Wine Glossary
Definition: Spätlese
[SHPAYT-lay-zuh] German for "late picking," this wine term refers to grapes that are selectively picked at least 7 days after the main harvest starts for that specific variety. Because such fruit is riper than the grapes from the main harvest, it contains more sugar and produces wines that are rich and sweet. Spätlese is one of the six subcategories of Qualitätswein Mit Prädikat (QmP) and ranks above Kabinett but below Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese. To attain the Spätlese category, the natural sugar content of the grapes must reach a certain minimum - 76¬? to 95¬? oechsle approximately 19 to 23 percent sugar by weight, depending on the region and the variety. The selective picking process makes Spätlese wines quite expensive. Austria has a Spätlese category that's similar and requires a minimum 94¬? oechsle.
Source: Answers.com; Wine Lover's Companion - R & S Herbst
