What is German wine?
The wine-producing areas of Germany are located in the southern and western parts of the country, alongside the banks of many streams that flow into the river Rhine.
The German winemaker has no other option but to add sugar to the must during fermentation to produce alcohol. Germany is known for its excellent white wines. The chief quality of German wines is their balance.
They have just enough acid to heighten the sweetness and aroma and leave a spicy finish. Hocks and Moselles are the two main types of white wine produced. Hock wines are bottled in brown-colored bottles, while Moselle wines are bottled in green-colored bottles.
Different Types of German Wine
The wine law of Germany classifies its wines into two broad categories:
1. Table wine
It is ordinary to drink wine every day. It is further classified into Deutscher Tafelwein and Tafelwein.
- Deutscher Tafelwein: It is an ordinary table wine made exclusively from grapes produced in Germany. The name of the district (Bereich) or village may be mentioned on the label.
- Tafelwein: It is a German wine blended with wines imported from other countries in the European Economic Community (EEC).
2. Quality wine
It must originate in one of the 11 authorized regions and be made from the approved grape varieties grown in approved vineyards. Wines from a collection of vineyards in a district may be blended, provided they are all of equivalent quality.
The following are the 11 authorized regions:
- Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
- Rheinhessen
- Baden
- Mittelrhein
- Rheingau
- Rheingau
- Rheinpfalz
- Ahr
- Franken
- Nahe
- Hessische-Bergstrasse
- Württemberg
Quality wines are further classified into two types:
- Qualitätswein bestimmer Anbaugebiete.
- Qualitätswein mit Prädikat.
German Wine Label
The German wine label provides the following information to the consumer:
- The area of production.
- The quality classification.
- The vintage year.
- The vineyard or group of vineyards.
- The name and address of the shipper.
- The name of the grape used in the making of wine.
- In the case of prädikat wines, the style.
- The brand name.
- The AP number.
Germany is known for its excellent white wines. Hocks and Moselles are the two main German white wine types, well known all over the world.
Hock wines are produced near the Rhine, while Moselles are produced near the river Moselle and its tributaries, Saar and Ruwer. Hock wines are bottled in brown-colored bottles, while Moselle wines are in green-colored bottles.
