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About German Wine-- Table of Contents
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| Riesling: | The most important of the grape varieties grown in Germany. Produces wines ranging from bone dry to unctuous and formidably concentrated. Many would call this the world’s premier white wine grape, and the German expression of it the world's standard. |
| Silvaner: | Dry neutral wines are produced from this low yielding grapes. One of the varieties that benefits most from a drier style of wine making. |
| Müller-Thurgau: | A wine whose heritage has long been thought to be Riesling and Silvaner but now is believed to be a cross between two Riesling clones. As Hugh Johnson put it: 'Should be banned from all the top vineyards'. |
| Ruländer: | Known as the Pinot Gris or Tokay d'Alsace in France. Robust and flavorful, produces heavyweight wines from the south of Germany. |
| Scheurebe: | Probably the most successful Riesling and Silvaner cross. A "love it or leave it" varietal. |
| Weissburgunder: | The Pinot Blanc of France. Seems to be making some strides although it still tends to produce a rather dull wine. |
| Gewürztraminer: | Spicy, aromatic and distinctive. You either love or hate this grape. The non-lovers should be encouraged to try a Gewürz from the Pfalz or Baden as they are not quite so 'distinctive' as the classic wines of Alsace. |
| Kerner: | A modern precocious (early ripening) variety often used to improve the chances of producing wines with a higher must weight. A cross between Trollinger and Riesling |
| Spätburgunder: | The Pinot Noir of France. Produces light pale wines as vinification in oak is sufficient to lose the Qualitätswein ranking. Has received more attention from importers, growers and the public over the last few years. |
| Dornfelder: | The 'new' red wine of Germany. Has an extraordinary depth of colour yet a fresh and fruity, almost Beaujolais-like, taste. Fashionable and hence difficult to find. |
| Trollinger: | A speciality of Württemberg. Late ripening an hence can be problematic in cool years. |
| Lemberger: | Another red variety found predominantly in Württemberg. Probably not missed much elsewhere. |
| Portugieser: | Nothing to do with Portugal as it probably originates from the Danube valley in Austria. Light wine that is easy drinking. |