Viticulture and regions
Germany has 13 designated wine-growing regions. The vineyards are concentrated mainly in the south and the centre of the country, particularly in sheltered valleys along the Rhine and its tributaries, as well as along the Elbe, Saale and Unstrut. The Romans introduced large-scale wine-growing at the Mosel, which is considered the oldest German wine-growing region.
Climate, sites and soils
For wine-growing, around 1,300 hours of sunshine per year, at least 15 °C during flowering, 18 °C during the growing season and 400 to 500 millimetres of rainfall per year are cited as the minimum climate requirements. South- and south-west-facing slopes in sheltered valleys receive more intensive and longer-lasting sunshine than flat sites. Vineyard soils include, among other things, sand, loam, loess, slate and granite.
Grape varieties and wine styles
In 2025, the area under vine was 101,965 hectares, of which 70,884 hectares were planted with white and 31,081 hectares with red grape varieties. Riesling was the most widely planted variety at 23,885 hectares, followed by Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder and Silvaner. Among the red varieties, Spätburgunder, Dornfelder, Portugieser, Trollinger and Schwarzriesling led the way.
German winemaking includes white, red and rosé wines. Quality wine and Prädikatswein are produced from dry to sweet; the legally defined taste categories range from dry through off-dry and mellow to sweet. Sekt is German sparkling wine, whose carbon dioxide is produced by fermentation. Traditional bottle-fermented Winzersekt must be stored on the lees for at least nine months.
Quality levels and assessment
Quality wine and Prädikatswein must consist entirely of grapes from one of the 13 German wine-growing regions and must pass the official quality wine assessment. The six Prädikatsstufen are Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese. Quality wines may be enriched in legally limited amounts before fermentation; Prädikats wines may not. Since the 2026 vintage, a more origin-focused quality hierarchy has also applied. Every German quality wine and Prädikatswein is analysed chemically and assessed by sensory evaluation; wines that are approved receive an official assessment number.
