
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 Erdener Pralat Goldkapsel Auslese 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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J.J. Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Weingut Dautel Estate Weissburgunder 2017Pinot Blanc from Germany
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Paul Anheuser Schlossboeckelheimer Koenigsfels Riesling Kabinett 2017Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Von Winning Kieselberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2017Riesling from Pfalz, Germany
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Schmitt Sohne Riesling Spatlese 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Karthauserhof Riesling Spatlese Trocken Alte Reben 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Burklin-Wolf Estate Riesling 2017Riesling from Pfalz, Germany
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Muller-Catoir Haardt Muskateller Trocken 2017Muscat from Pfalz, Germany
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Kruger-Rumpf Burgberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2017Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Donnhoff Estate Riesling Trocken 2017Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Kabinett Riesling 2017Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Selbach Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Kabinett Halbtrocken 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Hermann Dr. H. Riesling 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Schlossgut Diel Kabinett Riesling 2017Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling Dry 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Villa Wolf Riesling Dry 2017Riesling from Pfalz, Germany
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Dr. Hermann Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett Riesling 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Weingut Darting Durkheimer Hochbenn Kabinett Riesling 2017Riesling from Pfalz, Germany
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S.A. Prum Essence Riesling 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Heinz Eifel Riesling Auslese 2017Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Weingut Darting Durkheimer Nonnengarten Kabinett Riesling (1 Liter) 2017Riesling from Germany
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Von Buhl Riesling Bone Dry 2017Riesling from Pfalz, Germany
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Donnhoff Estate Riesling 2017Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Robert Weil Estate Riesling Trocken 2017Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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