The wines of germany the law and the label the grapes ripeness is all red, pink and sparkling wines the ahr moselsaarruwer mittelrhein the rheingau. Unit 5b broom business park bridge way sheepbridge chesterfield s41 9qg. Schoonmakers familiarity with the subject matter goes all the way back to the 1930s, although peter sichel has now issued a newer edition. Travellers wine guide to germany is widely believed to be a bible for visitors looking to visit germany s vineyards. People, power and politics, which won the veuve clicquot and icp awards. The finest wines of germany by stephan reinhardt paperback.
His books include sauternes, the wines of germany, and the wines of california. Germany has about 103,000 hectares 252,000 acres or 1,030 square. Germanborn but londonbased, anne krebiehl mw is a wine writer and lecturer. Though these wines typically have the most delicate and elegant of frames, they support incredible intensity, purity of fruit, and nuanced expression of terroir. Stephen brook is a leading writer on wine and gastronomy. Explains germany s regionality and its climate and geography. Disappointing book, especially as i had been looking forward to reading it for awhile. Germany s entire annual production is only 25% that of france. Germanys cooler climate produces white wines with lean, laserfocused fruit flavors and heightened acidity. Using the book i ordered wines from a weingut in wurttemberg zimmerle and found that the descriptions in the book were spot on. The mosel river weaves dramatically through the eifel mountains. Choose wines with skill from the mosel valley and learn why this region has been considered the best place for riesling in the world.
We know this because white wines make up over 65% of the countrys vineyards. Types of german wines ultimate guide to german wines. The book does include some truly interesting anecdotes about wine and winemakers in france during the second world war. He was educated in germany and then in 1935 was sent to be educated in england. Anne krebiehl mw, an acknowledged expert on german wine, showcases the new germany with far more cleancut labelling and gets rid of a few misconceptions and prejudices in the process. The wines of germany is essentially organized in two parts. Updated and revised, with new producers included for 2020, the guides to wines and top vineyards are the definitive guides to classic wine producing regions.
While the former was more concerned with the quantity the latter was more concerned with the quality. Krebiehl is excited about the future for german wine and hopes the book will inspire readers to begin their own vinous explorations. Concentrated in the southwest part of the country, germanys vineyard area is divided into official wine regions. Krebiehl explains why rivers and slopes are so important to german viticulture and puts it in an economic context. Sichel born september 12, 1922 is a german american wine merchant, who created the success of the blue nun wine brand, for a while the largest international wine brand in the world he was born in mainz in 1922, where his grandfathers family wine business, h. Grown in germany, the wines are typically lower in alcohol. Typically preferring the warm weather regions of the pfalz, the rheinhessen and baden, germanys spatburgunder has made significant strides in building noticeably fullerbodied wines that take extremely well to wellmanaged. In the wines of germany, master of wine anne krebiehl takes us with her on a journey through vineyards clustered along the countrys many winding rivers to uncover this new world of german wine.
Thats down almost 20% in the last 25 years due partly to climate. This guide discusses the wines of germany, including the mosel, rheingau, and nahe. Theyre fruity in style, low in alcohol, rarely oaked, and often offdry or sweet. Wines of germany the german vineyard is located in the southwest and owes their origin to the roman in the 12th century the religious orders took over and nurtured the vines. Records of german wine shipments date back to the early th centuryand yet, despite the fact that germany s wines are rich in history and renown, a large proportion of the wine drinking public still looks down upon them. Its about balance, mineral freshness, depth of aroma and flavor, and also a miraculous lightness. My previous goto for a work on the whole country would be stephan reinhardts 2012 work in the finest wines series aurum press. The first five chapters give an overview of the unique issues of the german wine landscape, covering the wine law of germany. The book focuses on the best producers from the main wine areas of germany in the opinion of the writer some mosel producers in particular which in my opinion make some of germany s finest wine are not included here. Cornerstone library by arrangement with pitman pub. The wines of germany top 50 2016 selection will be showcased at the following events in 2017. While german wines are gathering a better and better reputation among international wine critics notably my beloved jancis robinson was an early supporter, old notions of. Germany has wine regions 11 regions in the west and 2 regions in the eastern part of the country. Her work has been published in many trade and consumer publications.
