GERMAN WINES
Germany's vineyards are unique because grapes do not normally grow in such northern latitudes.
The Rhine River and its tributaries flow through such deep-cut valleys that the fruit is protected from harsh northern winds.
... “in vino veritas” - "in wine there is truth" - is the legacy that the old Romans left after
they first colonized the Rhine and brought with them their expertise in wine making. Throughout
the centuries, German wine growers improved upon the quality of their product and succeeded in
creating wines that rival anything grown in the warm, benign climates of the Mediterranean.
Although one might expect otherwise, German wines are graded according to their degree of
ripeness and when harvested.
‘Spätlese’ is late harvest. ‘Beerenauslese’ is a grape harvested after the first frost, and ‘Trockenbeerenauslese’ is harvested by hand after the grapes have practically become raisins on the vine.
Like everything else, all this handpicking has its price. Customs and tastes do change. Today the wine regions of “Baden” and “Württemberg” excel in the production of dry white wines, the perfect companions to today’s lighter meals.
OLD EUROPE is proud to offer you one of the largest selections of German wines this side of the Atlantic. Fruity Mosels, acidy Ruwers, full-bodied Hessians and light Palatinates await your critique.
Enjoy a good meal and toast with a bottle of fine wine.
“Wer nicht liebt Wein, Weib und Gesang,
der bleibt ein Narr sein Leben lang.”
“He who loves not wine, women and song
remains a fool his whole life long.”
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Ripeness- a sign of quality
German wines are classified on the basis of ripeness of the grapes at the time of harvest. More than 90% of German Riesling wines are sold as Qualitätswein, with the assurance that each has passed analytical and tasting tests carried out by panels of government experts.
There are two divisions of the Qualitätswein category.
Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) - wines from one of thirteen specified
German wine– growing regions that ripened sufficiently to assure
that the wine will have taste and style of region.
Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP) - meeting all the requirements for QbA wines as to origin
and legal approvals, these are the highest quality wines with “special attributes” (Prädikat).
There are six levels of Prädikat, each denoting a higher degree of ripeness:
KABINETT - the world’s naturally lightest wines made from fully ripened grapes,
sleek and generally low in alcohol...elegant wines.
SPÄTLESE - literally late harvest wines, balanced, well-rounded, with the intensity
of very ripe grapes, producing a riper more intense wine.
May be produced in: “trocken” dry, “halbtrocken” medium dry, or “mild” sweet styles
AUSLESE - noble wines, intense in bouquet, aroma and taste,
made from overripe grapes, selected in bunches. Usually on the sweeter side and often considered appropriate as dessert wines.
BEERENAUSLESE (BA) - rare and luscious, sweet dessert wine, with the unmistakable
honey–like aroma of Botrytis (“Edelfäule” / “noble rot”),
made from overripe berries, individually selected by hand. BA’s are rare, occurring only two to three times in a decade.
EISWEIN - a rich, concentrated wine made from BA quality grapes,
that were left on the vines long past the main harvest to be picked and
pressed while frozen at –8°C or lower. Truly unique wines with a remarkable concentration of fruity acidity and sweetness.
TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE - the crowning achievement of German viticulture,
the rarest of German wines, made from individual berries.
| | German White Wines
| | Rheinhessen
1000 hills within a river’s bend!
Wine delicately fragrant, mild, soft, medium-bodied | |
| 001 | Huxelrebe Beerenauslese 2002 - Weinkut Köster-Wolf (half bottle) |
$40.00 |
| 004 | Liebfraumilch, 2014 * - Piesport, Römerhof Weinkellerei |
$30.00 |
| 005 | Ortega Trockenbeeren Auslese, 2003 - Weingut Ernst Bretz (half bottle) |
$45.00 |
| 007 | Rieslaner Beerenauslese, 2006 - Bechtheimer Geyersberg, Johann Geil |
$63.00 |
| 010 | Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken, 2008 - Prädikatswein, BW |
$30.00 |
| | * available by the glass |
| | Pfalz
Voluptouous pleasures!
