Glossary

Baden

Wine growing region, mainly located in south-west Germany. Famous for growing pinot vines

Barrique

Small oak barrel measuring either 225 or 228 litres. The inner side of the wood of barriques has been roasted on open fire. Barriques are mainly used for producing full-bodied, rich red wines which gain even more complexity when the fine roast aroma of the wood is slightly extracted

Beere

A single grape

Beerenauslese (BA)

The next ripeness level in the Prädikat system after Auslese, but before Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA). Very high grape ripeness is required (harvested at 110-128° Oechsle), so most BA wines have a very high level of residual sugar (See Prädikatswein).

Blanc de Blanc

A term mainly used for sparkling wine, indicating that only white grapes have been used in the production of this wine.

Blanc de Noirs

A term mainly used for sparkling wine, this means the wine is a white wine that has been made from red grapes. The colour of the grapes mainly comes from the skin, not  the pulp so it is possible to vinify red grapes as white wines by directly pressing them, so that no colour is extracted from the skin of the berries.

Bocksbeutel

Tear-shaped bottle, traditionally used for wines from Franconia. Wines bottled in a Bocksbeutel have to fulfill very strict quality standards. Often associated with Mateus Rosé by wine drinkers in the UK.

Brut

Indication for dry sparkling wines with less than 15g/l residual sugar

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