In-depth analysis of the 13 major wine producing regions in Germany, recommended for collection

Saale-Unstrut (Saale-Unstrut)

is produced less than white in Germany 1. Wine producing area,Pinot Noir is the protagonist.

Introduction : Ahr is located in the northwest corner of Germany, and the name of the producing area comes from the Ahr River where it is located. The valley has beautiful scenery and rich plant populations. According to research, grapes have been planted here since Roman times. Today, it is the most representative red wine producing area in Germany.

Terroir : Located between 50°-51° north latitude, this region is one of the most northern wine-producing regions in the world, with a mild microclimate. The climate soil is rich in slate, basalt and hard sandstone with clay, suitable for planting Pinot Noir. The best vineyards face southeast or southwest. The location and special conditions of the soil allow the soil to accumulate light heat during the day and emit heat at night to promote the growth and maturity of the grapes.

Important grape varieties : Pinot Noir, Portuguese (Portugieser), Fruhburgunder (Fruhburgunder), Riesling

Wine type and style: Mainly produces red wine, which is rare in Germany There are more wines than white wine producing areas, and the overall output of wine is very small, most of which are sold locally and rarely exported. In the past, most of the Pinot Noir wines here were made from late-harvest grapes, with medium sweetness and sweet taste, but now they are more dry Pinot Noir, aged in oak barrels, with a stronger flavor and more pronounced tannins. Portuguese red wines are light-bodied, while Riesling white wines are generally fresh.

well-known winery : Deutzerhof winery (Deutzerhof)

2. Moselle: Germany's most famous wine producing region, known for its delicate, mineral-rich Riesling

Introduction to : Mosel to Germany,As important as Bordeaux is to France. Mosel was formerly known as Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, and later changed to Mosel for the convenience of consumers' memory. Now it is known for producing delicate and complex wines with strong aging potential, among which sweet white wines are the most famous. In WS’s latest ranking of the world’s 50 most expensive wines, the TBA sweet wine of the Egon Muller winery in this region ranks second, so this region is also recognized as the best white wine producing region in Germany one.

Terroir : The Moselle production area is located in northwestern Germany, and the slate soil is the biggest feature here. Slate has been used as a building material in the Moselle for hundreds of years. It can absorb solar heat and reflect sunlight to help the grapes mature. Moreover, the long Moselle and its tributaries meander through it, allowing the grapes to be fully exposed to the sun. The vineyards here are mostly built on extremely steep hillsides, the bulldozing equipment is difficult to operate, and the grape picking is all done by hand, so the production cost here is the highest in the German production area. In addition, due to the location to the north, the climate here is relatively cool, and the west is affected by the Atlantic Ocean, and the climate has not changed much, which makes the fruit acid in the wine very abundant.

Important grape varieties : Riesling, Miller Tugau, Elbling (Elbling)

Wine types and styles : Most white wines, but few red wines. Moselle Riesling has aromas of peach, slate minerals, etc. The rich fruit acid can perfectly balance the sugar in the wine, so some Riesling with residual sugar more than 30g/L tastes semi-dry, which is beneficial Supported by high acidity. Fresh (7-9% alcohol content), delicate, refreshing, and slightly sweet Riesling is the essence of Mosel Riesling. Of course, the production of dry Riesling is gradually increasing, with an alcohol content of 13%. Or contain more sugar.

Well-known sub-regions : The Moselle region has the following 6 sub-regions.

• Cochem (Cochem): Located in the Lower Moselle, the soil is mainly clay slate and hard sandstone. The overall quality of the wine is ordinary, but in recent years, some relatively high-quality wines have gradually been brewed.

• Bernkastel (Bernkastel): Located on the right bank of on the Moselle River is the top grape growing area in Germany. The vineyards are all located on steep slopes. The soil is dominated by gray slate. It is very hot in the midsummer afternoon. At the same time, the trees covered over the vineyards make the night air colder, creating a large temperature difference between day and night and giving the wine a refreshing acidity. And refreshing aroma.

• Ruhr (Ruwertal): The area is small, and the wines produced for a long period of time are too light and have high acidity, but the top wines are gradually increasing. Today, the fine and elegant white wines of Germany are produced here.

