How are German wines labeled?
The 10-12 digits represent the testing station, village, producer, the bottling’s lot number, and the year the wine was submitted for testing. You might also see wines called Deutscher Wein or Landwein on German wine labels, but those are usually of lesser quality.
What is the most popular wine in Germany?
Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
Spätburgunder is hands-down the most popular red wine variety in Germany, and the winner of several Decanter awards. This variety is grown in all of Germany’s 13 wine regions.
What are German wines called?
They include pinot blanc, known as weissburgunder in German; blaufränkisch, which in Germany is generally called lemberger; silvaner, often rendered sylvaner; and trollinger, better known in Italian as schiava. You’ll also find wholly obscure grapes like elbling and blauer portugieser, which have no aliases of note.
What does the German wine terms Auslese mean?
selected harvest
Auslese (literal meaning: “selected harvest”; plural form is Auslesen) is a German language wine term for a late harvest wine and is a riper category than Spätlese in the Prädikatswein category of the Austrian and German wine classification.
What does Goldkapsel mean?
Goldkapsel – gold capsule. A golden capsule or foil on the bottle. Denotes a wine considered better by the producer. Usually means a Prädikatswein that is sweeter or more intense, or indicates an auction wine made in a very small lot.
What does Feinherb mean in German?
wines that are off-dry
Feinherb: Unregulated German term for wines that are off-dry. Feinherb is often used in place of the less popular designation halbtrocken, as well as for wines that are slightly sweeter than regulations dictate for halbtrockens.
What is German wine known for?
Among enthusiasts, Germany’s reputation is primarily based on wines made from the Riesling grape variety, which at its best is used for aromatic, fruity and elegant white wines that range from very crisp and dry to well-balanced, sweet and of enormous aromatic concentration.
Does Germany have good wine?
German winemakers do produce red wine, and yes, it’s quite good. The quality is actually rising with each vintage. Red grapes now account for over a third of vineyard plantings in Germany, which might surprise those who automatically associate the country with its signature Riesling grape.
What is Germany’s most popular drink?
Most purchased and consumed beverages in Germany 2019-2021. Mineral water is by far the most purchased and consumed beverage in Germany. Over 86 percent of the population bought it in 2021. Germans are known for their preference of fizzy drinking water.
Why is German wine so sweet?
The Sweet, the Dry and the Fruity
Winemaking in Germany focuses on pure fruit flavors, which is why most German wines are sweeter and have more fruit notes than other wines. But with changing flavor preferences, German growers and producers are expanding to drier wines.
Which is sweeter Spatlese or Auslese?
Spätlese wines are rich and usually sweeter than Kabinett, although if you see “Trocken” on the bottle you can assume it’s in a dry style with higher alcohol. Auslese Meaning “select harvest”, Auslese is even sweeter picked at 83–110 Oechsle (191–260 g/l sugar) where the grapes are hand-selected and have noble rot.
What are the 5 classifications of German Riesling?
Germany’s Classification System. Under the Prädikatswein classification system, wines are catagorized based on the ripeness of grape when they are harvested: from Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese to Trockenbeerenauslese.
What is the difference between Auslese and Spatlese?
Spätlese means “late harvest” and grapes have a sweetness level of 76-90 Oechsle (172–209 g/L sugar) when harvested. Auslese meaning “select harvest”, Auslese is even sweeter picked at 83–110 Oechsle (191–260 g/l sugar) where the grapes are hand-selected and have noble rot.
What is the sweetest German wine?
Traditionally a sweet wine with citrus and stone fruit flavors, Rieslings can be some of the sweetest wines in the world. But dry Rieslings are now more widely produced due to diversifying taste demands. The finest Rieslings come from the Mosel or Rhinegau regions.
What does Kabinett mean in German?
cabinet
Kabinett (literal meaning: cabinet), or sometimes Kabinettwein (literal meaning: a wine set aside in a cabinet), is a German language wine term for a wine which is made from fully ripened grapes of the main harvest, typically picked in September, and are usually made in a light style.
What does halbtrocken mean in German?
German for “half-dry”—defined as less than 1.8% residual sugar. Wines labeled halbtrocken usually still taste extremely dry because of the high corresponding acidity in German wines. The term feinherb is often used as a synonym.
What is Pinot Noir called in Germany?
Spätburgunder
Spätburgunder is the German name for Pinot Noir. Spät means late in German, while Burgunder refers to Burgundy.
Why are German wines sweeter?
Winemaking in Germany focuses on pure fruit flavors, which is why most German wines are sweeter and have more fruit notes than other wines. But with changing flavor preferences, German growers and producers are expanding to drier wines. Germany’s climate is cooler than many wine-producing regions.
Where is the best wine in Germany?
The Best Wine Regions to Visit in Germany
- Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. Easily the most famous wine producer in Germany, the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region (often referred to simply as Mosel) boasts of some of the steepest vineyards in the world.
- Rheingau.
- Mittelrhein.
- Baden.
- Sachsen.
- Pfalz.
- Rheinhessen.
What is the national drink of Germany?
Pilsner. This simple beer is a lager style and is actually the National Drink of Germany.
What do Germans drink on Christmas?
Glühwein is traditionally served at stalls at Christmas markets across Germany and Austria to keep people warm as they shop and socialize. Here is a basic recipe that will make Glühwein like you would get at a German Christmas market.
What is the driest German wine?
“Trocken” – the German word for “dry. “Grosses Gewächs” – a classification term that always denotes a wine that’s dry in style. “Dry” – yes, some German winemakers are using more English words on labels for the U.S. market 😉
What are the 3 types of Riesling?
In general, riesling wines fall into four categories.
- Sweet riesling. Most rieslings have at least some level of sweetness.
- Dry riesling. French, Austrian, and American wines tend to be drier than those made elsewhere, and riesling is no exception.
- Semi-sweet riesling.
- Sparkling riesling.
What is the sweetest German Riesling?
Kabinett wines range in style from dry to off-dry. Spätlese Spätlese means “late harvest” and grapes have a sweetness level of 76-90 Oechsle (172–209 g/L sugar). Spätlese wines are rich and usually sweeter than Kabinett, although if you see “Trocken” on the bottle you can assume it’s in a dry style with higher alcohol.
Which is sweeter Kabinett or Spatlese?
Spätlese wines are rich and usually sweeter than Kabinett, although if you see “Trocken” on the bottle you can assume it’s in a dry style with higher alcohol.