German Wine - Grape Varieties

Grape Varieties

Overall nearly 135 grape varieties may be cultivated in Germany - 100 are released for white wine production and 35 for red wine production. According to the international image, Germany is still regarded to be a region for white wine production. Since the 1980s the demand for German red wine has constantly increased and this has resulted in a doubling of the vineyards assigned for the production of red wine. Nowadays over 35% of the vineyards are cultivated with red grapes. Some of the red grapes are also used to produce Rosé.

Out of all the grape varieties listed below, only 20 have a significant market share.

Common grape varieties in Germany (2008 situation, all varieties >250 ha)
Variety Colour Synonym(s) Area (%) Area (hectares) Trend Major regions (with large plantations or high proportion)
1. Riesling white 21.9 22 434 increasing Mosel, Palatinate, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Nahe, Mittelrhein, Hessische Bergstraße
2. Müller-Thurgau white Rivaner 13.4 13 721 decreasing Rheinhessen, Baden, Franconia, Mosel, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen
3. Spätburgunder red Pinot Noir 11.5 11 800 constant Baden, Palatinate, Rheinhessen, Württemberg, Rheingau, Ahr
4. Dornfelder red 7.9 8 101 decreasing Rheinhessen, Palatinate, Nahe
5. Silvaner white Grüner Silvaner 5.1 5 236 decreasing Rheinhessen, Franconia, Saale-Unstrut, Ahr
6. Grauburgunder white Pinot Gris, Grauer Burgunder Ruländer 4.4 4 481 increasing Rheinhessen, Palatinate, Mosel
7. Blauer Portugieser red 4.3 4 354 decreasing Palatinate, Rheinhessen, Ahr
8. Weißburgunder white Pinot Blanc, Weißer Burgunder, Klevner 3.6 3 731 increasing Baden, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen
9. Kerner white 3.6 3 712 decreasing Rheinhessen, Palatinate, Mosel, Württemberg
10. Trollinger red 2.4 2 472 constant Württemberg
11. Schwarzriesling red Müllerrebe, Pinot Meunier 2.3 2 361 decreasing Württemberg
12. Regent red 2.1 2 161 constant
13. Bacchus white 2.0 2 015 decreasing Franconia
14. Lemberger red Blaufränkisch 1.7 1 729 increasing Württemberg
15. Scheurebe white 1.6 1 672 decreasing Rheinhessen
16. Chardonnay white 1.1 1 171 increasing
17. Gutedel white Chasselas 1.1 1 136 constant Baden
18. Traminer white Gewürztraminer 0.8 835 constant
19. St. Laurent red 0.7 669 constant
20. Huxelrebe white 0.6 635 decreasing
21. Ortega white 0.6 634 decreasing
22. Faberrebe white 0.6 587 decreasing
23. Elbling white 0.6 578 constant Mosel
24. Morio-Muskat white 0.5 502 decreasing
25. Acolon red 0.5 478 increasing
26. Merlot red 0.4 450 increasing
27. Sauvignon Blanc white 0.4 434 increasing
28. Domina red 0.4 404 increasing
29. Dunkelfelder red 0.4 352 decreasing
30. Cabernet Mitos red 0.3 320 constant
31. Cabernet Sauvignon red 0.3 288 increasing
32. Frühburgunder red Pinot Précocé Noir 0.2 252 increasing Ahr
All white varieties 63.6 65 114 increasing
All red varieties 36.4 37 227 decreasing
Grand total 100.0 102 341 constant

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