Amongst all the architecture, the history, the art and its literature, Germany holds a great winemaking production. This fascinating country has history with some great names in cuisine, fashion and design, music and sports. Yet just like everything else, its winery is another great element known all over the world.
Along the river Rhine, in the west of Germany, steep vineyards were planted decades ago, producing some of the finest German wine. Growing vineyards on steep soil means that the stone behind the vineyard protects it from strong winds whilst the height of the vines catches more sunlight.Just like Germany holds the history of great composers such as Beethoven and Mozart, it also holds great titles in winery due to their steep vineyards across the river Mosel.
German wine is mainly produced in 13 different regions and mostly in the Southern part. Although Germany’s wine production is both red and white, their white wine is of greater size. In fact, Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir in the world.
The most grown variety of wine throughout Germany include Riesling, which is Germany’s flagship grape variety, as well as Silvaner, Spätburgunder, Müller-Thurgau and many others.
Some of Germany’s top wine-producing regions include: Ahr, Baden, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Mittelrhein, Mosel, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen and Württemberg.
In fact, Riesling, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are known as being Germany’s best wine types.
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German Wine Regions
Most of the classic German wine regions are closely identified with river valleys, the slopes of which provide the proper exposition for ripening grapes at this northern latitude. Virtually all of Germany’s best wines come from the Riesling grape, but there are several exceptions, like the fine Gewürztraminers from Fitz-Ritter in the Pfalz and Valckenberg in Rheinhessen and the exquisite Rieslaners and Scheurebes from Müller-Catoir in the Pfalz.
- Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
The coolest of the German growing regions, and home to Germany’s crispest, raciest, and most delicate Rieslings. Green apples, floral notes, and citrus are all likely descriptors, but the best wines also display fine mineral notes that express their slate-driven terroirs. The unique slate soil and incredibly steep vineyard sites produce age-worthy wines with exceptional acidity and delicate flavors.
- Rheingau
Steep slate slopes and slightly warmer temperatures than found in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer yield powerful, sturdy wines, with ripe fruit flavors underscored by deep minerality. Produces elegant & spicy Riesling & good Spätburgunder. The famed Johannisburg Riesling is still made here today in the monastery that it is named after. With a long tradition of viticultural discovery and innovation, the Rheingau remains an important center of winemaking study.
- Rheinhessen
Source for much of Germany’s production, quality here can vary from generic liebfraumilch to fine single-estate wines. The Rheinhessen is best known as the originator of the ubiquitous sweet white wine, Liebfraumilch. Although much of the production coming from Rheinhessen today is destined for inexpensive white table wines, about 1/4 of its grapes go into well-respected premium wines.
- Nahe
This small side valley is the only rival to the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer for elegance and finesse, with Rieslings that balance lightness of body with mineral-based tensile strength. Famous for many varieties of diverse styles of wine.
- Pfalz
One of Germany’s warmest winegrowing regions, with a great diversity of soils, micro climates, and grape varieties. Dry styles, whether made from Riesling or other white grapes are more common here, and show better balance than those from cooler regions. Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is also more successful here than elsewhere. The Wines of Pfalz contain power and finesse with less acidity. Red and white varieties (new plantings of Dornfelder).
Wines from other Germany wine-growing regions, such as the Ahr, Baden, Franken and Württemberg are infrequently seen in the United States.
