
Germany
As the world’s northernmost fine wine producing region ...
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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Deinhard Hanns Christof Premium Liebfraumilch 1998Other White Blends from Germany
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Selbach Bernkastel Kueser Kardinalsberg 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Deinhard Pinot Gris 1998Pinot Gris/Grigio from Germany
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Deinhard Pinot Blanc 1998Pinot Blanc from Germany
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Robert Weil Estate Riesling 1998Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Schmitt Sohne Piesporter Goldtroppen QbA 1998Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Selbach Piesporter Michelsberg 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Schmitt Sohne Zeller Schwarze Katz QbA 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Schmitt Sohne Piesporter Michelsberg Kabinett 1998Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Gunderloch Rheinhessen Riesling Spatlese Diva 1998Riesling from Germany
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Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Selbach Zeltinger Himmelreich Spatlese 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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J.J. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett Riesling 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Gunderloch Riesling Diva Spatlese (1.5L) 1998Riesling from Germany
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Gunderloch Jean-Baptiste Kabinett (half-bottle) 1998Riesling from Germany
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Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Von Kesselstatt Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Deinhard Riesling Beireich Bernkastler 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese Riesling 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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J.J. Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spatlese Riesling 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Riesling Eiswein 1998Riesling from Mosel, Germany