Adventures in Wine > Germany

Germany

Germany is best known for its white wines, especially the Riesling grape variety, which makes some of the most distinctive and exciting white wine in the world. Riesling performs at its best in Germany’s cool northern wine growing regions especially on the steep slopes of the Mosel and Rhine rivers. Typical flavors include lime and grapefruit with a pronounced acidity which enables the wine to age for many years.

Riesling can be made in a variety of styles from Trocken (dry) through to medium-dry and intensely sweet depending on the sugar content of the grapes when harvested.

There are eleven designated quality wine growing regions in Germany known as Anbaugebiet including the Nahe, Rheinhessen and Rheinpfalz. These grow a range of other varieties including the much planted Muller-Thurgau and Sylvaner which tend to make up commercial wines such as Liebfraumilch. Germany also produces a tiny amount of red wine, which is growing significantly in terms of collector recognition, particularly for its top Pinot Noirs. (Financial Times)

Schloss Vollrads

Winery: Schloss Vollrads
Region: Germany
Sub-region: Rheingau

Riesling Rheingau

One of the greatest locations for the production of Riesling is the miracle mile from Schloss Vollrads to Schloss Johannisberg. On this land the first Riesling vineyards were planted and the first eiswein was made. The fabled racy elegance of Schloss Vollrads traces its wine making tradition to the tenth century. The large private estate has been under the able direction of Dr. Hepp since 1997, and this wine from Schloss Vollrads and purchased grapes is as good as anything he produces in the dryer style. The appelation is Rheingau as it comes from more than one district. The grapes are grown primarily in gravel, sand and slate, rich in minerals with fertile layers of loess. 1,500 cases were made under this label.

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