German / Germany

For many who are familiar with the wines of Gut Hermannsberg and the other leading wineries of Germany it is hard to understand that the nation’s top wines are neither as famous or as expensive as those from neighboring France. However, it is important not to forget that French were much more active and professional than everyone else in promoting their wines during the first decades after the World War II. During the same period Germany’s reputation for engineering and all things technical climbed in the same way that France’s reputation for food, wine, fashion, perfume and cool movies did. However, since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 Germany has changed considerably and the dramatic rise in the quality of German wine was a part of this “Wende” or turning. If you turn the clock back further though you find that until well after World War II German white wines enjoyed the highest international reputation. Riesling is often regarded as an inherently German grape variety and wine. Although it’s true that Riesling comes from the German section of the Rhine Valley it was already being grown in North America and Australia by 1850 so, strictly speaking, it should be considered an international grape variety like Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon.