Wine on the Radio - June 10, 2003      Listen

German Wine Basics 1

 

Patrick W. Fegan of the Chicago Wine School gives us some help with German wine.

"Many people are confused about German wines...a tongue twister language and complicated labels can do that.

So let's get basic . . .

 

First, when you think of German wine, think Riesling.   That's their most famous type. Next, Germans rank their wines by basic sugar content at picking time.  

The two most common designations to look for are Kabinett and Spatlese. Both are high quality designated wines.   Kabinett describes a light, mostly dry wine that you drink now.  Spatlese is a medium bodied, off dry style.  

These Rieslings are from grapes allowed to get very ripe, which make for more concentrated wines. Spatlese are more intense.   Drink them now or even age them a long time.

Rieslings from Germany are a balancing act between sweetness and acidity . . . it's their unique winemaking tradition and style."

Pop the cork™.