Understanding germanys wine laws and styles dummies. Multiawardwinning author stephen brook addresses the strange and complex question of why this has been so, focusing in on some controversial german wine laws and. After all, at the end of the nineteenth century germanys wines, particularly its rieslings, were among the most expensive and sought after in the world. The wines of germany classic wine library and millions of other books are. In her new book she explains germany s climb back to the top. Understanding germanys wine laws and styles germanys wine classification system is not based on the french aoc system, as those of most european countries are. The rest of the book covers the main wine regions with pointers for particular wineries and wines. The wines of germany the infinite ideas classic wine library. Understanding german wine tim gaiser, master sommelier. Riesling renaissance written by freddy and his wife janet won the gourmand world cookbook award for the best book on wine, europe. Spingarn 50 years old has managed the german wine portfolio at bowler for over a decade, working with wines that until 2018 included most of wiests book, and now focus on the great names. This third edition is a serious update of the 2012 edition. Their labels carry grape names, which is an anomaly in europe.
Yet, beyond rieslings bright glare, germany boasts a diversity of intriguing white wines. Wines is currently a professor of architecture at penn state university. Records of german wine shipments date back to the early th century. The book covers the elaborate schemes enacted by the french to protect their valuable cellars, their vineyards and their wine making operations from the looting, gluttonous germans.
Understanding german riesling by the label wine folly. Germany is the producer of some of the most admired wines in the world. Fortunately, the germans have done a great job organizing these 2 aspects and even have a labeling system that will help you identify the styles. Disrupting german wine planet of the grapes medium.
He revised the lastest edition of hugh johnsons wine companion. The competition allows wineries from all over germany, including those who are currently still seeking uk representation, to enter their wines. But following a bruising twentieth century, german wine over the past thirty years has experienced a renaissance. John winthrop haeger, author of north american pinot noir the authors voice is consistently engaged and enthusiastic, and his book should appeal to a general readership of wine lovers as well as to anyone with a professional. German wine is typically associated with riesling, the nations most heralded and widely planted grape. Goldberg translator is an instructor of history at kennesaw state university and the author of a forthcoming book on the history of. German wines like most european wines are in fact named after the places they come from in the best wines, usually a combination of a village name and a vineyard name, such. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Stephen brook has written an excellent book on the subject, striking a good balance between detail on individual producers and giving an overview of trends and challenges in the field of german wine. New book revealing exciting world of german wines infinite. The wines of moselsaarruwer, nahe, rheingau, rheinhessen and pfalz were all of the very highest quality, concentrated but subtle and with the magic harmony of richness and acidity which allowed them to develop over such a long period. Oct 31, 2012 with that expertise, reinhardt ventured to write the first book on current german wine making and wine makers in english since 2003 the wines of germany by stephen brook. The rest of the book is devoted to wines from each region. The wines of germany by frank schoonmaker nook book ebook.
In addition to critical writing, he has lectured in fiftytwo countries on green topics since 1969. But fortunately this countrys star variety, riesling, is coldhardy enough to survive freezing winters, and has enough natural acidity to create balance, even in wines with the highest levels. Prum on the mosel, schloss johannisberg in rheingau and burklinwolf in the pfalz. Germanys entire annual production is only 25% that of france. A new book on germany is a welcome addition to the wine library of any serious wine lover. Understanding german riesling by the label to understand german riesling its helpful to know the two primary facets that define this wine. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Deutscher weinatlas the german wine atlas is an ideal reference book for anyone interested in knowing the precise origin of the quality and pradikat wines of germanys winegrowing regions.
German wine is primarily produced in the west of germany, along the river rhine and its tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the roman era. Never mind that is not the reason why the book does not warrant 5 stars. Germanborn but londonbased, anne krebiehl mw is a freelance wine writer and lecturer. The mosel aka moselle river begins in france and flows into germany where it twists sharply for 150 miles 250 km and deposits into the rhine on. Germanys vast world of white wines wine enthusiast. There isnt a lot of literature on german wine out there. Approximately 60 percent of german wine production is from the federal state of rhinelandpalatinate, where 6 of the regions anbaugebiete for quality wine are situated. Sep 23, 2019 the wines of germany by anne krebiehl, 9781906821869, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. These are its rieslings, both sweet and dry, from top sites and producers. Search for library items search for lists search for. What makes german white wines so compelling is their ability to age a long time. American wine consumers often think of when they think of germany. Noteworthy were zilliken and egon muller on the saar, fritz haag and j. Map of the wine growing regions wine statistics here youll find a selection of current statistics and charts with facts and figures about germany.
