Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter.
Background
The Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter, (VDP), is a national German association of
producers committed to top quality wine production.
Founded in 1910 as the Verband Deutscher Naturweinversteigerer, the organization
originally promoted unchaptalized “natur” wines.
The 1971 Wine Law abolished the use of the term “nature” and created the category of
QbA, for which chaptalization is legal, the organization re-wrote its constitution to promote
superior standards while respecting new labelling laws, and also changed its name to the
VDP.
In 1984, a separate organization called Charta was formed to
promote the classic, dry style of Riesling from the Rheingau.
Charta wines, distinguished by a logo of three Roman arches
represented the first major attempt by producers to validate dry
wines within a system that only rewards sugar. Charta was
assimilated into the Rheingau branch of the VDP in 1999, but
the logo is still used on labels.
Today, the VDP has more than 200 of Germany’s finest estates
as members, and promotes their wines through a new, three-tier
hierarchy and a more restrictive classification of einzellagen
than the government provides.
At the top of the new VDP quality model are the Grosses Gewächs wines.(GG) which are
dry wines from a Grosse Lage site (Erste Gewächs in Rheingau where it is a legal term
and part of the wine law).
Traditional Prädikat level sweet wines will still be produced on these sites but are not part
of the VDP classification
Grosse Gewächs wines are the product of hand-harvested single vineyards with a
maximum yield of 50 hl/ha. The required minimum must weight is equivalent to Spätlese;
thus, wines harvested at Kabinett ripeness are not eligible for the classification.
Grosses Gewächs wines are legally considered trocken, and may not contain more than 9
g/l of residual sugar.
Grape varieties approved for Grosse Gewächs wines vary according to each anbaugebiet,
but there is a clear emphasis on Riesling (55% of VDP estate vineyards are planted to the
grape.) White wines may not be released before September 1 of the year following the
harvest; Red wines receive an additional year of aging.
The einzellage must be listed on the label, and the vineyard site must be approved by the
VDP. While a site may be recognized by both the German Wine Law and the VDP, the
VDP’s demarcation is often much narrower, representing a return to vineyard boundaries
prior to 1971. The VDP considers Grosse Lage sites to be the Grand Crus of Germany,
and the list continues to develop as new
members are added to the association.
Estate-bottling is mandatory. The VDP is not
yet sanctioned by German law, and its
classification scheme is essentially a voluntary
one for members. Member estates must be
careful to respect legal label language, and
terms such as “Grosses Gewächs” do not
actually appear on the label “GG” is used in its
place.
In addition to the Erste Lage logo,
capsules on all member estates’ bottles
must show the VDP logo: (a stylized eagle clasping a cluster of grapes)
GRAPE VARIETIES
The Grosse Gewächs wines bearing the Erste Lage Logo are produced exclusively from
the following grape varieties:
Ahr: Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling (only natural sweetness)
Baden: Riesling, Weisser Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Franken: Riesling, Silvaner, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Pfalz: Riesling, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Rheingau: Riesling, Spätburgunder
Hessische Bergstraße: Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Rheinhessen: Riesling, Spätburgunder
Mittelrhein: Riesling
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer: Riesling
Nahe: Riesling
Sachsen: Riesling, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Saale-Unstrut: Riesling, Silvaner, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Württemberg: Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Spätburgunder, Lemberger
Erste Gewächs wines are wines from an Erste Lage site. Regional VDP associations will
be responsible to define Grosse / Erste lage sites The use of this term is not a mandatory
requirement and regional associations will decide on its use (if at all)
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Klassifizierte Lagenweine / Ortsweine / Terroirwein
Klassifizierte Lagenweine are wines from classified sites. Classified sites for the second
tier are totally distinct from the authorized Grand Cru sites for Grosse Lage.
Yields for these wines rise to 65 hl/ha, and minimum must weight and approved grape
varietals are determined by region.
Ortsweine are wines from specific regions or villages—but not grosslagen or bereiche, as
the VDP has forbidden the use of these terms from member estates’ labels.
No restrictions on the taste profile (may be dry or sweet)
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Gutswein. These wines are designed to reflect an estate’s basic house style, and
are comprised of traditional grapes from the each region. Grapes destined for Gutsweine
are permitted a maximum yield of 75 hl/ha. and have a higher must weight than that
prescribed by law May be labelled with a proprietary name and /or the name of a village or
region
At least 80% of an estates holdings must be planted with grape varietals typical of the
region
Classic & Selection
The VDP is not the only organization that has attempted to improve on aspects of the
1971 German Wine Law The state-affiliated German Wine Institute at Mainz created its
own simplified hierarchy for drier styles of wine, with the 2000 vintage.
The terms “Classic” and “Selection” were intended to replace “Halbtrocken” and
“Trocken”, respectively.
Classic wines are considered “harmoniously dry”, with a maximum residual sugar content
of 15 g/l, “Classic” wines are single varietal wines and omit any mention of a vineyard on
the label. They must have a minimum alcohol content of 12% (11.5% in the Mosel).
Selection wines are “superior dry” with a maximum residual sugar content of 9 g/l (12 g/l
allowed for Riesling). Selection wines are single vineyard wines from a single variety.
Yields are restricted to 60 hl/ha. Must weight for Selection wines must be equivalent to
Auslese, and vineyards are hand-harvested. The wines may not be released prior to
September 1 of the year following harvest.
“Classic” and “Selection” are legally recognized terms and may be used by
producers in any anbaugebiet that meet the requirements.
See also:
http://www.vdp.de/en/classification/
http://www.germanwinesociety.org/