• Saar (Saar): The vineyards are all located on steep slopes, the soil is slate, mainly Riesling is grown, and the wines are fresh and crisp like apples and lemons, and honey Sweet aroma, solid and glamorous wine quality.

• Haute Moselle (Obermosel): Parallel to the border of Luxembourg, the soil is mainly limestone crustal, the Riesling wine produced has outstanding acidity and weak body, so the grapes here are mainly used to cause Sket foam liqueur.

well-known winery : Chateau Yimu

3. Nahe: "Gem" production area,The soil types are extremely rich and the wine styles are numerous.

Introduction : Nahe is located between the Moselle and the Rhine. Its name comes from the Nahe River that passes through the production area. It was named legal in 1971 Production area. In recent years, the Riesling here has become more and more well-known on the international stage. It has the momentum to catch up with Moselle and Rheingau , and it is a "gem" producing area in Germany.

Terroir : Thanks to the protection of the Sonwald River and the Hunsrück Mountain, the climate in Nahe is generally mild, with few frost, hail and cold winds, and plenty of sunlight, making it quite suitable for growing late-maturing Riesling. Some vineyards located on terraced slopes have various soil types, including volcanic rock, slate, laterite, quartzite , clay, loess, sandstone and basalt, etc., which can produce world-class Riesling. Many vineyards have been reorganized and modernized.

Important grape varieties : Riesling, Miller Tuco, Dornfelder

wine type and style : Red wine accounts for 75%, white wine accounts for 25%. The Riesling wine produced here is extremely delicate and has a slight spicy taste. Milletogou white wines are generally full of aromas. In addition, there are very good quality red wines such as Pinot Noir and Dunfit.

well-known sub-producing area : The grape growing area of ​​Nahe can be divided into three regions: the upper reaches of the Nahe River, the vicinity of Bad Kreuznach in the middle and the lower reaches of the Nahe River.

• Upper Nahe River : Here are a series of representative wine-producing villages,The wine produced often has a charming red fruit aroma and obvious spice and mineral aromas. Monzingen is one of the representative villages. Fruhlingsplatzchen and Halenberg here are the best vineyards in the Nach region.

• Central Bad Kreuznach near : The soil is rich in loess and clay, and some vineyards are gravel, with good drainage, and the wine produced has a more delicate taste. The slope of the vineyard location is gentler than other places, and the wine production is larger. Well-known vineyards are Brucke, Kahlenberg and Krotenpfuhl.

• Lower Nahe River : The vineyards here are mostly on slate and quartzite slope terraces, and the wines produced often have citrus, stone fruit aromas and mineral flavors such as stone. Well-known vineyards include Burgberg, Goldloch and so on.

Well-known winery : Donnhoff

4. Rheinhessen: Germany’s largest wine region

Introduction : Rheinhessen (Rheinhessen) Germany's largest wine-producing region, produces a wide variety of wines, accounting for more than half of German wine exports. Grapes have been planted here since Roman times. In the past, it mainly produced cheap blended wines, but it is not what it used to be. It is already a very vibrant production area in Germany.

Terroir : Rheinhessen is located between the Rhine and Nach rivers, with the Hart Mountains in the south. There are many hills in the production area, which are not affected by wind, and there is less rainfall, and the climate is dry.There are many types of soil, such as lime soil, loam, loess, gravel, sand, etc. They work with the Rhine River to regulate the climate in the area and provide enough heat for the wine to avoid threats such as frost in winter.

Important grape varieties : Silvaner, Miller Togo, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Danfit, Portuguese

Wine type and style : both white wines, It also produces red wine and a lot of sparkling wine. In general, these wines have a soft taste, very aromatic, moderate body and acidity, and easy to drink. It is worth mentioning that the best wines come from vineyards near the Rhine. The red slate brings unique flavors such as peaches, citrus, and bacon to the wine.

Well-known sub-region : Nierstein is the second largest grape growing region in Rheinhessen. The most well-known vineyard group in Rheinhessen is called Rote Hang, which is composed of 5 vineyards in Pettenthal, Hipping, Oelberg and Orbel in Nierstein and Rothenberg in the neighboring village of Nackenheim. These vineyards are located on the slopes of red slate, and the wines produced are aromatic, delicate and mineral.

