Definition: classification

Deutscher Tafelwein - Table wine

Landwein - Local wine

Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) - Refers to the lower category of quality wines. It includes the majority of German wines. The wine must come from one of Germany's 13 wine-growing regions. Chaptalisation is permitted.

Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP) - Refers to the highest category of quality wines. It includes six types of "Prädikat", or quality levels, based on the sugar content of the wine. Chaptalisation is prohibited for these wines. In ascending order of quality, we list them as follows:

- Kabinett (min. 67° Oechslé): Dry or slightly sweet wine;

- Spätlese (min. 76° Oechslé): late harvest. Dry or sweet wine;

- Auslese (min. 83° Oechslé): selected harvest, often affected by Botrytis. Sweet wine;

- Beerenauslese (min. 110° Oechslé): Rare and very sweet wine, made from grapes affected by noble rot;

- Eiswein (min. 110° Oechslé): produced from frozen grapes;

- Trockenbeerenauslese (min. 150° Oechslé): very rare sweet wine made from grapes that have been completely concentrated by Botrytis.

Each of Germany's 13 wine-growing regions is divided into Bereiche ( districts), which are themselves divided into Grosslagen (large vineyards). The latter term refers to geographical units, composed of several Einzellagen, or individual vineyards. Consumers looking for quality should never rely on the Grosslage designation. Instead, they should look for the names of a renowned Einzellage and producer.

The Verband Deutscher Prädikat und Qualitätsweingüter (VDP), which brings together Germany's best producers, has enacted production rules that are even stricter than the 1971 law. In particular, it has introduced the Grosses Gewächs(grand cru) classification for wines that meet its quality criteria.

Finally, the Goldkapsel classification refers to the best vintages from German winegrowers.

Further details can be found under each of these names and on the official VDP website and other Internet links: