Winecast: German Wine Quality Classification, Part II

[@VinoWoods]

As always, great video and thank you for taking the time to expand the knowledge of wine professionals and consumers. Question, I’m very confused about how Gemeinden fits in the geographical classifications. From what I believe I understand, they are regulated by the government without regard to the wine regions. They are like county lines vs AVAs in the USA.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Hi. This is a really great question so I'm gonna pin it, in the hopes that more people see it. "Gemeinde" is the German word for the smallest type of political entity that has the power of self-government -- basically a commune, municipality or village (and the like). They're not formally part of the wine scheme nor do they contain or define vineyard land the way that Grosslagen and Einzelagen do BUT Einzelagen and Grosslagen can attach the name of a local Gemeinde to their name to (ostensibly) reduce confusion since many Einzelagen have the same or similar names, as do some Grosslagen. So, for example, both the Grosslage of Piesporter Michelsberg and the Einzelage of Piesporter Goldtröpfchen use the name of the Gemeinde of Piesport in their name to avoid confusion with other Michelsbergs and Goldtröpfschens. In the phrase Piesporter Goldtröpfschen, for example, "Goldtröpfschen" refers to the area under vine and "Piesporter" refers to the nearby village that the Einzelage of Goldtröpfschen uses to distinguish itself and that doesn't have to have any grapes grown within its municipal boundaries. So, it really isn't county lines vs. AVAs, but it would be more like a hypothetical case where a lot of AVAs had similar names say there were a Red Mountain in Washington AND one in near San Francisco and they distinguished themselves with local town names, so a Prosser Red Mountain vs. an Oakland Red Mountain. I hope that's more helpful than confusing. Thanks again for the question. Cheers!

[@deineomma123]

Im from Rheinhessen and was completely oblivious to the classification system up until I watched your videos. No more bad picks from now on, thank you very much!

[@fernandocolimao7865]

Dear Unknown Winecaster excellent information on all the module's I am learning for my wine grade thanks you

[@brogc]

Thank you so much for helping people sort out in wine of Germany! I watch most of your video not only because of good lesson but also... the pronunciation! Not matter German or Greece you can speak them so clear that I alway use 0.75x speed to play the video and learn how to read them! Thanks for great work!

[@amberdeshmukh8]

The information and pronunciations makes life easy ... a great help indeed for my preparations of CMS !! The way you simplify topics is crazy ... cheers to the hard work !!!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thank you! I appreciate that feedback. Good luck on your exam! Cheers!

[@TheHalfGorgan]

Great video as always, I would just add that one of the best German Spätburgunder red wines, and as a matter of fact of any pinot noir I have ever had, was from the Pfalz region. So to anyone watching, don't necessarily avoid German reds from areas other than the ones listed here, it really comes down to producers skills and ambitions more than anything. Thanks for making the video.

[@richardrinzler7605]

Great intro to very complicated system(s). Eloquent, phenomenal pronunciation. Voice reminds me of Uncle Jay

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Ha! Now that's high praise (the Uncle Jay part, at least). Thanks for the compliment. I took German in college and, while I have a feeling that my accent is grating to native ears, I think I got most of the vowels and consonants right. Thanks again and cheers!

[@Ranger42]

Outstanding! Just got turned on to German Rieslings and fascinated by history and production.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks! I'm glad it's helpful. I love Rieslings from Germany, so enjoy your journey with them. Cheers!

[@gabylopez7]

I find your videos very very educational and clear to understand. I'm currently studying for my WSET 2 and your videos have helped me understand better many topics. Cheers from Mexico!

[@subitchanganesh925]

A very knowledgeable video. Thank u very much

[@robertocusato82]

Fantastic 2-part webcast. Thanks!

[@jeffreyhodge5791]

I really enjoy your videos. The German classification is changing to the Roman system by 2027.

[@saintstephen123]

Thank you, another well produced and informative lesson.

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thank you! I"m glad it was helpful. I'm rather proud of my Germany casts. Cheers!

[@renatonahas]

Awsome ! It's not easy to approach Germany Classification. And yours was very clear. Thank you for sharing this!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

I'm glad it was helpful. There was a lot to get my head around when I first started learning about German classification, but once I had it down it made a huge different in my comfort level with German wine, so I hope this cast helps others feel more comfortable with them, too. Cheers!

[@geotropa1043]

You have done a great job with this, but let me point out that the "Rheingau" -region is still very much dominated by "Riesling" and defintely not a place were red wines prevail.

[@nassernajar2331]

And I remember that I drank a german wine called "Balthasar Ress Riesling Kabinett Trocken" and It was a VDP Gutswein. If is a VDP, shouldn't have the "Kabinett" on the label.

[@nassernajar2331]

I've found recently a VDP wine that is Trocken, but in the label has "Kabinett" on it. You said that they (VDP producers) didn't use Prädikats terms in dry wines, only Quälitatswein. Help me here. The wine is "Künstler Riesling Kabinett Trocken".

[@shellyhanson7165]

Okay, I think I may have a better handle on the German wine laws!! Taking my WSET diploma (IN TWO WEEKS) and this was tripping me up!

[@mondarinvino107]

Thanks for the video, it was helpful. Just a couple of follow up questions: If grapes harvested from a VDP.Gross Lage site are of Spaetlese level ripeness but made in a dry style, what will be put on the label? will it be VDP Grosse Lage GG QbA? or will it be VDP Grosse Lage GG Spaetlese? Can you use the GG term with Praedicat wines? Appreciate if you could clear this up, I'm getting confused on this. Also, can the praedicat system be used for red wines? In the vid, you show spaetburgunder with 13% finished alcohol. Does that not imply grapes harvested above QbA ripeness levels? Best regards, keep up the great work!

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Hello and thanks for the questions. The labeling for the first wine you describe would be VDP Trocken GG Qualitätswein. No need to add Grosse Lage as that's assumed in the GG designation. GG is used only for dry wines which are always designated as Qualitätswein and not by a Prädikat. In theory (again, as far as I can discern) the Prädikat system can be used for reds (unless you're a member of the VDP -- they don't allow this for their members) but there's no tradition of doing this, partly because until recently red grapes in Germany had difficulty getting ripe enough to qualify. The grapes for the Becker Landgraff Spätburgunder that I pictured in the cast were doubtless ripe enough to qualify for a Spâtlese designation, but, despite the fact that it's possible to vinify a Spätlese dry, traditionally, most Spätlesen are off-dry, and a red wine designated as a Spätlese (or by another Prädikat) would be confusing for most consumers who would expect it to be sweet. So, as I mentioned in the cast, while red wines can be shoe-horned into the Prädikat system, it really wasn't designed with them in mind. I hope that's helpful and I'm glad you're enjoying the casts. Thanks again for the questions. Cheers!

[@wanj.s.5322]

Do you plan to do an episode dedicated to the different DOPs and gapped of Germany?

[@tonyweier]

Amazing educational video! Thanks for making this, just confused at 15:10 when you talked about VDP. Grosse Lage doesn't mean this wine comes from the top tier vineyard, but why do they still put VDP. Grosse Lage on the label?

[@jaturongnakajimalertwuttia9174]

Does this mean any VDP wine with any Pradikatswein terms labelling is non-dry wines automatically?

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

That's correct. Cheers!

[@kelecortez5834]

very helpful mahalo

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks!

[@dan133ify]

Love your vids... Thanks !

[@TheUnknownWinecaster]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! Cheers!

[@bradleyallen3564]

Omg, why Germany whyyyyy 😖