
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.
-
Schloss Saarstein Riesling QbA 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
-
RELAX Riesling 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
-
Valckenberg Gewurztraminer Pfalz QbA 2008Gewurztraminer from Germany
-
J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
-
J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
- W&S
-
Selbach Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
- WS
-
Dr. H. Thanisch (Erben Müller-Burggraef) Riesling Classic 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
-
Schloss Vollrads Rheingau Riesling QbA 2008Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
- WS
-
Blue Nun Riesling 2008Riesling from Germany
-
Clean Slate Mosel Riesling 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
-
Schmitt Sohne Thomas Schmitt Riesling QbA 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
-
Cupcake Vineyards Riesling 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WE
-
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
- WS
-
S.A. Prum Mosel Riesling Essence 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
-
Von Kesselstatt RK Estate Riesling 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
-
J.J. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
-
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
-
Markus Molitor Haus Klosterberg Riesling Spatlese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
-
J.J. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
- WE
- WS
-
Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
-
St. Urbans-Hof Mosel Estate Riesling QbA 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
-
Von Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtropfchen Kabinett 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
-
Maximin Grunhaus Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
- WE
- RP
-
Maximin Grunhaus Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
-
Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2008Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
- WE
- WS