German Wines: Wine Regions, Grape Varieties & Image

Discover the diversity of the German wine landscape! From the steep slopes of the Ahr to the sunny hillsides of the Pfalz, Germany offers an impressive range of wine regions and grape varieties. This article takes you on a journey through the unique character of German wines, from traditional Rieslings to innovative Pinot Noirs. Get ready to be surprised by just how varied and distinctive the image of German wine really is.

What wine regions are there in Germany?

Germany can boast 13 wine regions in total. Each individual German wine region has its own character, shaped both by the terroir (the surrounding environment and soil composition) and the grape varieties that grow there.

A is for Ahr - the Ahr has unusually steep slopes, reaching gradients of up to 30 percent. Its terroir mainly consists of greywacke and slate soils.

B is for Baden, known as a wine region for its diversity of German grape varieties, sites, and terroir. The region enjoys plenty of sunshine hours and is among the warmest wine regions in Germany.

F is for Franken, a German wine region strongly divided into three terroirs: sandstone, shell limestone, and Keuper. 80 percent of the grapes grown there make up the white wine share.

H is for Germany's smallest wine region: Hessische Bergstraße. This wine region stands out for its almost Mediterranean climate. White wine dominates here, at nearly 80 percent.

M is for Mittelrhein, one of the warmest regions in Germany. This German wine region stretches along the left bank of the Rhine, with vineyards facing south. Similar to the Ahr, the vines benefit from slate and greywacke soils on steep slopes.

M is also for Germany's oldest wine region - the Mosel. With many steep sites, including Europe's steepest vineyard, and surrounded by three rivers, this is where Riesling, the Mosel's dominant grape variety, thrives beautifully. Dark slate soils serve as heat reservoirs in this so-called "cool climate."

N is for the wine region Nahe, which impresses with the diversity of its soil composition. Vines grow here on volcanic porphyry, loess, and clay soils as well as on slate. As a result, a wide variety of different grape varieties are grown in this region.

P is for the second-largest wine region, the Pfalz - but also for Germany's largest red wine region, with a 40 percent share. The Pfalz is also among the warmest regions in the country. The diversity of grape varieties stands out here too, thanks to the varied soil composition: limestone, basalt, sandstone, clay, shell limestone, and loam.

R is for Rheingau, a wine region with south-facing vineyards. The Rhine ensures an even temperature curve, and in autumn the Rhine creates fog that gives the grapes noble rot, known as Botrytis. This noble rot is the basis for noble sweet Prädikat wines. The vines in the Rheingau grow on quartzite, loess, loam, sand, gravel, and clay slate.

R is also for Rheinhessen: Germany's largest wine region, at nearly 27,000 hectares. Thanks to protection from mountains to the west, low rainfall, warm summer days, and mild winter days, an ideal climate for viticulture is created. The vines grow on rocky soils, loam, and loess in hilly terrain.

S is for Europe's northernmost wine region: Saale-Unstrut. The vines grow on shell limestone, sandstone, loess, and copper slate. Frosty temperatures mean that viticulture is only possible in sheltered locations, which benefit from plenty of sun and little rain.

S is also for Germany's easternmost wine region: Sachsen. Shaped by hot, dry summer days and cool summer nights, aromatic grapes thrive on sandstone, clay, loam, and loess soils.

W is for the wine region Württemberg. Two-thirds of the vines grow on slopes and steep sites. Hot summers, a sunny autumn, and frosty winters shape viticulture on shell limestone and Keuper soils. The Trollinger grape variety is a defining feature and hallmark of this wine region. About 80 percent of winemakers here belong to cooperatives.

German grape varieties: grape varieties grown in Germany

There are countless different grape varieties in general - including in Germany. Statistically speaking, 30 of these varieties are significant (Source: German Wine Statistics 23/24, German Wine Institute, Bodenheim).

