Classification of wine

The quality level of a wine is compulsory on the label after EU Wine Law indication of wine quality. Details are regulated by national wine law, therefore, the quality levels are comparable internationally difficult one another.

Criteria for quality levels

The quality levels in the countries and regions are determined by a variety of different criteria. Some are common, others only have meaning in individual regions. In the Mediterranean wine-growing countries including France, one proceeds according to the terroir principle sacrificing the quality level mainly on the geographical origin of the wine is determined.

The most important criterion in Austria and Germany for the classification of wines in the various quality levels, the output must weight and the natural alcoholic strength as a measure of the maturity of the grapes. In Germany, for the higher grades from quality wines. A. necessarily an official in sensory evaluation of quality performed as a quality wine testing.

Other important criteria for classification

Quality levels in Germany

After the German wine law, the following quality requirements must be met.

  • Table wine must have at least 8.5 vol % alcohol. After enrichment of the total alcoholic strength may exceed 12 % vol. The total acidity must be at least 4.5 g / l.
  • Country wine is a fine table wines with non- typical character. He is always dry or semi-dry, the origin of landscape must be specified on the label.
  • Quality wines produced in specified regions ( Q. b. A. ) must be 100 % of the cultivated area and the approved varieties originate there. He must have variety and area typical. Quality wine must have successfully passed official quality wine testing ( also sensory ) as well as quality wine with special attributes. The new wine is an official examination number ( AP-Nr. ) grants, which must be documented on the label. Classic and Selection are not predicates, but designations for quality wines that are vinified according to special guidelines.
  • Quality wine, before 2007 Quality wine with attributes: predicate wines may under German law to be pressed only from one variety of grapes blended wines are as quality wines to call, even if the wines used for this purpose each for himself the status of a quality wine with special attributes ( Q. b A.. ) could claim. The minimum must weight for the various predicates varies from region to region and variety. As a guide values ​​can apply:

Quality levels in Austria

Wine without Appellation

Wine

The term table wine was in the new wine market in 2009 replaced by the term "wine".

  • Without varieties and vintage indication
  • Without limiting yield per hectare
  • Blend of wines possible from different countries of the EU

Name:

  • Wines from Austria - white
  • Wines from Austria - red

Wines without PDO or GGU can varietal or vintage details, in certain circumstances, have.

  • Maximum yield per hectare 9000 kg (or 6750 liters of wine / ha)
  • Must be in appearance and taste free from defects
  • Corresponding Rebsortentypizität
  • Varieties with place names (eg, White Burgundy and all other Burgundies, Rhine Riesling, Gamay, etc. ) are not allowed (possible misleading of consumers).
  • Details of varieties according to quality wine grape varieties VO and authorized by VO varieties.

Alcohol Increase / enrichment wines without geographical origin

  • Alcohol Increase / enrichment maximum accumulation margin 2.0% vol
  • Total alcohol after enrichment of white wine 12.0 % vol, Red Wine 12.5 % vol

Wines with a protected geographical indication ( PGI)

  • Country wine (at least 14 ° KMW = 68 ° Oe)
  • Grapes must come to 100 % of the wine growing region.
  • Local wine must be on the label.
  • Must be prepared exclusively from high quality grapes.
  • Minimum must weight of 14 ° KMW grapes.
  • Wine must have called typical character.
  • Total acid content of at least 4 g per liter
  • Maximum yield per hectare 9000 kg (or 6750 liters of wine / ha)
  • Must be in appearance and odor to be free of errors.

Alcohol Increase / enrichment

  • Alcohol Increase / enrichment maximum accumulation margin 2.0% vol
  • Total alcohol after enrichment of white wine 13.5 % vol, Red Wine 14.5 % vol

Wine with a protected designation of origin ( PDO )

  • For the purposes of the CMO - wine are quality wines and quality wines and DAC wines, wines with a protected designation of origin.
  • For all quality wines or wines with a maximum yield per hectare is true of 9000 kg ( or 6750 liters of wine / ha).
  • All quality and predicate wines may only after regulatory inspection and allocation of government approval number, to be marketed.

Quality wines

  • Quality wine (at least 15 ° KMW = 73 ° Oe)
  • Alcohol Increase / enrichment maximum accumulation margin 2.0% vol
  • Total alcohol after enrichment of white wine 13.5 % vol, Red Wine 14.5 % vol
  • Sweetening possible to unfermented to a content of 15 g of sugar
  • Cabinet (at least 17 ​​° KMW = 84 ° Oe, max. 13% vol )
  • No alcohol increase / enrichment
  • Content of unfermented sugar than 9 g / l
  • No sweetening

Prädikatsweine

  • Spätlese ( at least 19 ° KMW = 94 ° Oe)
  • Read (at least 21 ° KMW = 105 ° Oe)
  • Eiswein or Schilfwein (at least 25 ° KMW = 127 ° Oe)
  • Straw wine (at least 25 ° KMW = 127 ° Oe)
  • Beerenauslese (at least 25 ° KMW = 127 ° Oe)
  • Outbreak (at least 27 ° KMW = 138 ° Oe)

An alcohol increase or enrichment and a sweetening with quality wines is not permitted

Information on the bottle

  • Red-white- red band ( = sign of the bottled quality wine in Germany )
  • State certification number
  • Vineyard area ( 4 states, 16 wine regions )
  • Grape variety, vintage, Quality Level

In Austria, the production quantity of wine the quality wine quality level is significantly higher than the other stages.

Quality levels in Switzerland

According to the federal system of Switzerland quality attributes (Appellation ), should be given to respective terroirs at the cantonal, municipal or regional level. They are controlled by a cantonal legislation, which began in 1988 with the Canton of Geneva. It is based under the term Appellation d' Origine (AOC ) of French quality standards for food products. Within the already high demands for an AOC wine more special predicates for outstanding top grades are awarded.

International comparison of the terms

Others

The specification of a level of quality is the producer or bottler mandatory. However, wines can also be declared at a lower quality level, which sometimes happens for marketing and image reasons in high-quality viticulture. So could a declared as a late harvest wine after his Mostgewicht a " disguised elite " or even Beerenauslese have been. From alcohol and residual sugar of the wine can, however, reset count, was with what must weight the wine produced.

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