Wine: aromatic, mild, round and full-bodied, expressive | |
| 016 | Rieslaner Spätlese, 2006 - Dürkheimer Nonnengarten, Weingut Darting |
$55.00 |
| 018 | Riesling Spätlese, 2004 - Königsbacher Ölberg, Peter Stolleis |
$45.00 |
| 019 | Blue Fish Riesling, smooth and dry, 2013 - Die Weinmacher GmbH |
$30.00 |
| 020 | Riesling Spätlese trocken, 2002 - Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten, Peter Stolleis |
$45.00 |
| | Rheingau
A tradition of quality!
Wine richly fragrant, racy, piquant, elegantly fruity and delicate | |
| 021 | Riesling, 2013 - Weinhaus Ress, Eltville |
$30.00 |
| 023 | Riesling Kabinett, 2007 - Baron Knyphausen, Eltville |
$45.00 |
| 025 | Riesling Kabinett, 2007 - Wickerer Mönchsgewann, Flick |
$50.00 |
| 028 | Riesling, 2012 - Schloss Reinhartshausen, Eltville - Erbach |
$35.00 |
| 029 | Riesling Kabinett, 2001 - Steinberger, Kloster Eberbach |
$40.00 |
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| | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Legacy of the Romans!
Wine: richly fragrant, racy, piquant, elegantly fruity and delicate | |
| 033 | Haus am Markt Riesling, 2013 - Piesporter Michelsberg, Römerhof Weinkellerei |
$30.00 |
| 035 | Zeller Schwarze Katz, Riesling, 2014 - Qualitätswein, Leonard Kreusch |
$25.00 |
| 038 | Riesling Auslese, 2003 - Trittenheimer Apotheke,
Clüsserath Weiler (half bottle) |
$72.00 |
| 042 | Riesling Spätlese, 2006 - Weingut Selbach Oster,
Selbach Oster (half bottle) |
$38.00 |
| 043 | Riesling Spätlese, 2006 - Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Weingut Kerpen |
$76.00 |
| 045 | Riesling Kabinett, 2006 - Weingut Selbach, Selbach Oster (half bottle) |
$33.00 |
| 049 | Spätlese, 2008 - Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Reinhold Haart |
$80.00 |
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| | Baden
Kissed by the sun!
Wine: fresh, fragrant, spicy, aromatic, full-bodied | |
| 057 | Black Forest Girl - cuvée, dry, 2014 * - Qualitätswein
Badischer Winzerkeller |
$30.00 |
| 058 | Affentaler Spätlese, 2014 * - Qualitätswein,
in the famous "Monkey Bottle" |
$30.00 |
| 059 | Affentaler Riesling, 2005 - in the famous "Monkey Bottle" |
$30.00 |
| | * available by the glass |
| | Nahe
Jewel of the Southwest!
Wine: strikingly fruity, hearty, powerful, distinctive earthy finish | |
| 060 | Spätlese, 2008 - Prädikatswein, Bauer Haus |
$35.00 |
| 063 | Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken, 2006 - Münsterer Dautenpflänzer,
Weingut Kruger-Rumpf |
$55.00 |
| 064 | Scheurebe Spätlese, 2006 - Weingut Kruger-Rumpf |
$61.00 |
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| | Mittelrhein
The romantic Rhine!
Wine: fresh, fragrant, pithy, marked fruity acidity (sometimes austere) | |
| 065 | Grauer Burgunder trocken, 2006 - Bopparder Hamm Feuerlay,
Weingart |
$55.00 |
| 066 | Riesling Kabinett, 2006 - Bacharacher Hahn, Weingut Toni Jost |
$59.00 |
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| | Franken
Home of the famous "Bocksbeutel" !
Wine: vigorous, earthy, robust, dry, often full-bodied | |
| 071 | Silvaner trocken, 2014 - Staatlicher Hofkeller, Würzburg |
$38.00 |
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| | Deutsche Rotweine - German Red Wines
German red wines are refreshing, often light,
and show more of a fruity than tannic acidity.