The most widely grown grape variety in Germany comes from the white wine category: Riesling. As of 2022, Riesling is grown on 24,410 hectares in Germany, corresponding to a share of 23.6 percent of Germany's total vineyard area. In second place among the most widely grown German grape varieties: the red wine grape Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder). Its vineyard area covered a full 11,512 hectares in 2022, corresponding to a share of 11.1 percent of Germany's total vineyard area.

What are the most popular wines in Germany?

We'll cover four grape varieties from the "top 10 most widely grown varieties," each from the white and red wine categories.

The most popular German white wine varieties:

• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder)
• Pinot Blanc (Weißburgunder)

The most popular German red wine varieties:

• Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder)
• Dornfelder
• Trollinger
• Lemberger

One basic principle applies: each of the wines listed above can be produced dry, off-dry, or semi-sweet. This depends entirely on the style the winemaker is aiming for. That said, there are aromas and bouquets that are characteristic of each grape variety - and this also depends on the terroir, since every terroir has its "own" flavor that's reflected in the wine.

How the wine is aged plays a role too. The most important factor here is the must weight of the grape, meaning the grape's extract. The higher the must weight, the higher the quality of the wine.

Signature aromas of the most popular German white wines:

• Riesling: green apple, citrus fruits, white peach, petrol, apricot, beeswax, slate
• Chardonnay: pineapple, yellow apple/quince, citrus fruits, butter, hazelnut, vanilla
• Pinot Gris: cantaloupe melon, white peach, citrus zest, nutty aromas, pear, almonds
• Pinot Blanc: peach, citrus zest, grapefruit, butterscotch, pear, pineapple, fennel, almond

Signature aromas of the most popular German red wines:

• Dornfelder: plum, sour cherry, blackberry, black currant, raspberry, cloves, dark chocolate
• Pinot Noir: cloves, sour cherry, raspberry, vanilla, cranberry, tomato vine, blackberry, autumn forest floor/mushrooms
• Lemberger: stewed plums, black cherry, blackberry, tobacco, dark chocolate, gingerbread spice
• Trollinger: sour cherry, wild rose, raspberry, rosehip, caramel, licorice, strawberry

What are wine profiles?

To get a better overview of a wine's flavor and quality, there's what's known as a wine profile. A wine profile looks at five characteristics: alcohol content, body, acidity, sweetness, and tannins. We'll go through each of these five characteristics together and take a closer look at the wines listed above. We'll focus here on still wines. We won't cover sparkling wines (such as Champagne, Sekt, or Crémant) in this article, since that's a topic broad enough for its own piece.

Alcohol content of wine

Alcohol affects our health, the taste, and the shelf life of wine. When it comes to drinking alcohol, only consume as much as your body can metabolize. The ethanol it contains has a toxic effect on the liver and stomach. A chemical reaction produces acetaldehyde when alcohol is consumed, and this substance causes irritation and inflammation in the body. The sweeter the grapes are when harvested, the higher the potential alcohol content of the resulting wine. If the grapes weren't sweet enough at harvest, winemakers can sometimes artificially raise the alcohol content by adding sugar (chaptalization).

Overview of alcohol content in wine:

Acidity of wine

On the pH scale, water sits at a neutral value of 7, while wine falls in a range between 3 and 4, giving it a sour taste. Acidity is a marker of wine quality, since it prevents the wine from succumbing to chemical reactions that would spoil it. The ideal value for a stable wine lies between 2.9 and 3.9 on the pH scale.

Sweetness of wine

When the sugar in the grape must isn't fully fermented into alcohol, this is known as residual sugar in the wine. This determines the wine's sweetness, which can range anywhere from zero grams of sugar per liter up to 600 grams per liter. The more residual sugar, the thicker the wine's texture.

Body of wine

A wine's body describes how light or heavy it tastes.

A good analogy for body: skim milk versus whole milk. Skim milk tastes more watery than whole milk. In this example, whole milk has more body than skim milk.

