17
Aug
Hessische Bergstraße Producers
Griesel & Compagnie, Sekthaus
Simon-Bürkle, Weingut
Hessische Bergstraße: The Spring Garden →
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17
Aug
Germany's VDP
During Germany's "golden era" in the mid- to late 19th century, the finest Mosel and Rheingau wines fetched exceptionally high prices at auction, and German wines were among the most sought-after in Europe. The popularity of the finest German wines for those who could afford them stood in
5 min read
17
Aug
German Wine References
Downloads
2025 Draft Bill to introduce a nationwide system of vineyard classification Translated [English] →
1971 Wein-Gesetz (Bundesgesetzblatt) Fifth German
17
Aug
German Wine Law
The First German Wine Law, enacted on April 20th, 1892, was the first federal attempt to regulate production. It focused on hygiene and preventing the sale of "artificial" wine. The 1892 law prohibited the use of chemical additives but allowed the addition of sugar to compensate for the na
10 min read
17
Aug
German Wine History
Around 16 BC, Trier became a massive Roman metropolis. The Romans first planted vineyards in Germany during the 1st Century AD, shortly after establishing military garrisons along the Rhine and Mosel rivers. Austere but safer than water, Roman soldiers were entitled to a daily ration of wi
10 min read
17
Aug
German Wine Glossary
The French chemist Jean-Antoine-Claude Chaptal invented the practice of enriching the grape must before or during fermentation in 1801. After a string of poor vintages in the Mosel during the 1840s, a German chemist named Ludwig Gall suggested Chaptal’s method of “Verbesserung” (improving)
6 min read
17
Aug
German Vintages
2024 saw record-breaking March temperatures in Germany, pushing budbreak two to four weeks ahead of normal. The ensuing April frosts and massive mildew pressure did significant damage in some areas, resulting in a 10% lower-than-average harvest volume. The wines generally lean towards ligh
10 min read
17
Aug
German Grape Varieties White
Bacchus is a Silvaner x Riesling cross with Müller-Thurgau (Riesling x Madeleine Royale). It was developed by Peter Morio at the Geilweilerhof Institute in the Pfalz in 1933 and released for general cultivation in 1972. Bacchus is named after the Roman god of wine (Dionysus in Greece). It
5 min read
17
Aug
German Grape Varieties Red
Frühburgunder or Pinot Noir Précoce (aka Pinot Madeleine) is an early ripening mutation of Pinot Noir. The German word Früh and the French word Précoce mean the same thing: early, and the variety ripens around two weeks before Pinot Noir. Its exact place of origin is unknown; however, judg
3 min read
17
Aug
Franken: Silvaner's Heimatland
Soils: Bundtsandstein (colored sandstone), Muschelkalk (shell-limestone), Keuper (marl-gypsum)
4 min read