Names of German Wines
Types of German Wines
While not immediately associated with the wine making industry, wines produced in Germany are actually amongst the most expensive in the world. They are classified often by their sharp taste, which is a direct result of the cooler, northerly temperatures the vines are exposed to during their growing cycle. German wines can be extremely pleasant and palettable, and are definitely worth trying if for nothing but variation from the usual wine regions of France and America. A full run down of the types of German wines available follows:
Ruländer/Grauburgunder (White)
Wines that are labelled as above will actually taste frighteningly similar to any experienced wine taster. This is because, quite simply, these are merely the German names for the grapes best known to the world as Pinot Grigio (sometimes referred to as Pinot Gris). The wines are full bodied in flavor, with gentle undertones which make them an ideal accompaniment for any meal.
Scheurebe (White)
These grapes are traditionally associated with the Auslese classification of German wines, which is essentially where the best of the vines only are used. The grape itself is a hybrid, a mix of two other common German grapes; Riesling and Silvaner. Scheurebe produces strong black fruit tones, and is easy to drink.
Kerner (White)
Like the Scheurebe, the Kerner is a hybrid grape – this time a fusion of the Riesling and another, Trollinger. These grapes tend to produce quite acidic, excitable wines with strong floral tones.
Silvaner (White)
A low acid grape, with strong floral and fruity overtones – the Silvaner is popular for wines that populate the cheaper end of the German wine market.
Muller-Thurgau (White)
Traditionally, Muller-Thurgau grapes will be harvested a little before they are fully ripe. This produces a floral wine, in both scent and taste.
Riesling (White)
Perhaps the most easily indentified of the German wine types, the Riesling is Germany’s most exported and most enjoyed wine. They are best known for their active grapefruit flavour and the scent of flowers, which is one of the most potent floral scents in modern wine making.
Trollinger (Red)
The Trollinger grape, like the Scheurebe, is known to the rest of the world under a different name; the Black Hamburg is occasionally used, as is Schiava Grossa. These grapes are primarily grown in greenhouses, and are known for their quality rich taste.
Portugieser (Red)
These grapes originate from Austria and Switzerland; not, as the name would suggest, Portugal. The grapes have translated well to the German climate, which varies little from the original location of the grapes. The wines produced are very light and fresh, almost white tasting in crispness, and are best enjoyed after a relatively short maturing time.
Spatburgunder (Red)
This grape, and the wines it produces, are best known throughout the rest of the world as Pinot Noir. However, there is a difference in the taste of pinot noir grapes grown in Germany; unlike the American and French counterparters, the Spatburgunder is known for its light and fresh taste. The overriding taste, however, is still said to be of black cherry.
Comments are closed.