Origin Pyramid for German Wines

Quality Standards

Origin Pyramid for German Wines

Qualität and Prädikat wine

Qualität and Prädikat wines account for well over 90 percent of German wine production. The grapes for their production must come entirely from a specific growing area and have passed the official test for Qualitätswein, which includes a sensory and analytical control. The term "Qualitätswein" can also be replaced by the indication "wine with a protected designation of origin" in connection with the name of a designated growing area.

For every Qualitätswein, lower limit values ​​are set for the natural sugar content in the grapes depending on the grape variety and growing area. The so-called minimum must weight is between 50° and 72° Oechsle, depending on the area. Qualität wines as well as Landwein (vin de pays) or Deutscher Wein (German wine) may be enriched (chaptalized) with a legally limited amount of sugar before fermentation in order to slightly increase the alcohol content of the wine.

Landwein

German Landwein (vin de pays) is one of the wines with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI in English or g.g.A. in German) and can also be referred to as such on the label. However, it is not permitted to state names of villages and vineyards on the label. It is an uncomplicated wine that is typical of its region. Landwein is mainly offered in a dry or semi-dry style. Since August 1, 2009, the following Landwein regions have been defined in Germany:

Landwein regions listed in alphabetical order:

  1. Ahrtaler Landwein
  2. Badischer Landwein
  3. Bayerischer Bodensee-Landwein
  4. Brandenburger Landwein
  5. Landwein Main
  6. Landwein der Mosel
  7. Landwein Neckar
  8. Landwein Oberrhein
  9. Landwein Rhein
  10. Landwein Rhein-Neckar
  11. Landwein der Ruwer
  12. Landwein der Saar
  13. Mecklenburger Landwein
  14. Mitteldeutscher Landwein
  15. Nahegauer Landwein
  16. Pfälzer Landwein
  17. Regensburger Landwein
  18. Rheinburgen Landwein
  19. Rheingauer Landwein
  20. Rheinischer Landwein
  21. Saarländischer Landwein
  22. Sächsischer Landwein
  23. Schleswig-Holsteiner Landwein
  24. Schwäbischer Landwein
  25. Starkenburger Landwein
  26. Taubertäler Landwein

Deutscher Wein

‘Deutscher Wein’ without a designation of origin has replaced the term ‘table wine’ since the EU wine law amendment of August 1st, 2009. For wines of this quality category, the vintage and selected grape varieties may also be indicated on the label. However, the quality requirements are lower than those of Landwein, Qualität and Prädikat wines.

‘Deutscher Wein’ must come exclusively from local grapes from approved vineyards and grape varieties. In Germany, only small quantities of this quality category are produced compared to other wine-growing nations.