
German Wine
Learn about German wine, common tasting notes, where the region is and more ...
As the world’s northernmost fine wine producing region, Germany faces some of the most extreme climatic and topographic challenges in viticulture. But fortunately this country’s star variety, Riesling, is cold-hardy enough to survive freezing winters, and has enough natural acidity to create balance, even in wines with the highest levels of residual sugar. Riesling responds splendidly to Germany’s variable terroir, allowing the country to build its reputation upon fine wines at all points of the sweet to dry spectrum, many of which can age for decades.
Classified by ripeness at harvest, Riesling can be picked early for dry wines or as late as January following the harvest for lusciously sweet wines. There are six levels in Germany’s ripeness classification, ordered from driest to sweetest: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein (ice wine). While these classifications don’t exactly match the sweetness levels of the finished wines, the Kabinett category will include the drier versions and anything above Auslese will have noticeable—if not noteworthy—sweetness. Eiswein is always remarkably sweet.
Other important white varieties include Müller-Thurgau as well as Grauburguner (Pinot Gris) and Weissburguner (Pinot Blanc). The red, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), grown in warmer pockets of the country can be both elegant and structured.
As the fourth largest wine producer in Europe (after France, Italy and Spain), in contrast to its more Mediterranean neighbors, Germany produces about as much as it consumes—and is also the largest importer of wine in the E.U.
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Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Fitz-Ritter Durkheimer Hochbenn Riesling SektNon-Vintage Sparkling Wine from Pfalz, Germany
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Maximin Grunhaus Schloss Riesling 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Zilliken Forstmeister Geltz Saarburg Riesling Kabinett 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Graacher Himmelreich Alte Reben Grosses Gewachs 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Graacher Himmelreich Alte Reben Grosses Gewachs 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Heinz Eifel Shine Rheinhessen Gewurztraminer 2019Gewurztraminer from Rheinhessen, Germany
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Zilliken Forstmeister Geltz Rausch Riesling Kabinett 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Maximin Grunhaus Abtsberg Riesling Superior 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Wittmann Westhofener Riesling Trocken 2020Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
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Prost Rheinhessen Dry Riesling 2020Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
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Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Prost Pfalz Pinot Noir 2019Pinot Noir from Pfalz, Germany
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Robert Weil Rheingau Riesling Kabinett 2020Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Schafer-Frohlich Vulkangestein Riesling Trocken 2018Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Maximin Grunhaus Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Wittmann Rheinhessen Estate Riesling Trocken 2020Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Alte Reben Grosses Gewachs Riesling 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Maximin Grunhaus Herrenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Pfeffingen Dry Scheurebe 2019Other White Wine from Pfalz, Germany
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Maximin Grunhaus Mosel Riesling Brut Sekt 2018Vintage Sparkling Wine from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben Müller-Burggraef) Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2020Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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