She is the contributing editor for austria, alsace, burgundy and england for us wine enthusiast and also writes for trade and consumer wine publications such as the world of fine wine, decanter, the buyer, falstaff and vinum. Enters german native and uk based mw anne krebiehl and her book the wines of germany, which hit the. Multiawardwinning author stephen brook addresses the. The unique microclimates and diverse soil types in germany are expressed in lively wines with high acidity and low alcohol content. The book covers the elaborate schemes enacted by the french to protect their valuable cellars, their vineyards and their winemaking operations from the looting, gluttonous germans. This reference book explores the wine regions of germany with details of the key wine producers and their wines. We cannot leave the topic of german wines without mentioning the red wines the country produces. As we tiptoe into the sweeter german wines, rheinhessen and franken start to populate shopping carts.
Germany actually established weinfuhrers whose sole responsibility was to organize the sourcing, purchasing and shipment of wines from france to germany. A new book by anne krebiehl mw puts to rest some myths and misconceptions surrounding german wine and introduces todays most exciting wines and. Germany s cooler climate produces white wines with lean, laserfocused fruit flavors and heightened acidity. German wines are hugely underrated, even if theyve enjoyed something of a renaissance in the last several years. Auslese will generally age better than kabinett 2 aging potential of dry german wines. The wines of germany anne krebiehl mw published by infinite ideas isbn 9781906821852. The book does an excellent job of explaining the fundamentals of the german wine law and labeling system, which can be offputting to the novice. Wine is made in thirteen regions across four degrees of latitude. A big source of the confusion about riesling and german wine in general among americans is.
With that expertise, reinhardt ventured to write the first book on current german wine making and wine makers in english since 2003 the wines of germany by stephen brook. In 1987, his book dearchitecture was released by rizzoli international publications. While germany is renowned for producing some of the finest white wines in the world, today germany is building its reputation upon fine wines in a range of styles, from complex reds to refreshing whites and unique. Exemplified by the finest rieslings, german wine displays contradictory. Every top estate made some great wines at every level from spatlese to trockenbeerenauslese and they are still at their peak. Made from 100percent riesling grapes grown in southcentral germany, both are semisweet, aromatic, have a hint of citrus and are fruity. Its a pretty formidable challenge to throw at someone. It also covers topics such as the controversial german wine laws, issues including vineyard classification and the numerous grape varieties planted in the country. In wines of germany, which was first published in 1956 and became recognized as a classic, frank schoonmakers friendly, impartial and comprehensive style provides all the information that the winelover needs. The wines of germany by anne krebiehl mw was just published by infinite ideas books in london 30 pounds sterling, isbn. Spatburgunder, or pinot noir, is made from grapes grown in the baden area of germany, near the french border.
Updated and revised, with new producers included for 2020, the guides to wines and top vineyards are the definitive guides to classic wineproducing regions. His previous books include sauternes, the wines of germany, and the wines of california, which won the prix lanson, glenfiddich and veuve clicquot awards. Katharina wechsler, one of rheinhessens new generation of winemakers, grows silvaner, scheurebe and a few other white varieties. Now almost 40 years into a crusade to reintroduce germanys great wines in america, wiest has become a groundbreaking figure in the german wine world. This is the 2nd edition, released in 1983, of frank schoonmakers original classic from 1956. Consider us your primary source for information on german wine regions, statistics, and fun facts, plus promotions and events here in the u. One way to tell the difference is that german wines are relatively sweet to mediumdry, whereas alsatian wines are quite dry. Ageing of german wines losing sweetness gaining character 1 wines of higher ripeness and concentration age better i. The wines will be presented for the first time at the wines of germany trade tasting g string on 9th may 2017.
The wines of germany by anne krebiehl mw vin allemand canada. As the worlds northernmost fine wine producing region, germany faces some of the most extreme climatic and topographic challenges in viticulture. The key to understanding what makes german wines so diverse and delicious is in the various microclimates, extensive soil types, and regional history. He has several wine books and, in particular, has revised the latest editions of hugh johnsons wine companion. This historic wine nation at the heart of europe produces a diverse range of. Coming from the coolest of the classic european wine countries, where grapes ripen slowly, german wine is about much more than just fruit.
Nearly a third of all grapes grown in germany yield red wine, and not all is sweet. The descriptions of the wineries focus on the winemakers as well as the wines. Then as now, riesling is still the grape of choice. This book is a good choise to learn about germany wines with history,terroir,classification,regions and producers,but the author could write more about the wines of each producer. Although the alsace wine region is a short boat ride across the rhine river from germany, its in northeastern france, not germany and has been since the end of world war i. A regional guide to the best producers and their wines fine wine editions paperback october 24, 2012 by stephan reinhardt author, hugh johnson foreword 4. It covers all the major and minor wine regions of what was west germany at the time, and all the varietals.