Know Germany's most famous wines - By wine author Howard Hillman

German wine

Food tips you can trust

German wine
tips and insights

Provenance

Most of the wine is produced in the southwestern part of West Germany, and it is predominantly white (the red grapes tend not to fare well in this northern climate).

Sweetness

This white wine, some of the best in the world, is usually on the sweet side, and consequently is more suited for sipping between, rather than during, meals - and that is exactly how most wine is consumed in Germany.

Bouquet

Another major characteristic of German white wine is its pleasing flowery bouquet.

Internationally famous wines

Liebfraumilch, Moselblumchen, and Zeller Schwarze Katz are the German white wines known and consumed in great quantities around the world. Yet, with rare exception, these wines are ordinary.

Germany's finest

To taste those that have given Germany its stellar wine growing reputation, one must seek out top rated Rheingau vineyards such as Schloss Johannisberg, Schloss Vollrads (in Winkel), and Steinberg (in Hattenheim); or the equally superb Mosel vineyards such as Bernkastler Doktor, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, and Piesporter Goldtropfchen.

Vintage

If the wine is to be in its full glory, it must be of good vintage because year to year quality variations in German wines are significant.

Quality indicators

In addition to vintage, these three German quality indicators should be understood when buying wines. In order of quality:

Qualitatswein mit Pradikat

Wines in this category are for wine lovers with discriminating taste buds and olfactory receptors. The term roughly translates as "Quality wine with special attributes". See next item for its five designations.

Qualitatswein

This mid-rank indicator translates as "Quality wine".

Tafelwein

These wines are ordinary but pleasant - and are superior to those which did not even make the Tafelwein category. The name translates as "Table wine".

Qualitatswein mit Pradikat

It is divided into five designations. In order of quality and esteem, the five are:

Trockenbeerenauslese

Translates: "Dry selected berries"

Beerenauslese

"Selected berries"

Auslese

"Selected"

Spatlese

"Late picking"

Kabinett

"Cabinet"