
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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Cupcake Vineyards Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Kabinett 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Strub Niersteiner Bruckchen Riesling Kabinett 2010Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
- RP
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Villa Wolf Gewurztraminer 2010Gewurztraminer from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
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Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WE
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Melsheimer Reiler Mullay-Hofberg Shaf Riesling Spatlese 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
- W&S
- RP
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J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
- RP
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Bex Riesling 2010Riesling from Germany
- TP
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RELAX Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Heinz Eifel Riesling Spatlese 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Schloss Saarstein Riesling QbA 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
- WE
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Schloss Saarstein Riesling Kabinett 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Schmitt Sohne Thomas Schmitt Riesling QbA 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Bernhard Eifel Alex E Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Thanisch Riesling Classic 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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St. Urbans-Hof Estate Riesling QbA 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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S.A. Prum Essence Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Weingut Schwaab-Dietz Sekt Trocken Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Prinz Von Hessen H Riesling 2010Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Schloss Vollrads Riesling Kabinett 2010Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Louis Guntrum Riesling 2010Riesling from Germany