German wines

Wine history

The Romans planted vines in western Germany between roughly 70 and 270 AD, and Trier on the Moselle, founded as a Roman garrison, is the country's oldest city. Riesling was first recorded in 1435 near the Rheingau. In 1775 the harvest at Schloss Johannisberg was delayed while pickers waited for permission to start, the grapes caught noble rot, and the resulting sweet wine gave rise to the Spätlese (late harvest) idea. The 1971 wine law set up the Prädikat system that still grades German wine by the ripeness of the grapes. The number of vineyard owners fell from 76,683 in 1989/90 to 14,150 in 2023 as holdings consolidated.

Wine regions and appellations

Germany has 13 quality wine regions (Anbaugebiete): Ahr, Baden, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Mittelrhein, Mosel, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen and Württemberg. About 60% of German wine comes from Rhineland-Palatinate, and Rheinhessen is the largest region, with 27,499 ha in 2023. The Mosel's best-known vineyards include Bernkasteler Doctor, Wehlener Sonnenuhr and Scharzhofberger. The Rheingau has Steinberger and Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg, the Pfalz has Forster Kirchenstück, Franken has Würzburger Stein, and Baden's Kaiserstuhl and the Ahr grow Pinot Noir.

Grapes and what to drink

Almost two thirds of German wine is white. In 2022 Riesling covered 24,410 ha (23.6%), ahead of Spätburgunder, the German name for Pinot Noir, at 11,512 ha (11.1%) and Müller-Thurgau at 10,970 ha (10.6%). Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) are also grown, for example on Baden's Kaiserstuhl. The Prädikat scale names ripeness levels: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein, made from grapes pressed while frozen. Because these terms measure ripeness at harvest rather than sweetness in the glass, a Kabinett or Spätlese can be dry or sweet. Classic choices are a Mosel Riesling from Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, a Rheinhessen Riesling from Niersteiner Pettenthal or a Nahe Riesling from Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle.

Wine regions of Germany

• Ahr 1
• Baden 1
• Franken 1
• Mosel 6
• Nahe 1
• Pfalz 2
• Rheingau 5
• Rheinhessen 1

Grapes of Germany

• Riesling 16
• Pinot Noir 3
• Pinot Gris 1
• Pinot Blanc 1

Wine in Germany: questions and answers

Wines from other countries

• France 282
• Italy 70
• Spain 37
• Portugal 20
• United States 19
• Australia 14
• Chile 10
• Argentina 9
• Austria 9
• South Africa 9
• New Zealand 6
• Greece 4
• Hungary 4
• Switzerland 4