// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var German_Wine = new Array(); German_Wine.ID = "German_Wine"; German_Wine.ID_WB = 11030235; German_Wine.sPubDate = "1/26/2006 1:26:20 AM GMT"; German_Wine.navsectionID = "3104200" German_Wine.appFmt = 2; German_Wine.itemsPerPage = 1; German_Wine.appWidth = 460; German_Wine.appHeader = "Understanding German wine"; German_Wine.appFooter = "By Jon Bonné, MSNBC.com"; German_Wine.appNavStyle = 4; German_Wine.appLayout = 3; German_Wine.copyMargin = 9; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Basic terms","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","QbA","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "Literally, “quality wine from a specific region” (Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiet). A designation on German wine labels signifying that the wine meets the standards in the country’s 1971 wine laws, and tested to ensure it is typical of the grape and whichever of the country’s 13 winegrowing regions that produced it. Vintners can add sugar to QbA wines in order to reach a minimum alcohol level. It’s the basic quality level for riesling, though a table-wine designation (DTW) does exist below it. If nothing else, you should look for these letters somewhere on a label."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","QmP","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "Qualitätswein mit Prädikat, or “quality wine with distinction.” The highest of the three German wine designations, signifying wine made according to strict regulations and from a specific area. Only QmP wines can be labeled by their level of grape ripeness, which often (but not always) helps distinguish the ultimate quality of the wine."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","VDP","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "The German quality wine association (“Verband Deutscher Prädikats und Qualitätsweingüter”), composed of vintners that agree to exceed national quality standards and to limit their grape yields. Only member wineries can use the VDP's stylized eagle mark on their labels."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Trocken","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "Literally, “dry.” German law sets certain limits on the amount of sugar left in wine, and trocken wines have the least, 9 grams/liter or less."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Halbtrocken","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "Medium-dry. Wines that have more sugar than trocken wines, but are not quite sweet wines."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Ripeness levels","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Kabinett","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "QmP wines are ranked by ripeness level, or sugar content of the grapes. Kabinett is the lowest level, and usually produces the driest wines."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Spätlese","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "“Late harvest.” Specifies grapes picked at least a week after harvest begins, which are thus riper and often produce sweeter wines. Late-harvest wines from the New World generally follow the same rules."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Auslese","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "“Selection.” Label for wines made from individually hand-picked, extra-ripe grape bunches that are selected for their higher sugar content. May be affected by botrytis (noble rot) a mold that shrivels grapes, concentrates sugar and helps produce many of the world’s best sweet wines."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Beerenauslese","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "“Selected berries.” Even rarer than auslese, these dense, sweet wines are made from individually picked grapes that exhibit an unusual degree of ripeness, and frequently are affected by botrytis (noble rot). Rare and usually expensive."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Trockenbeerenauslese","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "“Dry selected berries.” The highest category of ripeness, producing the some of the rarest, most expensive wines in the world. Grapes for so-called TBA wines are left to shrivel on the vines until dry, often thanks to botrytis (noble rot), and then individually picked one by one. They yield wine of intense sweetness, density and refinement, with very low alcohol content (usually under 6 percent) and very high sugar levels. Expect to pay well over $100 per bottle."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Geography","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Growing region","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "Any QbA wine must list its growing region. The major regions for riesling, approximately from north to south along the Mosel and Rhine rivers, are: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Mittelrhein, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Nahe and Pfalz."; German_Wine[i++] = new Array("","Vineyards","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); German_Wine[i-1].body = "Many of the best rieslings come from a specific designated vineyard, which is listed in addition to the growing region. The names usually will incorporate both the village and the specific vineyard: Wehlener Sonnenuhr indicates the Sonnenuhr vineyard in the town of Wehlen. "; // END editorial data