Wine terraces in the Ahr region
Regions and Grapes
German wine differs from wines of other countries — it's light, lively and fruity, thanks to Germany's unique climatic and geological conditions. There are 13 different regions, read about this month’s profiled region below or follow this link to find out about the other 12.
Data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Statistics in Germany shows that there are nearly 100 grape varieties grown in normal and/or experimental vineyards. Of these, about two dozen are of commercial importance, above all, Riesling and Müller-Thurgau, which account for some 43% of Germany's 105,000 hectares of vineyards. Nearly 7.5% of the vineyard area is planted with Spätburgunder, or Pinot Noir, making it the most important red wine grape in Germany.
Find out about this month’s grape or find out about Germany’s other white and red grape varieties:
White grapes
Red grapes
Ahr
Renowned for its stunning red wines, the Ahr is one of Europe's northernmost wine regions and one of the smallest in Germany. Between Altenahr and Bad Neuenahr vines perch on terraced cliffs of volcanic slate add a charm and beauty to this region and produce distinctive wines that won’t be mistaken for any other from Germany.
The heritage of growing red grape vines in the Ahr stems back to the seventeenth century, when vines were imported from Burgundy. Today, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is the predominant grape variety in the Ahr; four out of five bottles of Ahr wine are made from it, producing luscious velvety or full bodied fiery red wines. The region also has plantings of Dornfelder, Portugieser and small pockets of Riesling and Müller-Thurgau.
Click here to find out more about the Ahr and Germany’s 12 other winegrowing regions.
See also our previous profiles.
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'Silvaner grapes'
Silvaner
Silvaner is an old variety that once was the most important grape in Germany. Today, it accounts for some 7% of the country's plantings. A reasonably abundant producer, it likes average exposure to the sunshine and needs moist soil. It ripens about two weeks earlier than Riesling. Silvaner makes a rather full-bodied, neutral wine with a mild acidity, and is generally best enjoyed while young. A traditional variety in Franken, Rheinhessen and Saale-Unstrut, there are also extensive plantings in the Pfalz and an enclave in the Kaiserstuhl district of Baden.
See also our previous profiles.
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