They are a specialty, usually consumed where they are grown and little is exported. Very pleasant, easy going wines. |
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| 051 | Dornfelder, sweet, 2014 * - OH BE JOYFUL, Rheinhessen |
$30.00 |
| 052 | Affentaler Spätburgunder, 2013 Winzergenossenschaft Brühl, Baden |
$30.00 |
| 055 | Black Forest Girl, Pinot Noir, dry, 2014 * - Badischer Winzerkeller, Baden |
$30.00 |
| 056 | Trollinger - QBA, Würtembergische Weingärtner |
$35.00 |
| 157 | Blauer Spätburgunder, dry, 2012 - Knipser, Pfalz |
$50.00 |
| 158 | Gaudenz, cuvée-trocken, 2012 - Knipser, Pfalz |
$45.00 |
| | * available by the glass |
| | German Rosé Wines
In Germany, several regions are noted for their distinct style of rosé
(German Rosewein or Roseewein). Several terms are used to denote
these different styles depending on how the wine was made,
from what grapes and in what region. | |
| 050 | Rosé de Pinot Noir, 2007 - Villa Wolf, Qualitätswein, Pfalz |
$35.00 |
| 054 | Affenthaler Spätburgunder Rosé, 2013 *
in the famous “Monkey Bottle”, Baden |
$30.00 |
| | * available by the glass |
| | Austrian White Wines
| 099 | Münzenrieder Chardonnay Reserve, dry, 2013 - Burgenland |
$40.00 |
| 100 | Weissburgunder - Pinot Blanc, 2010
Burgenland, Klosterkellerei Siegendorf |
$35.00 |
| 101 | Eiswein, 2004 - Premium Grüner Veltliner
Nittnaus, Burgenland (half bottle) |
$65.00 |
| 102 | Grüner Veltliner, 2010 - Weingut Türk, Kremser Weinberge |
$30.00 |
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| | Austrian Red Wines
| 103 | Muenzenrieder - cuvée Seewinkel, 2009 - Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch |
$30.00 |
| 105 | Muenzenrieder - Pinot Noir, 2008 - Burgenland |
$35.00 |
| 106 | Muenzenrieder - Zweigelt Classic, 2012 * - Burgenland |
$30.00 |
| 107 | IBY Hochäcker, 2004 * - Blaufränkisch, Burgenland |
$30.00 |
| 108 | Siegendorf - cuvée, dry, 2009 * - Cabernet and Merlot
Klosterkeller Siegendorf, Burgenland |
$30.00 |
| | * available by the glass |
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| | Old Europe’s Private Reserve Wines | |
| 089 | Guntersblumer Autental 1971 - Christian Schmidt Erben,
Silvaner Auslese |
$300.00 |
| 090 | Guntersblumer Eiserne Hand 1981 - Schlossgut Schmidt, Auslese |
$145.00 |
| 091 | Bernkasteler Doktor 1997 - Geheimrat Wegeler, Riesling Auslese |
$225.00 |
| 092 | Serriger Würtzberg 1989 - Weingut Herrenberg - Bert Simon,
Riesling Auslese |
$125.00 |
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| | "Sekt" is Germany’s sparkling wine
It derives from the Spanisch vino seco, meaning dry wine,
and entered the German language as seck via England
(where it was called "sack") during the 17th century.
Purely by chance did it come to mean sparkling wine. | |
| 094 | Weissburgunder trocken, 2005 - Weingut Biffar,
traditional bottle fermentation, Pfalz |
$84.00 |
| 095 | Riesling Sekt trocken - Ulrich Langguth, Mosel |
$70.00 |
| 096 | Henkell trocken - from Wiesbaden in the Rheingau region |
$35.00 |
| 097 | Fürst von Metternich, 1999 - Johannisberg, Rheingau |
$30.00 |
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Drink wine, and you will sleep well.
Sleep, and you will not sin.
Avoid sin, and you will be saved.
Ergo, drink wine and be saved.
Medieval German saying
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