Understanding Germany's Wine Classification

Previously it was mentioned that VDP indicates Germany's association of top wine growers, below is a brief description of Germany's wine classification divided into levels of grape ripeness at harvest.

The German wine law refers to the following category as Prädikatswein (Wine with special attributes):

Kabinett: Usually delicate and light, made of fully ripe grapes. Can be dry, medium-dry or sweet. They are also lower in alcohol level.

Spatlese: It literally means late harvest. The grapes are ripen longer and harvested later than the normal harvest. They are more intense and richer in flavours.

Auslese: It is wine is from a selection of very ripe, late harvested grapes, often with some amount of botrytis. It is much richer and intense in flavour. Up till this level, the wine can be dry, medium-dry or sweet.

Beerenauslese: Dessert wine made from individually selected and extremely overiped grapes that are fully affected by botrytis. They are remarkably rich and sweet.

Eiswein: Wine made from frozen grapes. An unquie wine with remarkable concentration of fruity acidity and sweetness.

Trockenbeerenauslese: Harvest of individually selected berries that are overripe and are dried up on the vine almost to raisins. It is a rare dessert wine.

The above classification serves as a guide to a wine style however does not indicate the quality of the wine.