German Wine Legislation – Official Wine Regions
Reference date: 3 August 2026.
Germany has 13 quality wine regions (Q.b.A.) and 26 Landwein (PGI) regions, together covering approx. 102,000 ha.
Source: Deutsches Weininstitut 2023. Germany produces approx. 65% white wine and 35% red wine.
1. Quality Wine from Designated Regions (Q.b.A.) – 13 Quality Wine Regions
| Wine region (Anbaugebiet) | Area | Characteristics |
|---|
| Ahr | 535 ha | Smallest region, 85% red wine (Spätburgunder) |
| Baden | 15,142 ha | Third-largest, 400 km long, southernmost |
| Franken | 6,000 ha | Famous Bocksbeutel bottle, Silvaner |
| Hessische Bergstraße | 430 ha | ‘Spring garden of Germany’ |
| Mittelrhein | 465 ha | 110 km along the Rhine, Riesling |
| Mosel | 9,000 ha | Oldest region, Riesling specialist |
| Nahe | 4,100 ha | Riesling, River Nahe |
| Pfalz | 23,000 ha | Second-largest, Deutsche Weinstraße |
| Rheingau | 3,117 ha | First Spätlese (1775), 80% Riesling |
| Rheinhessen | 26,200 ha | Largest region, Liebfraumilch |
| Saale-Unstrut | 650 ha | Northernmost quality wine region |
| Sachsen | 531 ha | Easternmost region, near Dresden |
| Württemberg | 10,694 ha | Fourth-largest, 65% red wine |
Total: approx. 102,000 ha, divided into 41 Bereiche, 165 Großlagen and 2,405 Einzellagen.
2. Landwein (PGI – Protected Geographical Indication) – 26 Regions
- Ahrtaler Landwein
- Badischer Landwein
- Bayerischer Bodensee-Landwein
- Brandenburger Landwein
- Landwein Main
- Landwein der Mosel
- Landwein Neckar
- Landwein Oberrhein
- Landwein Rhein
- Landwein Rhein-Neckar
- Landwein der Ruwer
- Landwein der Saar
- Mecklenburger Landwein
- Mitteldeutscher Landwein
- Nahegauer Landwein
- Pfälzer Landwein
- Regensburger Landwein
- Rheinburgen-Landwein
- Rheingauer Landwein
- Rheinischer Landwein
- Saarländischer Landwein
- Sächsischer Landwein
- Schleswig-Holsteinischer Landwein
- Schwäbischer Landwein
- Starkenburger Landwein
- Taubertäler Landwein
3. Main Grape Varieties (approx. 102,000 ha)
| Grape variety | Type | Characteristics |
|---|
| Riesling | White (24,400 ha, 24%) | Queen of German grapes, minerality, elegance, excellent ageing potential |
| Spätburgunder | Red (11,500 ha, 11%) | Pinot Noir, most important red grape, elegant red and black fruit |
| Müller-Thurgau | White (11,000 ha, 11%) | Rivaner, early-ripening, floral, approachable wines |
| Grauburgunder | White (8,000 ha, 8%) | Pinot Gris, full-bodied, spicy wines, growing rapidly |
| Dornfelder | Red (6,800 ha, 7%) | German crossing, deep colour, fruity, soft |
| Weißburgunder | White (6,100 ha, 6%) | Pinot Blanc, delicate, fine acidity, citrus and flowers |
| Silvaner | White (4,400 ha, 4%) | Traditional in Franken, neutral, earthy wines |
| Chardonnay | White (2,700 ha, 3%) | International variety, increasingly popular in Baden and Pfalz |
| Portugieser | Red (2,200 ha, 2%) | Light red wines, often used for simple table wine |
| Kerner | White (2,000 ha, 2%) | Cross of Trollinger × Riesling, aromatic, fruity |
| Trollinger | Red (2,000 ha, 2%) | Schiava, typical of Württemberg, light red wines |
| Schwarzriesling | Red (1,800 ha, 2%) | Pinot Meunier, mainly in Württemberg |
