https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germanyen-USTelligent Community 13https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germanyTue, 06 Jan 2026 22:48:05 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Stacy Ladenburgerhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsCurrent Revision posted to Expert Guides by Stacy Ladenburger on 1/6/2026 10:48:05 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Preview</div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/17Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:17:32 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 17 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 1/17/2025 2:17:32 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/16Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:39:01 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 16 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 1/3/2025 3:39:01 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Preview</div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/15Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:32:55 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 15 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 1/3/2025 3:32:55 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Preview</div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/14Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:20:18 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4GuildSomm Adminhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 14 posted to Expert Guides by GuildSomm Admin on 6/18/2024 3:20:18 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: Preview</div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/13Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:12:11 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4GuildSomm Adminhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 13 posted to Expert Guides by GuildSomm Admin on 4/18/2024 3:12:11 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/12Wed, 03 Jan 2024 19:01:58 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 12 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 1/3/2024 7:01:58 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/11Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:44:04 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 11 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 12/18/2023 5:44:04 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/10Sun, 10 Dec 2023 16:18:16 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 10 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 12/10/2023 4:18:16 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/9Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:46:53 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 9 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 8/9/2023 2:46:53 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/8Mon, 06 Mar 2023 15:24:34 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 8 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 3/6/2023 3:24:34 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/7Thu, 05 Jan 2023 09:02:40 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 7 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 1/5/2023 9:02:40 AM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/6Thu, 05 Jan 2023 09:01:48 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jonathan Eichholzhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 6 posted to Expert Guides by Jonathan Eichholz on 1/5/2023 9:01:48 AM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/5Thu, 29 Dec 2022 20:01:53 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Stacy Ladenburgerhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 5 posted to Expert Guides by Stacy Ladenburger on 12/29/2022 8:01:53 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/4Fri, 16 Dec 2022 22:39:36 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4GuildSomm Adminhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 4 posted to Expert Guides by GuildSomm Admin on 12/16/2022 10:39:36 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/3Fri, 30 Sep 2022 19:15:42 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Stacy Ladenburgerhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 3 posted to Expert Guides by Stacy Ladenburger on 9/30/2022 7:15:42 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/2Tue, 01 Mar 2022 15:25:24 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4Jennifer Angelosantehttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 2 posted to Expert Guides by Jennifer Angelosante on 3/1/2022 3:25:24 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div> https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany/revision/1Wed, 12 Aug 2020 13:25:41 GMT8277e151-5ba9-4335-93f0-6f497ffb8dc4:ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4GuildSomm Adminhttps://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2444/germany#commentsRevision 1 posted to Expert Guides by GuildSomm Admin on 8/12/2020 1:25:41 PM<br /> <div class="paywall-restricted"><p><a name="top"></a></p> <div class="box1_home4">In the public eye, the story of German wine usually begins and ends with Riesling.</div> <div class="style_box"> Contents <ol> <li>Setting the Stage</li> <li>Origin of the 1971 Germany Wine Law</li> <li>The 1971 German Wine Law Today</li> <li>The VDP</li> <li>The Grapes of Germany</li> <li>Winegrowing Regions of Germany</li> </ol> </div> <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Sommeliers and wine critics, well acquainted with its charms and severity, perpetually fight its underdog status, waging a long information campaign to educate casual wine drinkers that not all German Riesling is sweet. It&rsquo;s a versatile grape in terms of sugar: Riesling offers a little or a lot of sweetness&mdash;or lacks it completely. We announce its purity, its effortless expression of terroir, its usefulness as a foil for many styles of cuisine, its ability to age magnificently in the cellar. Certainly no country in the world is more tied to the fortunes of Riesling than Germany, which grows almost half of the world&rsquo;s total supply. But even as the variety finally ascended to become the Germans&rsquo; most planted grape in the last days of the 20th century, the country has a richer field of varieties than the stereotype suggests&mdash;and the Germans love drinking dry wines! (From 1985 to 2015, the percentage of total German wines vinified dry shot up from 16 to 46%.) Today, a sommelier well-versed in Germany&rsquo;s offerings should understand its trocken styles, its noble sweet wines, everything in between, red wines, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, and other grape varieties coming from a diverse set of growing regions and soils, wrapped up in tradition, reclaimed by modern voices, defined in wine law but often exemplified in extralegal categories, rendered obscure by the fearsome constructs of its own language, and&hellip; Ah, well. Achtung!</p> <p><a name="01"></a></p> Setting the Stage <p class="p1" style="text-align:justify;">Vitis vinifera arrived in Germany with the Romans, whose legionnaires crossed the Alps over 2,000 years ago and extended their eastern frontier to the Rhine River, far from the traditional bases of viticulture in their Mediterranean homeland. Germanic tribes adopted</p></div><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.restricted', { contentId: 'ed8f5b1c-74b0-40d0-bfce-a9cecde0b9e4' }); }); }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function(){ jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.subscribe('paywall.ready', function (data) { jQuery.telligent.evolution.messaging.publish('paywall.displayPopup', { }); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div>