Germany

German wine is primarily produced in the west of Germany, along the river Rhine and its tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman era. Approximately 60 percent of German wine production is from the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where 6 of the 13 regions (Anbaugebiete) for quality wine are situated. Germany is a small but important wine country. Steep slopes and a cool climate give us wines that are difficult to copy. The most planted grape is Riesling but nowadays one should also look out for Pinot blanc (Weissburgunder) and Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder). Both of these have increased their surface in recent years and are used to make some very good wines.
Three grapes, Riesling, Muller Thurgau and Pinot noir, account for 47% of the total German wine surface

  • Since taking over the family estate in 1985, Johannes Leitz has made it his life’s work to return the vineyards of the Rudesheimer Berg to their former glory as one of the finest in Germany. 35 years later and Leitz wines are now recognised among Germany’s best. Using a newly-patented cool vacuum distillation process, Johannes has created the world’s best tasting zero alcohol wines. At first the very idea of Alcohol Free wine seemed a taboo. But over the years, with the winemaking skills improving and more and more better Non-Alcoholic wines being produced, slowly everyone is getting used to it. This is not sparkling grape juice. This is wine where the alcohol has been removed through a technical process. So, maybe you’re going for a dry January, or you’re expecting, or on medication. Here is a very nice option for that special dinner.
  • The historic Fritz Haag wine estate is located in the heart of the central Mosel River Valley. The earliest documentation of the estate dates back to 1605. At that time, the village in which it is situated was known as “Dusemond.” In 1925, this village was renamed “Brauneberg” (“brown mountain,” a reference to the color of the slate soil in this area of the Mosel) in an endeavor to further promote the reputation of its world-renowned vineyards “Brauneberger Juffer” and “Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr.” Like all the top Mosel producers, Fritz Haag produces a range of wines including some very rich, late harvest dessert wines. These wines put the region on the map for luxury wine in the 17 and 1800s, making some Mosel Riesling more pricey and coveted than first growth Bordeaux. But in truth the wines that the locals drank, especially in the summer, were generally off dry to completely bone dry. Fritz Haag's vineyards sit along the slopes of the Brauneberger hill and the vineyards of Juffer and Juffer Sonnenuhr. Brauneberger faces almost entirely south which makes it a bit easier to get fully ripe Riesling in the classically cold, wet Mosel. That has changed a bit recently of course, but this is still a prized site for wines that perfectly balance finesse and power, complexity and airy drinkability. This specific wine is a VDP GG or Grosse Lage which is equivalent to a Grand Cru.
  • Non-alcoholic wine born in 2009 from a bubbly guy with old roots and modern tastes. Invariably well-dressed, he captures the world’s attention with his ranges of Non-Alcoholic wines in Frizzante style. Guido Walter and Jürgen Hofmann put their heads together. The German answer to frizzante had to be fresh and fruity, uncomplicated and affordable. A semi-sparkling wine that begins a carefree evening and lets you continue dancing late into the night. What began as an experimental small edition soon spread its wings and took flight. Suddenly it could be found at every party and could be seen winning design awards and notes of good taste. Everyone wants Fritz Müller. Refreshing, fizzy and frivolous: completely uncomplicated, the non-alcoholic Fritz Müller offers light-footed fun and fruity enjoyment. Vinified from the same grapes as the Fritz Müller semi-sparkling wine, this version entices sipping one or two glasses more without regret the next day. Wonderfully pure, it is best enjoyed chilled to 8°C, or as an ingredient in virgin cocktails. Guilt-free wine ;)
  • Weingut J. Geil is a winery making approachable, quaffable wines, all along the lines of greatly respecting the nature. This reflects in quality of their fruit and subsequently in their wines. Awarded many trophies each year, Weingut Geil belongs among some of the top German producers. There is nothing to be take lightly about their Pinot Noir, a serious, serious wine. Beautifully earthy and soft, with plenty of ripe wild berries. Excellent balance and considerable length. Accessible and juicy, yet wholeheartedly deep genuinely expressing the terroir of Bechtheim
  • Delicious alcohol-free sparkling wine from Kolonne Null, made in Germany. The Freiherr von Gleichenstein winery has been synonymous with quality, professionalism and passion for almost 400 years. The wines remain recognizable by the distinctive flint minerality of the Kaiserstuhl. Well-coordinated team, complex high-end wines and long-lasting relationships are hallmarks of the South Baden winery culture. Excellent as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to fine canapes, seafood, fresh desserts such as zabaglione and panna cotta with fruits.
  • With admirable precision and innovative ideas, the family-run winery Pauly, now in its 3rd generation, succeeds in producing stylish wines with an outstanding character of their own. The winery is not only known for its famous steep slope on the Niederberg-Helden on the Mosel River, but also for the unique slate minerality that gives the wines an elegant, fresh style. The alcohol-free Riesling from Kolonne Null is perfect for all wine enthusiasts who like as little residual sweetness in their wine as possible. Best enjoyed very well chilled at 5 - 7°C. It is perfect as an accompaniment to stir-fried vegetables with fish, omelette with salmon and fennel or vegetable salad with beetroot.  
