VDP seal and Grosse Gewächse

VDP seal and Grosse Gewächse: wines of the finest quality

How do you actually recognise an excellent German wine - and how do you find the best wine in the abundance of wines on offer? It's quite simple: you look for the corresponding seals. If there is a reference to "VDP" and/or "GG" on the label, the wine lover is on the safe side.

What exactly is behind these two labels?

The inconspicuous abbreviation VDP is a guarantee that you can enjoy an exquisite sip of wine. It stands for the "Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates".
This traditional association is primarily dedicated to the origin of the grapes used for the wine - because this origin plays the most important role in production. The smaller the area in which the grapes are harvested, the higher the quality of the wine is generally. The so-called "Grossen Gewächse" also play an important role here, as they are also an indispensable quality feature of excellent wines.

Ten regional associations

The winegrowers have committed themselves to working only according to particularly high standards and to producing the best wines sustainably on the basis of these voluntary commitments. To this end, they have developed the seal with the grape eagle as labelling, which consumers can use as a guide when shopping. Ten regional associations subordinate to the federal association determine the grape varieties that should be planted in each region and have agreed on unusually high standards for the quality assessment of cultivation and production.

The classification pyramid is further divided into four segments, resulting in four quality levels: There is the Gutswein with a very appealing price-performance ratio in level 1, the Ortswein in level 2, which is intended to reflect the character of the growing location in the best possible way, the Erste Lage in level 3, whose grapes have ripened under excellent conditions and which has long been known for its outstanding quality, and at the top of the pyramid the Grosse Lage, which offers wines in the Grosses Gewächs category.

Quality levels of the association

The top priority in the cultivation of all quality levels of the association is environmentally friendly cultivation in an ecologically compatible manner. Chemical and synthetic pest control is completely avoided; fertilisation is carried out exclusively with compost, humus or other organic aids. The grape varieties used must also be naturally occurring in the region - you will look in vain for exotic gimmicks or mixed wines in the association's wines. What counts are characteristic, proven varieties such as Riesling in the Palatinate, followed by Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, which are firmly rooted there.

In the Ahr wine region, on the other hand, red wine plays first fiddle - as tradition dictates; red grapes thrive particularly well here. Nevertheless, Riesling has the lion's share of the association's wines.

The VDP quality pyramid

The maximum yields are also one of the association's quality characteristics - a maximum of 75 hectolitres of must may be produced from one hectare of vineyard to ensure that the wines' more intensive aroma profile is guaranteed in every case. Some winegrowers even voluntarily go below this limit in order to guarantee a high storage potential for their wines. The VDP is not about quantity, but always about quality.

But what exactly are the so-called Grosse Gewächsen at the top of the quality pyramid all about?

They represent the highest classification level for dry wines from the association. A Grosses Gewächs must have a certain minimum must weight and late harvest quality. In other words, the grapes must not be harvested too early and must belong to the traditional grape varieties of the respective growing region - such as Riesling or Pinot Noir in the Palatinate. Grosse Gewächse wines are always categorised as dry wines. Very important: the grapes may only be harvested by hand; no harvest-accelerating machines or other modern equipment may be used. The yield is also limited. Grosse Gewächse wines also receive an extra seal labelled "GG-Traube".

High standards of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates

For all these reasons, winegrowers do not receive their membership as a gift, but have to undergo an application process lasting several years, during which the winery and its management are scrutinised very closely. The external image of the business is also scrutinised. Wines, winegrowers, harvesting methods and production have to merge into a kind of winegrowing synthesis of the arts, so to speak, in order to meet the high standards of the Association of German Prädikat Wines.

The best and most famous VDP wines, some of which also belong to the Grosse Gewächse category, include the Kiedrich Gräfenberg from Weingut Robert Weil, the Rüdesheim Schlossberg Riesling from Weingut Georg Breuer, the Geisenheim Rothenberg Riesling from Weingüter Wegeler - Gutshaus Rheingau and the Scharzhofberger from Weingut Egon Müller zu Scharzhof ... to name but a few.

The VDP sets quality standards that are respected worldwide. Whether Mosel Riesling or Ahr Pinot Noir - the grape with the star guarantees top wines.