The Wine Growing Regions of Germany

There are 13 recognized wine regions in Germany - AhrMittelrhein, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Rheingau, Nahe, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Franken, Baden, Württemberg, Hessische Bergstrasse , Saale-Unstrut and Sachsen.

The Ahr is a small region in the North of Germany, just south of Bonn. The predominant wine produced in Ahr is Spätburgunder, a type of pinot noir. Most of the wines from Ahr are red - the Spätburgunder, Portugieser and Dornfelder. There are two white varieties, Riesling and Müller-Thurgau.

Mittelrhein is another small region just south of Bonn, along the Rhine River. It is also a tourist area with medieval castles and ancient ruins. The wines from the Mittelrhein region have an high acid content. Most of the wine from Mittelrhein region is Riesling with some Müller Thurgau. Wines from Mittelrhein are economially priced.

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer produces some of the best of the Riesling wines, with a good balance of acidity and sweetness. Prices for a wine from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer can vary from reasonable to high. The Mosel-Saar-Ruwer follows the course of the Mosel River and its two tributaries , the Saar and the Ruwer. The wines produced in the area of one of the rivers will differ from those near the other two, but they all tend to be a bit effervescent.

The Rheingau is one of the best wine producing regions, not only in Germany, but in the whole world. The two main wines are Riesling with a spicy flavor and Spätburgunder, a smooth wine with the taste of blackberries.

The Nahe Region is the hidden gem of them all. It is little known and produces some of the best wines, in particular Riesling. Müller Thurgau come in a close second and there is Silvaner as well. The wines from the Nahe Region can more than hold their own with similar wines from the more will known regions. The fact that they are not that will known also helps to keep the price down.

Rheinhessen is the largest of the wine producing regions in Germany. Rheinhessen has a variety of soil conditions and the perfect wine growing climate. Making it possible to grow a wide range of varieties. It is the largest producer of Silvaner and where Liebfraumilch originated.

Hessische Bergstrasse is another one of the smaller regions.
Riesling and Müller-Thurgau are the main varieties. The wines from the Hessische Bergstrasse region tend to be full bodied, rich and fragrant.

The Franken Region lies to the east of the Rhine River. Th wines tend to be dry with little aroma but with an earthy flavor. The mainvarieties are Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner and unique crossbreeds like Bacchus and Kerner.

Pfalz is the second largest wine producing region in Germany, but many times it comes in with the largest crop. Pfalz produces the second largest Riesling, which is a bit less acid than in the other regions. White wines include Müller-Thurgau, Kerner, Silvaner and Scheurebe and reds include Portugieser and Dornfelder,

Baden is in southern Germany. It is another region with many different types of soil. Burgunder, a type of Pinot is the dominate variety. Spätburgunder, a Pinot Noir, Weissherbst,a rose, Grauburgunder, a Pinot Gris, Weissburgunder, a Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Riesling are also grown in the region.

Württemberg produces mostly red wines and the top one is unique to the region, Trollinger. Others include Schwarzriesling, Lemberger, Riesling, Kerner, Müller-Thurgau Dornfelder and Portugieser. Most of the wines from Württemberg tend to be light and fruity.

Sachsen is in the north easternmost part of Germany and the smallest of the regions. Sachsen has been a wine region from the end of the 12th century. Müller-Thurgau is the predominate variety and the wines tend to be dry.

The Saale and Unstrut region has been producing wine since the first century AD. It is one of the northernmost regions not only in Germany, but in all of Europe. The yields are smaller because of the cold climate and the wines, which include Spätlese and Auslese, are dry, except for the dessert wines, which are sweet.

Sources: The German Wine Page
The German Wine Society
German Wine Regions