German VDP

Question 1

What does VDP stand for? What is it?

Answer 1

Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter

A group of about 200 wine producers with the goal of creating their own wine classification system and more stringent rules on wine production.

Question 2

How do the rules for VDP members compare to the general German wine laws?

Answer 2

Maximum yields are much lower, minimum must weights are higher, and members are encouraged to grow grapes that were traditionally planted in their region.

Question 3

When was the VDP created? Why?

Answer 3

In 1910 as the Verband Deutscher Naturweinversteigerer (VDNV).

A group of producers banded together to advocate for producing wine without must enrichment. The term for these wines was originally Naturwein.

Question 4

Why did the VDNV change its name to the VDP?

Answer 4

The 1971 German wine law did not recognize the term “Naturwein” and instead classified wines based on “Prädikat.” This precipitated the chagne from Verband Deutscher Naturweinversteigerer to Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter.

Question 5

What is the concept of Naturwein in early 20th century German winemaking?

Answer 5

Wine made without must enrichment.

Question 6

What percentage of German vineyard area is owned by VDP members? What production by volume and value do they represent?

Answer 6

5% of total vineyard area. Their products are about 3% of production and 7.5% of total value.

Question 7

What is the most planted variety among VDP members?

Answer 7

Riesling, at around half of vineyard area.

Question 8

How much of VDP production is exported?

Answer 8

25%

Question 9

How does the VDP monitor the vineyard practices of its members?

Answer 9

Members are audited every 5 years. Those who are not compliant with regulations may be expelled.

Question 10

How much of Germany’s certified organic producers are VDP members?

Answer 10

Over 20%

Question 11

True or False

The majority of VDP production is sweet wines

Answer 11

False. Dry wines, both white and red, are the majority of VDP production even though must weights are typically higher than non-VDP wine.

However, a significant number of VDP producers in Mosel produce sweeter wine styles.

Question 12

What has the VDP done to improve on the provenance of its wines?

Answer 12

It introduced a four tier system that was refined in 2012. It is not part of German wine law and only applies to its members.

The system is similar to the Burgundy Cru tiers.

Question 13

What are the four VDP vineyard categories?

Answer 13

Gutswein
Ortswein
Erste Lage
Grosse Lage

Question 14

Describe the VDP Gutswein category.

Answer 14

Regional wines similar in style to entry level regional Burgundy. The wine must originate from a member’s holdings within a specific region. Maximum yields are 75 hL/ha.

Question 15

Describe the VDP Ortswein category.

Answer 15

Equivalent to entry level Burgundy Village. The grapes used in these wines must be characteristic of the region they are grown in.

Maximum yields are 75 hL/ha.

Question 16

Describe the VDP Erste Lage category.

Answer 16

Equivalent to Burgundy Premier Cru. Only varieties that have been deemed to be the best for the specific growing site may be used. Grapes are hand harvested and must be Spätlese in must weight. The wines must be produced using “traditional winemaking methods.”

Maximum yield is 60 hL/ha.

Question 17

Describe the VDP Grosse Lage category.

Answer 17

Equivalent to Burgundy Grand Cru. The vineyard area has been specifically delimited, the choice of varietal is more limited than Erste Lage, and there are release dates established for various wine categories.

Maximum yield is 50 hL/ha.

Question 18

Who decides what varieties are grown on sites designated VDP Erste Lage and VDP Grosse Lage?

Answer 18

Local growing associations

Question 19

What varieties are permitted in VDP Grosse Lage wines?

Answer 19

It varies depending on the Anbaugebiete, though two grand examples are:

Riesling is permitted in all regions, but only for botrytised wines in Ahr.

Spätburgunder is permitted in all regions except Mosel and Nahe.

Question 20

When can VDP Grosse Lage wines be released?

Answer 20

Dry white wines can be released on September 1st in the year after harvest

Red wines may be released on September 1st in the year after harvest but must spend 1 year in oak

Prädikatswein may be released on May 1st in the year after harvest

Question 21

What is the Rheingau Charta? What is its relation to the VDP?

Answer 21

An organization of Rheingau winemakers who promoted dry wines from the region’s best vineyard sites. It was founded in 1984 and classified the term “Erstes Gewächs,” still in use there today. In 1999 the Charta joined the VDP and its Erstes Gewächs wines may be labeled ‘GG.’