Well-known winery : Keller Winery (Keller)

5. Falz: It is not only a tourist attraction, but also a mecca for producing Riesling

Introduction: Falz (Pfalz) is north of Rhine-Hesse, the area of ​​production area ranks second in Germany, and the output ranks first. Before 1993, this place was always called Rheinpfalz, and later changed to Pfalz, which means "palace".Derived from the Latin word "palatium". This is a famous tourist attraction in Germany. In recent years, the market has a great demand for wine here, and the wine industry has developed rapidly.

Terroir : Thanks to the protection of the mountains, the climate of Falz is close to the Mediterranean climate, with abundant sunshine, warm and dry, and few night frosts and winter frosts. The soil types in the production area are rich, the common ones are loess, chalk, clay, sandstone, basalt, volcanic rock, etc.

Important grape varieties : Riesling, Miller Tugo, Danfit, Portuguese, Pinot Noir

Wine types and styles : Red and white wines are produced, mostly dry wines. Riesling has a rich and elegant flavor, a rich taste, and a fairly high acidity to balance it. Even dry or semi-dry wines are very balanced. Other important white grape varieties, such as Milletuguo and Sivani, also produce wines with strong aromas and full-bodied wines. Red wines such as Pinot Noir now have an alcohol content of 13% and are often aged in oak barrels.

well-known sub-producing area

• Forst (Forst): It has always been Falz’s most respected producing area, and the wines here are very elegant. The best vineyards in the village are located on clay soils that are conducive to grape cultivation and good water retention. The most famous vineyards are Jesuitengarten, Kirchenstuck and Freundstuck. The first two received the highest evaluation in the 1828 German vineyard classification.

• Wachenheim (Wachenheim): This is the end of the core of wine production in the Mittelhaardt region. The wines produced are characterized by meticulous balance.The flavor is sweet and pure. Well-known vineyards include Belz, Rechbachel and so on.

Well-known winery : Bassermann-Jordan winery (Bassermann-Jordan)

6. Central Rhine: one of the smallest wine producing regions in Germany, beautiful and romantic

: Central Rhine (Mittelrhein) is one of the smallest wine-producing regions in Germany. It is more than 100 kilometers along the Rhine from Bonn. The grape growing and winemaking here were introduced by the Romans. The cliffs and castles in this producing area are world-famous, are well-known tourist attractions in Germany, and have great potential for winemaking.

Terroir : Due to the small area, there are very few wineries here. Grapes are mostly planted on the right bank of the Rhine. The river brings enough water vapor to keep the temperature from low. At the same time, it is rainy in summer, which allows the vines to grow healthily on the slate slope and maintain sufficient tenacity. The steep slopes protect the vines from cold winds and receive enough light.

Important grape varieties : Riesling, Millet Gourd, Pinot Noir

Wine types and styles : White wine is the majority. In general, the wine here is fresh and aromatic, with special fruit acidity. The Riesling produced by a few top wineries has an alcohol content of 12% or less, in order to protect the rare old vines. These Rieslings perfect the minerality, tension and tropical fruit flavor of Moselle and Nach Riesling Fused together. Of course, a small amount of rigorous Pinot Noir red wine is also produced here.

well-known winery : Weingut Weingart

7. Rheingau: a well-known production area as famous as the Moselle,The essence of German wine

Introduction : Rheingau is a German wine-producing region that is as famous as the Moselle. The development of wine has greatly promoted the economic development of this region, and other regions cannot easily compare. . Although the area of ​​the production area only accounts for 3% of Germany, Rheingau has a long history of winemaking and is the essence of German wine, gathering many top German wineries.

Terroir : The Rhine makes a small bend in the Rheingau, forming a river from east to west, which promotes the ripening of the grapes and brings reflected sunlight. The vineyards are mostly south facing, with plenty of light. Often foggy weather helps the formation of noble rot fungi, so good vintages can produce high-quality wines with berry or dried berry flavors. The soil types are rich, including chalk, sand and gravel, as well as various clays, loess, quartzite and slate.

important grape varieties : Riesling, Pinot Noir

wine type and style : prolific white wine. Compared with Moselle Riesling, Rheingau's finest Riesling wines are known for their strength, depth and condensedness, which are completely different from the elegant and balanced Moselle Riesling. The Pinot Noir here has a blackberry aroma, a smooth taste and a medium to full-bodied wine.

