*Through research for factors such as soil texture, sun exposure and available water supply, Rheingau vineyard sites are analyued. Only the special and best sites or parts of single sites are classified by the name “VDP.Grosse Lage” and "VDP.Erste LAGE".
To meet these quality designations, by specific vineyard factors in addition to strictly reduced yields requirements, the wines have to pass a sensory test by a professional jury.
The refined VDP.CLASSIFICATION is not part of the official German wine law but rather an in-house statute of Gemany’s Prädikat wine estates (VDP) in which the quality of a wine is defined according to “terroir,” i.e., origin and quality are inherently linked. Wineries must follow specific standards shich are morge strringent than the official German wine law. Although the classification is only binding for VDP member estates, it is seminal for quality-oriented German viticulture as a whole.
The goal of the VDP.CLASSIFICATION is to assess the quality potential of Germany’s very best vineyard sites; secure the future of Germany’s unique viticultural landscape; restore esteem for Germany’s outstanding dry wines; and underscore the traditional connotation of the Prädikats as attributes reserved for wines with natural, ripe sweetness.
The refined, four-tier VDP.CLASSIFICATION is the key to terroir-driven viticulture in Germany in used to classify our wines.
VDP.ORTSWEIN - Sourced from superior soils
VDP.ORTSWEINE, or village wines, originate from good, traditional vineyards within a village that are planted with grape varieties typical of the region. Yield restrictions are also a criterion for wines of this category
Grape Varieties
Riesling und Pinot Noir
Yields
Reduced yields of 75/hl/ha
Harvest method and ripeness level
Grapes are harvested selectively, by hand. The harvest fruit must be physiologically fully ripe.
Vinification
The wines are produced exclusively by traditional winemaking techniques.
Certification
In addition to regular VDP estate inspections, quality-oriented measures in the vineyard are monitored in every site in which grapes for VDP.ERSTE LAGE© are grown. Before receiving VDP.ERSTE LAGE© status, the wines are critically tasted, evaluated, and examined for compliance with regional guidelines.
Identification marks
A dry VDP.ORTSWEIN is labeled Qualitätswein trocken and does not bear a Prädikat.** Village wines with residual sweetness are labeled with one of the traditional Prädikats (Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein or Trockenbeerenauslese), provided they qualify for a specific Prädikat.
The name of the village is the appellation of origin of a VDP.ORTSWEIN. It is indicated on the label along with the name of the wine estate and the grape variety. The use of the designation VDP.ORTSWEIN on the label or capsule is optional.
Marketing
VDP.ORTSWEINE make their market debut on 1 March of the year after which the grapes were harvested, thereby providing the wines with a minimum aging period prior to release.
