Schlossadler International Wines
Wine Labels







The German Labeling System

Because Germany has such a cool climate, grape ripeness at harvest is a crucial quality factor. (Less ripe grapes yield lighter wines of modest character; fully ripe or overripe grapes produce fuller, more finely flavored wines.) As a result, the German government has established separate categories for German wines according to grape ripeness.

These same categories are identified on the label, providing a useful indication of wine style in purchasing German wines and pairing them with food.

Kabinett - Light, elegant wines made from fully ripened grapes.

Spatlese - Wines made from grapes picked at least one week after normal ripeness. These are fuller, more flavorful wines.

Auslese - Auslese means "selected picking;" these are wines made from selected ripe and overripe grape clusters. The wines are full and ripe to the taste, and often have residual sweetness.

Beerenauslese (BA) - Wines produced from selectively harvested, overripe grapes. The consequent wines are concentrated in character and flavor; sweet but well balanced.

Eiswein - Wine produced from naturally frozen grapes. The grapes are harvested and pressed while frozen, resulting in extremely fresh, crisp, yet richly flavored sweet wines with remarkable briskness and racy acidity.

Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) - Wines produced from hand-selected, dried, over ripened grapes, which look virtually like raisins. TBAs are extremely rich and intense in flavor, sweet and honey-like to the taste.

Germany has 13 separate wine growing regions, each of which produces its own style of wine, often from the same varietals.

Generally, the lightest and most elegant German wines are produced in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer and Ahr regions. Slightly fuller wines are made in the Mittelrhein, Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saale-Unstrut, while the fullest German wines tend to come from the regions of Pfalz, Hessische Bergstrasse, Sachsen, Wurttemberg and Baden.

WINE REGIONS MAJOR WINE TYPES
Ahr Red/Rosé: Spatburgunder, Portugieser
Style: light, fruity
Mittelrhein White: Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Kerner
Style: crisp, fresh, fragrant
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer White: Riesling
Style: elegant, delicate, racy
Rheingau White: Riesling Red/Rosé: Spatburgunder
Style: refined, ripe character
Nahe White: Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Silvaner
Style: fruity, crisp, stylish
Rheinhessen White: Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Silvaner
Red/Rosé: Portugieser
Style: soft, fruity, mild
Pfalz White: Riesling, Scheurebe, Gewurztraminer, Muller-Thurgau, Kerner, Silvaner
Red/Rosé: Spatburgunder, Portugieser
Style: full, aromatic, round
Franken White: Silvaner, Muller-Thurgau
Style: dryish, full, spicy in flavor
Hessische Bergstrasse White: Riesling, Muller-Thurgau
Style: fragrant, fruity, fullish
Wurttemberg Red/Rosé: Trollinger, Lemberger, Spatburgunder, Portugieser
White: Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Kerner, Silvaner
Style: hearty, full, relatively powerful
Baden White: Rulander (Pinot Gris), Muller-Thurgau, Gewurztraminer, Riesling
Red/Rosé: Spatburgunder
Style: full, aromatic, spicy
Saale-Unstrut White: Muller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Weissburgunder
Style: fruity, soft, dryish
Sachsen White: Muller-Thurgau, Weissburgunder, Gewurztraminer
Style: dry, crisp, distinctive


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Guide to German Wines How to Order

Schlossadler's Select International Wines
Wine List & Pricing
Links to Other Wine Sites Wine Label Series
German Wine & Food The Major Grape Varieties



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