The Best German Wines You Need to Try At Least Once

Riesling is the flagship wine of Germany and constitutes more than one-fifth of all wine varieties grown in the country. Riesling has a long history dating back to the 15th century, and originates in Germany’s Rhine Valley. This wine is highly aromatic, fruity or flowery in taste and has a high acidity level that is often balanced by adding sugar. It pairs well with a wide diversity of dishes, mainly fish and pork, but also spicy Asian cuisine. In Germany, 60 clones of white Riesling are produced, including red Riesling (Roter Riesling).

This excellent white wine comes from Rheinhessen. It’s a relatively small operation run by a husband and wife, and this ensures a lot of attention, love, and hard work behind the production. Rheinhessen’s warm and dry climate provides an excellent basis for this type of grape. They chose a minimalist design for their label, which is attractive while keeping the focus on what’s really at stake: the Riesling. This highly drinkable wine has citrus and herbal notes balancing a complexity of minerals and aromas, and it’s smooth going down; maybe a little too smooth. At around 18 euros a bottle, it is steeper than your typical supermarket wine, but for serious wine drinkers or those trying to get in the game, it’s a steal. Recommended by Brienne Pierce

Spätburgunder is hands-down the most popular red wine variety in Germany, and the winner of several Decanter awards. This variety is grown in all of Germany’s 13 wine regions. The difference in climate and soil across these regions results in a difference in taste, though all Spätburgunder varieties grown in Germany have a savory and elegant taste in common. Traditional German Spätburgunder is light in color and body and has a lower level of tannic acidity. However, full bodied, dark red Spätburgunder with higher tannin acidity levels are also popular.

Spätburgunder, or Pinot Noir, are very fickle grapes as pointed out by Paul Giamati in Sideways. Many wine-makers have tried and failed with this temperamental variety. The genius of Baeder is that they have done something a little different – they used red grapes to make white wine. Technically it’s a rosé, but it’s innovative and a unique way to manipulate the Pinot Noir grapes: the power of white combined with the power of red to coalesce as one fragrant summertime favorite. This way you don’t have to choose between rot or weiss – you can simply choose both. Spätburgunder Blanc de Noir 2014 is a seductive wine that is as structured as it is fruity, without being too sweet. This wine goes for ten euros a bottle, which makes it the perfect spree-side partner. Recommended by Brienne Pierce

The Müller-Thurgau variety is a cross between white Riesling and Madeleine Royale grapes, and one of the newer breeds (19th-century) of German wines. While many wine connoisseurs find Müller-Thurgau too bland and sweet, many others enjoy its sweet taste, fruity (often peachy) aroma, and low acidity. This wine is at its best when young.

Grauburgunder is a white wine variety, though the grapes are reddish-gray in color. This wine has a bright golden-yellow color and a mild to medium level of acidity, and is full-bodied. It has a mild fruity, nutty and spicy aroma. It is elegant and dry and goes well with many different kinds of foods. The rich and strong-flavored variety of Grauburgunder is known as Ruländer.

Silvaner has been an integral part of Germany’s wine culture for close to four centuries, and constitutes about 7% of Germany’s wine production. This white wine is jokingly referred to as Dracula Wine, as it is very old, pale and is ruined if exposed to direct, bright sunlight for long. This wine is full-bodied with a mild acidity level. It tastes its best when young.

You would think that icy cold weather is not good for grape production, but delicious Eiswein is actually produced from grapes naturally frozen in the vineyards. Most Eisweins are light, sweetish and honey fresh, with a distinct fruity or flowery flavor. The ABV (alcohol by volume) of Eiswein is usually low, between 7 and 12%. This makes it a perfect after-dinner or dessert wine. However, Eiswein is usually much more expensive than other wine varieties in Germany.

Frühburgunder is another version of Spätburgunder, made from grapes that are ripened earlier than those used to make Spätburgunder. But this red wine has a personality distinct from Spätburgunder. It has a fuller body, darker color, and milder acidity as compared to Spätburgunder. This wine is a specialty of the Ahr Valley.
Built up a thirst? Adventure through the different varieties and tastes of these delectable wines with these bookable German Wine Tours