Wine 101 Practice Test

Prädikatswein is defined by how ripe the grapes are at harvest, using must weight to determine the level (like Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, etc.). Because the category is based on grape ripeness, there’s no sugar added to the must—chaptalization is not allowed—so the wine relies on naturally occurring sugars from fully ripe grapes. This focus on harvest quality and the prohibition on adding sugar or other additives distinguishes Prädikatswein from other German categories, which are defined by region or other standards and may permit adjustments like chaptalization.