A wine's body is shaped by alcohol content, tannins, sweetness, and acidity. Body is reinforced by alcohol, sweetness, and tannins. Acidity and carbonation (added carbon dioxide, whether artificial or from natural fermentation) reduce body. Winemakers often influence body by, for example, aging the wine in oak barrels.

Tannins in wine

Tannins in wine come from grape skins and seeds as well as from the oak barrels used for aging. Tannins give wine stability and protect it from oxidation. In terms of taste, tannins are often described as bitter, producing an astringent effect on the tongue. Astringent means the tongue and mucous membranes contract, creating a fuzzy feeling on the tongue. Try it yourself: place a wet black tea bag on your tongue and feel the astringent effect. Red wines are generally tannin-rich. The younger the wine, the more tannins it typically has. Winemakers can control tannin levels during aging.

Profiles of the most popular German white wines

Riesling wine profile

Riesling is an aromatic grape variety that can be made into anything from noble sweet to very dry white wine. Riesling is used for the following wine styles: sparkling wine, light white wine, aromatic white wine, or dessert wine.

Chardonnay wine profile

Chardonnay is one of the most popular grape varieties worldwide. It can be produced as a light white wine, but also aged in oak, which turns Chardonnay into a full-bodied white wine. Chardonnay is used for the following wine styles: sparkling wine, light white wine, or full-bodied white wine.

Pinot Gris wine profile

Pinot Gris - statistically Germany's favorite - is a grape variety that typically produces dry, fresh white wines with relatively low acidity. Pinot Gris is used for the following wine styles: light white wine or rosé wine.

Pinot Blanc wine profile

Pinot Blanc is a grape variety that typically produces dry, fresh, acidic, and delicately fruity white wines. Pinot Blanc is used for the following wine styles: sparkling wine or light white wine.

Profiles of the most popular German red wines

Pinot Noir wine profile

Pinot Noir, also known as Spätburgunder, is a light red wine that's lovely served slightly chilled. Pinot Noir is used for the following wine styles: sparkling wine, full white wine (Blanc de Noir - a white wine made from red grapes), rosé wine, or light red wine.

Dornfelder wine profile

Dornfelder can be released young and fruity, or made more powerful when the variety is aged in barrique (oak barrels). Dornfelder is used for the following wine styles: sparkling wine, rosé wine, medium-bodied to full-bodied red wine.

Trollinger wine profile

Trollinger, also called Schiava, is a light, fruity grape variety. Trollinger is used for the following wine styles: rosé wine or light red wine.

Lemberger wine profile

Lemberger, also known as Blaufränkisch, is a versatile grape variety that can range in flavor from restrained to powerful. Lemberger is used for the following wine styles: rosé wine or medium-bodied red wine.

German wines - trends and image

Wine consumption in Germany is declining. According to the "German Wine Statistics 23/24" from the German Wine Institute, every citizen drank on average one bottle of wine less than in the previous year. Sparkling wine consumption, on the other hand, has stayed constant. German wine exports and online retail, however, are on a steady growth trajectory. According to the German Wine Institute's current target-group and image study, German consumers mainly buy German wine. The main sources of purchase are grocery stores and discount retailers.

Why do people in Germany turn to German wines more often?

German winemakers stand out for their diversity, high quality, sustainability, and individuality, winning over buyers. German consumers who only occasionally drink German wine buy it because they trust the product and value the tradition behind German wines. That said, there's still something of an image deficit for German wines among occasional buyers. In my view, German wines (and German sparkling wine, too) now come in genuinely excellent quality and variety. The individual wine regions lend authenticity and speak to quality. I'd recommend reaching for a wine from an independent winemaker rather than one from a discount store. Don't cut corners in the wrong place. The tasting experience with a winemaker's wine is lively, honest, and tells its own story. Let a trusted wine merchant inspire you, or plan a trip to the vineyards. A personal visit to a winemaker is almost certainly worth it.

Dare to try more different wines, because in the end, wine is meant to be enjoyed and to taste good to you.