Weinland Deutschland. Germany is the 8th largest wine producer in the world and over 65% of its production is white wine. Germany is known for wines that age incredibly well and hold intense acidity as well as having distinctive winemaking styles. With cool climates, steep slopes, distinct soil structures, and unique grape varieties, the role that terroir plays in German wine isare vastly important.
In the wine world, Germany is considered, along with the rest of Europe, part of the “old world” meaning that many of the world’s grape-growing and winemaking traditions originated there. It’s one of the greatest wine-producing countries not just in Europe, but the world. There was a time when German Rieslings, from the Rhine River area, were the most expensive white wines ever sold.
Germany is most well known for producing sweet Rieslings in some of the coolest climates on the steepest slopes in the world. However, this country produces so much more than just Riesling, and I promise you that you won’t find blue bottled “Liebfraumilch” in my portfolio. Instead, you will discover wines like Silvaner, Weissburgunder(Pinot Blanc), Grauburgunder(Pinot Gris), Spaetburgunder (Pinot Noir), Lemberger, Trollinger, of course Riesling, and so much more. Not to mention some of the most delicious and affordable “Sekt” (sparkling wines) that rival the best French Champagne, Spanish Cava, or Italian Prosecco.
German is my first language so I am here to help you understand what there is to know about each wine I’ve selected.
Germany’s wine is grown in the northernmost regions of the world where the grapes can ripen slowly. The cool continental climate in the north makes the Rieslings taste so unique. In total, there are 13 wine-growing regions (see map) with laws set in place to control the standards of production, quality, and classification. Depending on the winemaking zone and/or region you are in, rules and regulations may differ. To understand the wine labels, it is helpful to know more about the wine law and regulations specific to Germany. Germany has a special set of winemaking laws that set its wines apart from almost any other European country. To learn more about the German wine law and to get a better understanding of the German quality system, check out the story “Winemaking”.
Side Note – German Chocolate Cake is not a thing in Germany. It’s only a German thing in America.
