Germany

Germany

The German wine industry is notable for two contrasting reasons: producing some of the finest white wines in the world and spectacularly shooting itself in the foot in the last quarter of the 20th century. 

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    Karl Johner Rivaner, Baden, 2021 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Baden
    Floral and fruity.

    SPECIAL PRICE

    £13.94 £11.62
    Single 75cl bottle £15.49 £12.91
  2. Wish List

    Reichsrat Von Buhl Bone Dry Riesling, Pfalz 2022 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz
    Does exactly what it says on the tin
    As part of a MIX6 £16.49 What is MIX6?

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    £13.74 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £16.94 £14.12
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    Mineralstein Pinot Noir, Pfalz, 2022 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz
    Textured and complex
    As part of a MIX6 £19.44 What is MIX6?

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    £16.20 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £20.94 £17.45
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    Reichsrat Von Buhl, Bone Dry Rose, Pfalz, 2023 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz
    Vibrant and racy
    As part of a MIX6 £16.49 What is MIX6?

    Add 6 or more bottles of selected wine to your basket to receive the wholesale price.

    £13.74 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £16.94 £14.12
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    Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Spätlese, Domdechant Werner, Rheingau, 2022 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Rheingau
    As part of a MIX6 £25.49 What is MIX6?

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    £21.24 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £27.95 £23.29
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    Hochheimer Riesling Kabinett, Domdechant Werner, Rheingau, 2021 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Rheingau
    As part of a MIX6 £19.85 What is MIX6?

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    £16.54 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £21.49 £17.91
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    Oliver Zeter Grauburgunder, Pfalz, 2022 75cl

    • Origin
    • Pfalz
    • Germany
    Spiced tropical fruit
    As part of a MIX6 £18.24 What is MIX6?

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    £15.20 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £19.98 £16.65
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    Oliver Zeter Sweetheart Sauvignon Blanc Pfalz, (50cl), 2023 50cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz
    Fruity and Exotic
    As part of a MIX6 £17.50 What is MIX6?

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    £14.58 exc VAT
    Single 50cl bottle
    £19.49 £16.24
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    Villa Wolf Pinot Gris, Pfalz, 2023 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz
    Light and citrusy, delicious
    As part of a MIX6 £13.60 What is MIX6?

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    £11.33 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £14.99 £12.49
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    Moselland Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, 2022 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Mosel
    Medium dry and floral
    As part of a MIX6 £9.10 What is MIX6?

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    £7.58 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £9.98 £8.32
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    Piesporter Michelsberg, Mosel, 2022 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    As part of a MIX6 £8.75 What is MIX6?

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    £7.29 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £9.24 £7.70
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    Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé, Germany, 2023 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz
    As part of a MIX6 £12.84 What is MIX6?

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    £10.70 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £14.50 £12.08
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    Goldschatz Trockenbeerenauslese, Oliver Zeter, Pfalz 37.5cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz
    Notes of rich honey and white chocolate
    As part of a MIX6 £28.49 What is MIX6?

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    £23.74 exc VAT
    Single 37.5cl bottle
    £29.94 £24.95
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    Oliver Zeter Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Fume, Pfalz, 2021 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Pfalz

    SPECIAL PRICE

    £22.94 £19.12
    Single 75cl bottle £25.99 £21.66
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    Moselland Riesling Spatlese, Mosel, 2023 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Mosel
    Aromatic and mineral
    As part of a MIX6 £10.25 What is MIX6?

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    £8.54 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £10.94 £9.12
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    Goldschild Riesling Trocken, Mosel, 2022 75cl

    • Origin
    • Germany
    • Mosel
    Light and crisp
    As part of a MIX6 £13.49 What is MIX6?

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    £11.24 exc VAT
    Single 75cl bottle
    £14.34 £11.95
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In the '70s and '80s it released into the world a torrent of cheap and not very cheerful wines that continue to colour its reputation and do no justice to the excellence routinely on offer.  For Germany can craft wines from the Riesling grape that are inimitable and many less familiar vines, such as Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau and, for red wines, Portugieser and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), can achieve exceptional quality and value for money.

History

Neither the Phoenicians nor the Greeks made it to Germany and so the Romans, who never missed such an opportunity, pioneered the cultivation of the vine and the making of wine on its soil.  Charlemagne, the Church and a wine-loving aristocracy encouraged viticulture to thrive throughout the Middle Ages, but the Thirty Years War in the early 17th century ripped out its heart. In the aftermath, however, Riesling was planted in abundance to ensure that where there was no longer quantity there was quality instead. This legacy remains to this day.

Climate and Conditions

Both topographically and climatically, Germany produces wine on the edge. Vineyards are traditionally located on land unsuitable for other agriculture, chiefly the steep slopes of river valleys, and are usually south-facing to take maximum advantage of the sun. For the climate is marginal and whether the grapes will ripen is the main concern of the German winemaker. This creates problems, and requires great skill in production, but can result in unique wines of exceptional character.

The Classification System

Unlike other countries, where quality, geography or history tend to dominate, Germany has created its own nationally relevant standards of classification.  This is based upon the ripeness of the grapes at the time of the harvest.  It makes perfect sense in the light of their climate, and ensures that every vineyard has the chance to achieve the highest classification with every new vintage, yet this common sense and equality has come at a cost.  Not only is a German wine label an arduous task to decipher, but an average bottle can achieve the same classification as the finest of wines.

Wines of Today

The German wines of today are amongst the finest in the world, just as they always have been. The essential difference between now and the apparently dark days of the seventies and eighties is the quality of the wines that Germany exports. We are no longer awash with the characterless plonk of mass production cooperatives, though these do still exist to entrap the unwary, and are able to find the finest of Rieslings along with the other great wines that the country produces.  Above all, once the pitfalls are sidestepped, Germany produces wines that are incomparable in style to anywhere else in the Old World or the New.

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