GERMAN WINES(1)

READING BETWEEN THE WINES:

Life is too short to drink bad wine.
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German playwright, poet, novelist

Wine in Germany? The home of half-gallon beer steins? Indeed, as of late, there are some good wines or shall I say guter weins in Germany. Mostly known for fragrantly floral white wines with a bit of sweetness balanced by peaked acidity, German wines can be some of the best values in the wine shop.

Muller-Thurgau wines are popular whites, and many Silvaner and Ruländer table whites are nice too. For the best of Germany’s pourings, try the Rhine Valley Rieslings at the Auslese and Spätlese ranking.

MAJOR GERMAN WINE REGIONS

Far and wide, fine wine regions scatter the northern European country of Germany. The major appellations in Germany are Ahr, Mittelrhein, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Rheingau, Nahe, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Wurttemberg, Baden, Saale-Unstrut, and Sachsen.

THE GRAPES

The top grapes of the German kind are as follows:

GERMAN REDS:

Spatburgunder

The Pinot Noir hides out in German vineyards under the Spatburgunder alias. Its wines are full-bodied with almond hints but a blush color that’s lighter than those wines from its French and American relatives.

Portugieser

You might think a grape by this name descended from Portugal, but indeed it’s originally from Austria. These grapes make for light and smooth reds that a best in their youth.

Trollinger

This red grape, although actually purplish black in color, goes by many other names, including the Black Hamburg and the Schiava Grossa in Italy. Often grown under glass, this grape breaks down into aromatic and hearty reds with good acidity.

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