Wine Regions of Germany.

 

Ahr (ahr)

A small wine region in Germany where most of the wine made is red. The main grape is Pinot Noir which is known locally as Spatburgunder.

Mittelrhein (mit' l-rine)

A small picturesque wine region along the Rhine River . Most of the wine is white and made from the Riesling grape. It is rarely exported.

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (mo'z'l sahr roo'-ver)

One of the highest quality wine regions in Germany . The region includes the two tributaries to the Moselle River ( Moselle is the English spelling). The finest vineyards are found on steeply terraced hills, overlooking the river. The best wines are made from Riesling, but increasing amounts of Muller-Thurgau, Elbling and Kerner are being planted. Some of the best known wine growing regions in Germany can be found here: Zeller Schwarze Katz, Piesporter and the exceptional Bernkastler vineyards. The Bernkastler Doctor vineyard in particular is heralded by many as their favorite German wine.

Rheingau (rine'-gao)

Historically one of the highest quality German wine producing regions. The Rhine River flows primarily northwest through Germany , except for here, where it takes a southwest course for about 20 miles. It is the direction of the river that allows the vineyards to have a south facing view, critical for ripening the grapes in this cold growing region. Here you will find Johannsberg, a region that for the US is literally synonymous with Riesling. The influx of faster maturing and easier to grow grapes has not reached this part of Germany , as it has in so much of the country. Instead, Riesling continues to be the primary grape of the region, which in no small way helps to define the quality of the wines.  

Nahe (nah'-huh)

One of the major wine growing areas of Germany and for many, as high a quality as the Mosel , and the Rheingau.

Rheinhessen (rine-hess'-en)

The largest of Germany 's wine regions. You will find very little Riesling here, with the wines being made primarily of Muller-Thurgau and or Sylvaner.

Phalz (fahl'tz)

One of the Anbaugebiete (specified wine regions) of Germany , and the most up and coming. Also referred to as the Rheinpfalz, and sometimes known in English speaking circles as the " Palatinate ." Stretching for 50 miles, just north of Alsace from the French and German border, the Phalz produces red and white wines of distinction. Pinot Noir, known as Spatburgunder in German, is the red wine grape of the region, where it produces a very light styled wine. Riesling is king here, but Muller-Thurgau is a close second, with a variety of other grapes constituting 60% of the vineyards. While the second largest German region by size, it may be the largest by volume of wine produced.

Baden (bah-d'n)

One of the larger German wine regions. It is bordered by France on the West, and   Switzerland in the South. The grapes tend to be planted along the foothills of the Black Forest . This is where you can find most of the German plantings of the red wine grape Pinot Noir which is known locally as Spatburgunder. Muller-Thurgau and Rulander (Pinot Gris) are the main white wine grapes.

Franken (frahn'-ken)

A large German wine region that specializes in dry white wines made from the grape Silvaner. While many German wine regions produce flowery and somewhat sweet wines, the wines of Franken tend to be clean and crisp.

Wurttemberg (vur'-tem-bairg)

A good sized German wine region. It is situated around the well known German city of Stuttgart , home of the German automobile industry. The red wines made in the region are of the greatest interest. Besides the usual red wine grape Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) here you will also find local varieties such as Trollinger, Lemberger and Schwarzriesling.

Hessische Bergstrasse (heh-see-shuh bairg-strah-suh)

A tiny German region that primarily produces white wines from the Riesling grape. Most of the wine is consumed locally.

Sachsen (zahkh'-zuhn)

The smallest of the German wine regions. It is centered around the city of Dresden in what was once East Germany . The region produces dry white wines.

Saale-Unstrut (zahl' oon-shtrut)

A tiny, and northerly German wine region. In what was once considered East Germany , this region produces dry white wines near the city of Leipzig .