Wine-growing regions - Rhineland-Palatinate remains the number one wine region
Baden from Baden, Riesling from the Rheingau and Red Wine from the Ahr: The 13 German wine-growing areas stand for different grape varieties and are simultaneously in transition. This applies to the planting of grape varieties and to the size of the vineyard areas, as an analysis by the German Wine Institute (DIW) in Bodenheim revealed. The basis for this is, among other things, vineyard area statistics from the Federal Statistical Office - most recently for 2023.
It is clear: Rhineland-Palatinate remains the wine land par excellence: With Rheinhessen, not only the largest wine-growing area belongs to the federal state. But it accommodates a total of 6 of the 13 regions - among them the large Palatinate. Overview:
Almost a quarter of the wine-growing area lies in Rheinhessen
Rheinhessen makes up almost a quarter of the entire vineyard area in Germany with around 27,500 hectares. After an increase of 110 hectares of Pinot Gris to 2,424 hectares, it has overtaken Baden (2,398 hectares) as the most important growing area for this variety in 2023. On the first place it is also at Chardonnay (1,087 hectares), as Ernst Büscher from the German Wine Institute (DWI) says.
However, when it comes to Riesling (5,383 hectares), Rheinhessen only ranks second, behind the Palatinate. At the same time, around 43% of the Silvaner and a good third of the German Müller-Thurgau are grown between Mainz, Worms and Bingen - but with a decreasing trend. The vineyard area of the new variety Souvignier Gris (Piwi) has more than tripled in comparison to the previous year, from 35 to 96 hectares.
The Palatinate is a triple leader
The largest Riesling wine-growing area in the world (5,954 hectares) is located in the Palatinate. With 7,535 hectares, it is also Germany's largest red wine-growing area. The entire area along the approximately 80 kilometer long Wine Route corresponds to almost a quarter of the vineyard area in Germany, according to the DWI.
In addition to the classic red varieties, around half of the German Merlot (on 429 hectares), Cabernet Sauvignons (256 hectares), Syrahs (71 hectares) and Cabernet Francs (64 hectares) are grown in the Palatinate. It leads in Sauvignon Blanc cultivation - with a market share of 40% nationwide.
Baden is the land of Burgundy
Baden is Germany's third largest wine-growing area with 15,679 hectares - and the land of Burgundy. The grape varieties of the Burgundy family accounted for 62% of the vineyard area together. In Spät- and Weißburgunder, Baden has a leading position nationwide. The newly bred variety Souvignier Gris (Piwi) was cultivated on 123 hectares in 2023 and thus most frequently in Germany.
Württemberg is the land of Trollinger and Lemberger
Germany's second largest red wine-growing area (7,327 hectares) in Württemberg "stands like no other region for the varieties Trollinger (1,855 hectares) and Lemberger (1,757 hectares)", reports Büscher. In addition, the Spätburgunder and the Schwarzriesling are grown. More than half of the white wine is pressed from Riesling grapes by the winemakers.
Franken loves Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau
The Silvaner (1.563 hectares) makes about a quarter of the Franconian vineyard areas. A little less common is Müller-Thurgau (1.375 hectares). Together, these two white varieties make up 83 percent of the overall 6,173 hectare vineyard area.
The Riesling belongs to Rheingau
The Rheingau, with an estimated 3,207 hectares, is considered to have the clearest grape variety profile among all German wine-growing areas. This region in Hesse is particularly known for Riesling, which grows on more than three quarters of the vineyard area. This is the highest percentage of Riesling in Germany.
The largest steep slope vineyard area in the world is the Mosel region
Along the Mosel and in its side valleys of Saar and Ruwer, about 90 percent of white grape varieties are grown. "This white wine proportion is top nationwide," states Buscher. Riesling is read most frequently. A specialty is the variety Elbling (425 hectares), while Spätburgunder (435 hectares) is becoming increasingly common. The steep slope vineyard area is considered the largest in the world - it covers 8,536 hectares.
Diversity on the Nahe
In the 4,250 hectare medium-sized vineyard area on the Nahe, there are relatively many grape varieties. In addition to the dominant Riesling, many Burgundy varieties are cultivated.
The five small vineyard areas
The Mittelrhein vineyard area shrank by six hectares of vineyard area in the past year and is now the smallest in Germany. Following closely is the Hessische Bergstraße at the foot of the Odenwald, which covers only 461 hectares and focuses mainly on Riesling and Grauburgunder. Before 2007, Sachsen was still considered the smallest among the vineyard areas, reports Buscher.
Saxony has expanded its vineyard area from 300 to 522 hectares in the past year. In the easternmost German wine-growing area, the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly noticeable. The relatively late ripening Riesling, like in parts of the southwestern wine region, is the most important grape variety. Of the red grape varieties, which account for almost a fifth of the area, about half is Spätburgunder, according to the DWI.
The vineyard area on the Ahr has grown by two hectares to 531 hectares in the yearly comparison. Before the flood disaster in the summer of 2021, it was still 564 hectares. With 79 percent red grapes, the Ahr has the highest percentage of red grapes of all wine-growing areas. Roughly two thirds of the mountains are planted with Spätburgunder.
The largest of the five small German vineyard areas with less than 1,000 hectares of vineyard area is Saale-Unstrut. The vineyard area has more than doubled since the reunification, from 390 to 853 hectares. "Geographically speaking, Saale-Unstrut is located at the northern end of German quality wine production," says Buscher. The White Burgundy and Müller-Thurgau are among the most important varieties in the area at the 51st parallel.
In Bodenheim, an analysis by the German Wine Institute revealed changes in vineyard areas and grape varieties, including a growth in Pinot Gris in Rheinhessen. The Palatinate, a region in Rhineland-Palatinate, is known for having the largest Riesling and red wine-growing areas in the world. With 7,535 hectares, it is also Germany's largest red wine-growing area. Baden, another wine-growing region in Germany, is known as the land of Burgundy and has a leading position in Spät- and Weißburgunder.
In Württemberg, the second largest red wine-growing area in Germany, more than half of the white wine is pressed from Riesling grapes by winemakers. The Mosel region, with its steep slope vineyard area, is considered to have the largest in the world. In the 4,250 hectare medium-sized vineyard area on the Nahe, there are many Burgundy varieties cultivated in addition to Riesling.
Saxony, the easternmost German wine-growing area, has expanded its vineyard area from 300 to 522 hectares in the last year. The Ahr, with 79% red grapes, has the highest percentage of red grapes of all wine-growing areas. The smallest vineyard area in Germany is the Mittelrhein vineyard area, which covers only 461 hectares.
Franken loves Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau, and with 1,563 hectares of vineyard area, Silvaner makes about a quarter of the vineyard area. The Rheingau is particularly known for Riesling, which grows on more than three quarters of the vineyard area, making it the highest percentage of Riesling in Germany. The German wine-growing area with the new variety Souvignier Gris (Piwi) most frequently cultivated is Baden, with 123 hectares in 2023.
Ernst Büscher from the German Wine Institute reports that Germany's second largest red wine-growing area, Württemberg, stands like no other region for the varieties Trollinger (1,855 hectares) and Lemberger (1,757 hectares). Rhineland-Palatinate remains the wine land par excellence, with Rheinhessen being the largest wine-growing area in the federal state and making up almost a quarter of the entire vineyard area in Germany.
