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, and 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).
- Gewürztraminer – this aromatic grape variety creates full-bodied wines with intense floral and spicy aromas.
- 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’).
- 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 Grigio, this grape variety creates wines with a rich, full-bodied character that often feature flavours of ripe pears, almonds, and smoky notes.