German wine - wine basics
"Classic" grape varieties in Germany
The Classic wine logo always appears on labels in conjunction with the name of a traditional grape variety. Classic wines are made exclusively from one grape variety - with one exception: a Trollinger-Lemberger cuvée is permitted in Württemberg.
During the past few years, authorities in the German states where vines are cultivated compiled lists of the grape varieties that are regarded as "traditional" in their respective states (and wine regions). These formed the basis for the final list of varieties eligible for designation as a Classic wine.
Here is a regional overview of the traditional grape varieties from which German Classic wines may be produced:
German Classic wines - grape varieties
| region | grape variety |
| Ahr: | Riesling, Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder |
| Baden: | Riesling, Rivaner, Silvaner, Gutedel, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Spätburgunder |
| Franken: | Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Weissburgunder, Domina, Spätburgunder |
| Hessische Bergstrasse: | Riesling, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Spätburgunder |
| Mittelrhein: | Riesling, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Spätburgunder |
| Mosel-Saar-Ruwer: | Riesling, Elbling, Rivaner, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder |
| Nahe: | Riesling, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Rivaner, Scheurebe, Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Spätburgunder, Dornfelder, Portugieser |
| Pfalz: | Riesling, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Rivaner, Dornfelder, Spätburgunder |
| Rheingau: | Riesling |
| Rheinhessen: | Rivaner, Silvaner, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Riesling, Spätburgunder, Dornfelder, Portugieser |
| Saale-Unstrut: | Müller-Thurgau, Traminer, Kerner, Portugieser |
| Sachsen: | Riesling, Traminer, Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, Spätburgunder |
| Württemberg: | Trollinger, Lemberger, Schwarzriesling, Dornfelder, Spätburgunder, Riesling, Silvaner, Kerner, Grauburgunder |
Note: The German word "Burgunder" denotes a member of the Pinot family, e.g. Spätburgunder (late-ripening Pinot Noir), Frühburgunder (earlier-ripening Pinot Noir), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), or Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc). Schwarzriesling and Pinot Meunier are synonyms, as are Rivaner and Müller-Thurgau.
