Wines of Germany 4 Items

Throughout Germany's 13 wine regions, the best vineyard sites are found in the country's unique terrain - from astoundingly steep and often stony slopes to the fertile river valleys of the Mosel and the Rhine - where increased sunlight exposure can help grapes to ripen in the cool continental climate. The unique microclimates and diverse soil types in Germany are expressed in lively wines with high acidity and low alcohol content. While Germany is renowned for producing some of the finest white wines in the world, today Germany is building its reputation upon fine wines in a range of styles, from complex reds to refreshing whites and unique sparkling wines.

The world’s northernmost region for quality wine production, Germany faces some unique viticultural challenges due to its extreme marginal climate. Fortunately for the lover of German wine, because they hover a bit under the radar, they tend to remain surprisingly affordable and present great value—for now.

Germany is best known for white wines, particularly Riesling, which requires long growing periods to ripen completely and therefore thrives in northerly wine-growing regions. Riesling has enough natural acidity to create balanced wines even at the highest levels of residual sugar and can produce wines in a variety of styles, from bone dry to lusciously sweet.

Other important white varieties include the early ripening Müller-Thurgau, which produces an attractive floral and fruity white wine as well as Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc).

Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) grown in warmer pockets of the country is, at its best, elegant and structured enough to rival red Burgundy. Germany’s most important red wine grape, Spätburgunder is comparatively lighter in color, body, and tannins than red wines from warmer climates, and is reminiscent of red fruit, blackberries, and pepper, with a healthy acidity.