What Is German Wine
German wine is best known for its Riesling, grown across thirteen official wine regions including the Mosel, Rheingau, and Pfalz — though German vineyards also produce excellent Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), and a range of other classic and modern varietals. Quality is governed by a centuries-old ripeness-based classification system, recently joined by the VDP’s terroir-based vineyard classification. This page is a reference guide to German wine regions, grape varietals, vintage reports, and the laws and classifications that shape what’s in the bottle.
About German Wine
We are pleased to provide some basic reference material on German wine regions, and key grape varietals.
Images By The Schiller-wine
Map Wine Regions
More Grape Varietals
New VDP Classification
Text Wine Regions
Pictorial Guide to Grapes
Vintage Report
Principal Grape Varietals
Grape Photo Gallery
New German Wine Law
Frequently Asked Questions About German Wine
What is the most famous German wine grape?
Riesling is the grape most associated with German wine, known for its acidity and ability to express the character of the vineyard it’s grown in. Germany also produces significant amounts of Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), and Müller-Thurgau.
How many wine regions does Germany have?
Germany has thirteen official wine-growing regions (Anbaugebiete), including the Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, and Baden, each with its own soil types and grape specialties.
What is the VDP classification?
The VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) is an association of top German wine estates that classifies vineyards by terroir, similar to the Burgundy classification system, with tiers including VDP.Grosse Lage, VDP.Erste Lage, VDP.Ortswein, and VDP.Gutswein.
What does Prädikat mean on a German wine label?
Prädikat refers to Germany’s traditional ripeness-based classification of wine, with levels such as Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, and Trockenbeerenauslese, based on how ripe the grapes were at harvest.
Is German wine always sweet?
No. While German wines can range from bone-dry (trocken) to lusciously sweet, dry styles have become increasingly dominant, especially in regions like the Pfalz and Rheinhessen.
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