Germany

Germany (which has a history of winemaking dating back to 100 B.C) is enjoying something of a revived interest throughout the world. In Britain this means that German Wine is not always synonymous in the mind with ‘Liebfraumilch’, a basic white wine. Interestingly, Liebfraumilch is not drunk in Germany, and is intended solely for export.

The high quality of wine produced on the oldest estates, together with Good German Wine for most people means one thing: Riesling. Riesling is by far the most commonly produced German Wine. It is dry with a sometimes sharp taste and a smoky aftertaste. This is grown throughout Germany. Muller-Thugau is another commonly used grape, with a less prominent taste than Riesling, also grown widely throughout Germany. Gerwutztraminer is a spicy white grown in smaller quantities than the former, and again grown throughout Germany. These along with other grapes are hardy and can thrive in the cool Central European climate. Due to the relative stability of the German climate wines do not vary by area as much as in neighbouring France, where local terroir is everything.

Joe
www.iLuvWine.com