  • Johannes Leitz continues to innovate! In doing so, he recently partnered with a company to produce two alcohol-free rieslings. Germans have been producing non-alcoholic wines for over 70 years and that history has led to inventions to improve quality. Leitz’s hometown of Rüdesheim is the historic birthplace of the famous distillery Asbach Uralt. After the war, a fellow vigneron named Carl Jung began a distillery. Ultimately, Jung could not compete with the local brandy, but he developed a vacuum distillation system which enabled him to lower the temperature at which alcohol could boil off (because the boiling point decreases as atmospheric pressure decreases). Innovations in vacuum distillation have improved in recent years, and Leitz found a producer in Rheinhessen who recently patented a new, completely closed system that allows wine alcohol to boil at 28°C, preserving “wine-like” aromas and characteristics. As we all know, like fat, alcohol is a transporter of flavor, and without it, there needs to be something else to carry those flavors. 35 grams/L does the work for this riesling, though the sugar is nearly eaten up. Pairs well with gratinated crostini, cauliflower and goat’s cheese & butter, as well as with an Asian chicken casserole.
  • There are records linking the Leitz family to winemaking, dating all the way back to 1744. Johannes Leitz took over the winery in 1985 and since then has increased the estate from 2.9 hectares to the 40 hectares that we see today. He has always aimed to produce wines in an elegant style with pure fruitiness and great freshness, of the highest quality - and this includes his alcohol-free wines. Alcohol-free wine never will give the same depth, structure and weight as a wine with alcohol, but this is extremely close to it and it is simply an alcohol-free wine tasting wine. Impressive. We recommend to pair this wine with summer salads or different fruits.
  • Eins-Zwei-Zero is a premium range of non-alcoholic wines created by award-winning winemaker Johannes Leitz. Using 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Argentina, these wines are produced with great attention to detail. The alcohol is removed through gentle vacuum distillation at low temperatures, allowing the natural flavours and delicate aromas to be preserved.
  • Max Ferdinand Richter winery produces this classic off-dry Mosel Riesling from the Mulheimer Sonnenlay vineyard. The bottle features a beautiful Art Deco label depicting the Zeppelin airships upon which this Riesling was served in the 1920's and 30's. "The Mülheimer Sonnenlay is the largest single Richter vineyard and the source of the world-renowned “Zeppelin” Riesling. The vineyard sits on the west-southwestern side of a slate stone hill south of Mülheim, a dry riverbed formed during the last ice age 250,000 years ago. The name of the vineyard– Sonne (sunshine) and lay (slate stone) –perfectly describes the characteristics of the site. This often extremely steep vineyard has a loose slate stone soil structure that is enriched by pebbles, loam and sand deposited by the ancient river. This kind of soil creates wines that combine typical slate stone mineral character with animated and elegant fruitiness." When possible, they utilize natural yeasts and eschew chemical fining agents. Max Ferdinand Richter’s 48 steep acres are spread out in the Middle Mosel Valley between Erden and Brauneberg. Plantings consist of 95% Riesling and 5% Pinot Blanc grapes. The average age of Richter vines is 40 years. "Wines from the Mülheimer Sonnenlay were served on the luxurious Zeppelin airships -including the Hindenburg - in the 1920s and 30s. Local growers, proud of this distinction, commissioned Bauhaus artist Hans Schlösser to design a label for the wine incorporating the iconic Zeppelin airship. The label is still featured today."
  • Immich-Batterieberg is one of the oldest wineries in the Mosel; originally founded by a Carolingian monastery, it can be traced back to the year 911. In 1495, the Immich family purchased the property, producing traditional dry and off-dry wines under their name for almost 500 years. The historical estate was then acquired in 2009 by Gernot Kollmann, one of Germany's finest up and comers. He is no stranger to the Mosel, having worked on many prestigious wineries in the region – Dr. Loosen, Weingut Van Volxem and Knebel. Since taking over, he has chosen to retain the long-standing tradition of the winery. The wines are once again produced in a dry or off-dry style, with sugar levels depending on each site, each vintage.80-percent of the vines are un-grafted and over 60 years old, and everything is worked organically. Intervention during vinification is also forbidden. A crisp, crunchy, keenly balanced, TOTALLY DRY  trocken style Riesling.
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    The Ziereisen winery in Efringen Kirchen in the Markgräflerland in Baden has meanwhile become an institution in its own right. Hanspeter Ziereisen originally trained as a carpenter and is therefore a real career changer who has never trained as a winemaker. His parents ran a mixed farm with pigs, cows and 0.5 hectares of vineyards. Overall, the place was characterized by part-time winegrowers who gave their grapes to the cooperative. The successor to the farm was initially uncertain, since none of the children wanted to continue it. In 1991, Hanspeter followed in his parents' footsteps with the clear goal of turning it into a winery. The small area yielded a first vintage of just 6000 bottles in 1993. Acquisitions and leases followed, and over time the business grew to today's 21 hectares. Hanspeter was interested in wine from an early age and so he tried a lot of the most interesting wines in the world. This is how he discovered his love for the red Burgundy. These are still the heart of the company today. With his style, Hanspeter Ziereisen encountered a lot of resistance. An individualist, as fellow winemakers call him, who doesn't want to produce pleasing wines, but independent ones. Spontaneous fermentation, long maceration times, long yeast storage, no filtration and the use of large and small wooden barrels - all this characterizes his style. This stubbornness or the clear definition of one's own style was also punished in the official wine testing. His wines did not fit the classic German profile and could therefore only be sold as country wines. Hanspeter Ziereisen stayed with his line and today his wines are their own brand. In the meantime a conscious decision in order to be able to design the wines in a way that corresponds to the philosophy and to be able to place the character of the wines in the foreground.  

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