German wine

With a winemaking legacy that stretches back to the Romans, Germany holds a prominent position as the world’s eighth-largest wine producer. German wine is primarily produced in the west of Germany, along the river Rhine and its tributaries.

The country’s cool climate and diverse soil types are perfect for growing grapes such as Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, and Spätburgunder, the local name for Pinot Noir.

Known for their precision and balance, German white wines often exhibit vibrant acidity, complex aromatics, and a range of sweetness levels, from bone-dry to lusciously sweet.

Germany boasts several prominent wine-growing regions, which are mainly found in the west of the country.

• Ahr – this region, nestled near Bonn, is unusual for Germany because it’s highly regarded for its red wine.
• Baden – stretching along the foothills of the Black Forest, this is Germany’s warmest and southernmost wine region. It exudes a Mediterranean air, and the Spätburgunder grape flourishes on the shell-limestone soil.
• Franken – this hilly wine-growing region east of Frankfurt is known for its dry wines, earthy Silvaner wines, and distinctive Bocksbeutel bottles.
• Hessische Bergstraße – named after an old Roman trade route – is known for its fragrant and rich wines made from Riesling and Spätburgunder grapes.
• Mittelrhein – this beautiful region features steep, terraced vineyards against a backdrop of medieval castles and ruins. Its clay-slate soils increase the grapes’ acidity, making it perfect for Riesling and Sekt, Germany’s signature sparkling wine.
• Mosel – the crown jewel of German wine, this region is known for its steep vineyards on the banks of the Mosel River. It’s the premier region for Riesling, creating light, crisp wines with mineral notes.
• Nahe – named after the river that flowed towards Bingen, near Frankfurt, this region features various soil types from volcanic stone to red clay. Nahe provides fertile ground for various grape varieties, including Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, and Dornfelder.
• Pfalz (Palatinate) – located south of Rheinhessen, the region is one of the sunniest and driest in the country. Riesling remains king, but you can find a variety of grapes, including Gewürztraminer, Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder.
• The Rheingau – this region is home to some of Germany’s oldest vineyards, and it features sun-kissed slopes that make it an ideal home for Spätburgunder.
• Rheinhessen – stretching across the left bank of the Rhine between Worms and Bingen, this is Germany’s largest wine-growing region. It accounts for a quarter of the country’s vineyards and produces a range of wines.
• Saale-Unstrut – this cool climate region in the country’s northeast is known for its dry, white wines.
• Sachsen (Saxony) –Germany’s smallest and most easterly wine-growing region, with vineyards mostly dotted between Dresden and Diesbar-Seusslitz. Its cool microclimate favours the early ripening Müller-Thurgau.
• Württemberg – situated in southwestern Germany, this region is known for its red wines, with Trollinger and Lemberger being the leading players.

Germany is known almost exclusively for its white wines. Some of its best-known styles are:

• Riesling – this is Germany’s most iconic and acclaimed white grape. It’s known for its acidity, vibrant fruit flavours, and distinct mineral character. Rieslings can range from bone-dry (Trocken) to sweet (Trockenbeerenauslese).
• Müller-Thurgau – this grape variety creates wines that are light, fresh, and often with a touch of sweetness. It’s known for its approachable character and is often used to make off-dry to semi-sweet styles.
• Silvaner – this grape variety makes wines that genuinely reflect their climate. They can range from light and crisp to full-bodied, especially when sourced from old vines (often labelled ‘Alte Reben’).
• Gewürztraminer – this aromatic grape variety creates full-bodied wines with intense floral and spicy aromas.
• Weißburgunder – the local name for Pinot Blanc, this grape creates dry, medium-bodied, and subtly aromatic wines with notes of apple, pear, and almond.
• Grauburgunder – the local name for Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, this grape variety creates wines with a rich, full-bodied character that often feature flavours of ripe pears, almonds, and smoky notes.

While Germany is known for white wines, it also produces many reds. Some of the grapes you might come across include:

• Spätburgunder – Germany’s premier red grape, better known as Pinot Noir. Grown mainly in Baden, Pfalz and Rheingau, it creates wines known for their elegance, soft tannins and flavours of red berries.
• Dornfelder – a relatively new grape created in 1955, is grown mainly in Nahe, Pfalz and Rheinhessen. It produces robust red wines with dark fruit flavours.
• Trollinger – mainly grown in the Württemberg region, this grape creates light-bodied wines with bright red fruit flavours.
• Blaufränkisch – this grape makes medium to full-bodied wines with hints of dark berry and pepper.
• Portugieser – a versatile red grape-producing wine known for its light, easy-drinking nature and approachable character.