| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | dessert wines such as Beerenauslese (BA), |
| Why German Wine? — A practical buying | | | | Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) and Eiswein (Ice |
| guide | | | | Wine). And even though these wines have a high |
| The below information is meant to be a quick and | | | | level of ripeness and residual sugar, when |
| easy way to understand German wines. They are | | | | produced properly, their corresponding acidity |
| some of the most interesting and misunderstood | | | | creates a remarkable mouthfeel and play of |
| wines on the market and are a secret among the | | | | flavors. |
| inner sanctum of the wine world. Let us explore! | | | | How long can you age Riesling Wines? |
| Is German Wine sweet? | | | | Here's how long you can age the different |
| This is the most common question that we get | | | | harvests of German Rieslings: |
| asked, and the simple answer is no. | | | | Kabinett: 3-5 years |
| In fact, German vintners work on an ascending | | | | Spätlese: 5-10 years |
| scale of six levels of ripeness known as | | | | Auslese: up to 25 years |
| Qualitätswein mit Prädikat — QmP | | | | Beerenauslese (BA): up to 40 years |
| (quality wine with distinction) that is governed by | | | | Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): up to 80 years |
| German law. And while ripeness increases, dry | | | | Ice Wine: up to 100 years |
| wines are created by converting that sugar to | | | | What makes German Riesling the best? |
| alcohol, thereby increasing the body, composition | | | | Germany has the most dynamic microclimate in |
| and weight of the wine. What is left over after | | | | the world for growing Riesling, which coincidentally |
| fermentation is the residual sugar (RS). | | | | is also very well suited for the thin skinned and |
| Unfortunately in the US market, very few high | | | | finicky Pinot Noir grape. Germany also has a much |
| quality German wines (QmP) are available, | | | | longer ripening window due to its northernmost |
| because many craft quality German producers sell | | | | latitude for growing grapes (49 — 51 |
| locally out of their cellars with some selling few | | | | degrees latitude), allowing it to produce |
| wines outside of their region. Although many | | | | wonderfully high levels of both sugar and acidity. |
| people believe that all German Rieslings are sweet, | | | | These are the two most important elements in |
| most Riesling made in Germany is actually dry. | | | | any great wine and are an ideal compliment with |
| What are the different levels on the quality scale? | | | | food! |
| On the QmP scale, the first two harvests, the | | | | By law, high quality (QmP) wines must be |
| Kabinett and Spätlese, are typically dry or | | | | produced naturally with no additives or chemicals |
| semi-dry and are unbelievable food pairing wines, | | | | to alter the flavor or alcohol level. And in addition |
| because of the high acidity levels in the Riesling | | | | to what the law requires, German vintners tend |
| grape. | | | | to be environmentally conscious with many |
| As one of the most diverse white wines in the | | | | practicing organic and biodynamic growing |
| world, Riesling is capable of achieving four more | | | | methods, which assure that the wines maintain a |
| levels of ripeness on the QmP scale. They are | | | | crystal clear integrity. |
| sweeter in style ranging from Auslese to ethereal | | | | |