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German wine regions
In his latest piece for WSG, Matt Walls considers whether the recent renaissance of Mosel Riesling has a modern trend to thank.
If you want to find the best value wines on the planet, here’s a tip: choose a style with a long history that’s currently unfashionable. You can pick up wonderful bottles of sherry and Sauternes right now at indecently low prices simply because, through no fault of their own, they’re no longer in vogue. German wines have also seen huge swings in popularity over the years, particularly off-dry and sweet Rieslings.
Today, German producers are reporting a renewal in interest in some of these styles. Many wine lovers are no doubt attracted by their natural brilliance; they are and have always been, among the finest white wines in the world. But their resurgence is also in part thanks to their naturally low alcohol levels. Is the modern trend for lower-alcohol wines giving this ancient region an unexpected boost?
A new German wine law requires coming to grips with not one complex system, but three.
German wine classification is vexing: impeccably precise yet notoriously inscrutable — and bifurcated at that. The good news? Germany's national classification system was recently reformed to improve clarity and transparency. The bad? Those reforms do not take full effect until 2026. So, for now, students of German wine must master not one complex classification system, but three. With all this in mind, here is a short guide to the long story of how Germany classifies its wines. Strap in!
What to expect:
The Mosel wine region in Germany boasts some of the steepest vineyards globally, characterized by one of the coolest climates for wine production and the cultivation of one of the most delicate grape varieties. These exceptional features converge to create the ideal conditions for producing world-class Rieslings.
In this informative session, participants will gain a comprehensive introduction to the Mosel wine