well-known sub-producing area : undoubtedly Johannisberg (Johannisberg). Mount John is a historic wine-making village in Rheingau. The earliest records of vineyards in the area can be traced back to 817. Today, the area is located at 50 degrees north latitude, on the right bank of the Rhine. This is the first place (1775) where late-pick wines were made, and now all Rieslings are grown. In 1788, Thomas Jefferson called it the best wine-growing area on the Rhine.

well-known winery : Schloss Johannisberg (Schloss Johannisberg)

8. Franconia: low-key production area,Wines are filled with special bottles.

Introduction : Although Franken (Franken/Franconia) is not well-known, it produces very unique wines. The production area is located in the east of the Rhine, in the central part of Germany. Most of its vineyards are located on both sides of the Main River and its tributaries. The scenery is beautiful and it is also a famous exclusive resort.

Terroir : There are a large number of crust limestone, gneiss, granite and mica schist in this production area. These soils are easy to absorb heat and heat up, which makes the wine produced with distinctive characteristics. The climate here is continental, but it is also affected by the Mediterranean climate. The summer is hot and dry, the winter is cold, the annual rainfall is high, and the early frost lasts for a long time. However, the existence of the river allows the grapes to mature to a certain extent.

Important grape varieties : Sivani, Milletuguo

Wine type and style: Prolific white wine, full and firm taste. Silvani is the flagship variety of this region. The wine produced has the characteristics of concentrated flavor and high alcohol content, with a mineral flavor and long-lasting storage. The producing area also produces very little sweet white, with complex style and strong aging potential. It is worth mentioning that the best quality Franconian wines are contained in a green, short, round-necked bottle called Bocksbeutel, which can only be used to hold the wines produced by Franconia, and these wines Most of them are sold in the Franconia production area.

well-known winery : Weingut Rudolf Furst

9. Hessian Road: One of the smallest wine-producing regions in Germany with very little wine production

Introduction: Whether it is wine production or grape planting area,The Hessische Bergstrasse is the smallest of the 13 largest wine-producing regions in Germany. Its grape planting area is only 450 hectares, and the wine production is less than 0.5% of the whole of Germany. However, the scenery here is charming and it is also a famous tourist area in Germany. It became a legal production area in 1971.

Terroir : The vineyard is located on the western slope, and the mountains provide a natural barrier. The climate in this producing area is mild, and the soil is rich in loess, granite, sandstone and granite, which provides an ideal growth environment for grapes. Well-known vineyards include Hambach’s Centgericht and Steinbach.

Important grape varieties : Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris (Weisburgunder)

Wine type and style : Prolific white wine with a dry taste, fresh and elegant style. Wine growers here often sell grapes to Bergstrasser Winzer in Heppenheim, an organization that brings together 620 local grape growers. Since the production of wine is small and most of it is for local consumption, the wine here rarely appears outside of Germany.

Well-known winery : Hessische Staatsweinguter

10. Württemberg: Germany’s 4th largest wine-producing region, hot land for red wine

Introduction : Wurttemberg (Wuerttemberg) is located in southwestern Germany and is the fourth largest wine-producing region in Germany. 3/4 of the vineyards are located along the Neckar River and its tributaries.Although it is not as famous internationally as other producing areas, it enjoys a high reputation in Germany, and the red wine produced is also proud of the locals.

Terroir : Due to the obstruction of mountains, the climate in this production area is very mild. The river provides enough light and heat for the vineyards to protect the growth of the grapes on cold nights. Grapes are also mostly planted on steep slopes, and they get enough light, but the requirements for manual operation are very high.

Important grape varieties : Trollinger, Schwarzriesling, Lemberger, Riesling

Wine type and style : prolific red Wines are usually light-bodied, lighter in color, and full of fruity flavors. However, in recent years, some winemakers have also begun to brew heavy wines. Most of the wines in this region are sold locally and not many are exported, so the locals consume a large amount of wine.

Well-known winery : Rainer Schnaitmann

11. Baden: the southernmost region in Germany, with a warm climate and outstanding red wine performance_p7strongp_p4 About : Baden is the southernmost production area in Germany, located on the lower Rhine, across the river from the Alsace production area in France. At the same time, it is one of the regions with the highest per capita consumption of German wine and is now a representative of Germany's emerging wine-producing regions.