiswein is made by picking grapes that are frozen on the vine and then pressing them before they thaw. In order to qualify as an Eiswein, it needs the minimum quality of a Beerenauslese wine.
	Kabinett The first (lowest) of the category of Prädikat wines in Germany. These are easy, light dinner wines with divers Oechsle grades depending on the growing region. Qualitätswein mit Prädikat
	Mueller- Thurgau This wines grape is widely known to be a Riesling-Sylvaner hybrid created in 1882. Mueller-Thurgau grapes produce smooth, low-acid, medium-sweet wines. Unfortunately, because of its very low acid content these wines don't age well.
	Perlwein A German term for a slightly sparkling wine, usually artificially carbonated. The low pressure generated in the bottle allows using crown caps to close it.
	Riesling Riesling is considered to be one of the world's great white-wine grapes -the "Queen of vines"- and produces some of the very best white wines. It is a native of Germany, where it is grown on the steep hills along the Mosel river. The Riesling grape's ability to retain its acidity while achieving high sugar levels is what creates wines with considerable aging potential of up to 50 years or older. Qualitätswein b. A.
	Spätlese German for "late picking". This is a Prädikatswein that refers to grapes riper than the one picked from the main harvest. To attain the Spätlese category, the natural sugar content of the grapes must reach a certain minimum of 80 degrees Oechsle Qualitätswein mit Prädikat
	Tafelwein "Deutscher Tafelwein", meaning "German table wine" is Germany's lowest category of wine and must reach a minimum Oechsle requirements. German table wine and Landwein (country wine) can have added sugar and there is no official test number required to distribute it. However, Prädikatsweine and Qualitätsweine can also be categorized as table wines.

Qualitätswein This "Quality wine" category uses grapes with less Oechsle grades than a Kabinett wine but higher than table or country wines. Quality wines usually have sugar added depending on the growing region. Prädikatswein Qualitätswein mit Prädikat - "quality wine with distinction" - is the highest quality category defined by the German wine laws adapted in 1971 and it depends on the grapes Oechsle grades. Those wines must not have any sugar added. Amtliche Prüfnummer A German phrase meaning "official test number," usually abbreviated on a wine label as A.P.Nr. The Amtliche Prüfungsnummer indicates that the wine has met the minimum standards required by the law. Only after the official test number has been assigned, the wine can be distributed and sold using the label "Qualitätswein b. A." or "Prädikatswein". Oechsle: A German method of measuring the specific gravity (therefore, the sugar content) of must or grape juice prior to fermentation. Developed in the nineteenth century by Germany's Christian Ferdinand Oechsle, this method is similar to the brix system used in the United States and the baumé scale used in France.

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