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Glossary

Perlwein

Carbonated sparkling wine without second bottle fermentation, usually light, fruity and fresh character.

Pfalz

The second largest wine growing region in Germany, has a very mild and maritime climate, located in southwest Germany.

Pinot Blanc

White Pinot variety, in Germany mostly named as Weissburgunder.

Pinot Gris

White Pinot variety, in Germany mostly named as Grauburgunder.

Pinot Noir

Probably one of the most famous grape varieties in the world, Pinot Noir has been grown in Germany for centuries and is usually labelled with its German name, Spätburgunder, on wine bottles.

Portugieser

German red grape variety with a usually fruity and soft character while old vines and a low yield can produce deep-red wines of very high quality. Often used in rosé blends.

Prädikatswein

If a wine meets more stringent quality requirements than those applicable to the QbA category, it can be labelled a Prädikatswein. There are six categories within the Prädikatswein classification system, and wines are classified according to the amount of residual sugar in the grapes at the time of harvesting. The classification must be identified on the label. It is often mentioned alongside the grape variety, e.g. “Riesling Auslese” or “Silvaner Kabinett”. In ascending order of ripeness at the time of harvest, the classifications are:

  • Kabinett: Light and elegant wine, the alcohol content varies from low to average (up to 12 degrees)
  • Spätlese: Elegant and often powerful wine with pronounced fruit aromas
  • Auslese: Mostly sweet, delicately fruity wines made from fully ripe grapes
  • Beerenauslese: Made from overripe grapes which due to noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) have a higher concentration of sugar
  • Trockenbeerenauslese: Very elegant, sweet wine of extreme longevity made from shrivelled raisin-like berries with very high natural sugar content, the aromas are reminiscent of honey and exotic fruit and the consistency is often nectar-like
  • Eiswein: Harvested and pressed while frozen, ideally made from healthy grapes(temperature below minus 7 degrees celsius), with a very high natural sugar content. Eiswein has exceptional ageing potential and can be stored for decades.
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