We don’t know about you, but after a long, stressful year, we are keeping our resolutions fun in 2021! Since traveling internationally wasn’t an option this year, we decided to branch out beyond our go-tp wines and drink our way around the globe. Learning about new wines has been so much fun and one of our favorite discoveries has been German wines. Although we are more than ready to leave 2020 behind, we are bringing German wines with us into the new year and here’s why you should too!
They are perfect for food pairings
As one of the most northerly viticulture areas of the world, Germany is one of the “cool climate” wine growing countries. Thanks to its temperate climate, German wines usually have higher acidity, making them light, refreshing, and perfect for food pairing. German Riesling is actually considered to be the most food-friendly white wine in the world! We recently tried the Dönnhoff Estate Riesling from the Nahe region of Germany. This dry, mouth-watering RIesling was so perfect to enjoy with cheese and charcuterie while lunching at Montrose Cheese & Wine on a beautiful winter afternoon in Houston. You can find more about which foods German wines pair best with here.
There are a wide variety to choose from
Although Germany is primarily known for its white wine, about 1/3 of Germany’s vineyards are actually dedicated to red varieties! Pinot Noir (aka Spätburgunder) is the third most planted varietal in the country, and there are several other reds to discover as well, including grapes like Dornfelder, Portugieser, Trollinger, and Lemberger. While at Montrose Cheese & Wine, we also picked up a Lemberger from Rainer Schnaitmann, which comes from a region called Württemberg, which is one of Germany’s premier red wine regions. Germany’s wine grapes are also perfect for making sparkling wine, or Sekt as it’s known in German, and its cool climates and red grape varieties make for some deliciousrosé wines as well.
They are approachable
It may seem intimidating to branch out from wines you usually drink, but German wines are actually so approachable for every day, year-round drinking. Don’t let the seemingly complicated names scare you. They are actually super fun to try and pronounce! Just like with wines from other parts of the world, understanding German wines is as simple as learning how to break down the label. Typically you will be able to find the winemaker, grape, style, quality, classification and origin right on the bottle. Check out this guide from Wines of Germany on breaking down the labels and you will be an expert in no time!
The history of German wines is fun to learn about
Although German wines today are modern and diverse, they also have a deep rooted history and traditions surrounding them. In fact, it was the Romans who more than 2,000 years ago introduced viticulture (the study, growth and production of grapes) to Germany, and the Emperor Charlemagne expanded wine culture to much of the rest of the country. Woah, thanks Charlemagne! Just like the country itself, the history of German wines is so much more complex. Check out more on the history of German wines here.
They are available locally in New Orleans and Houston
The best news yet is that you can find German wines locally in both New Orleans and Houston (or probs wherever you are) and discover them yourself!
In Houston, you will find a selection of German wines at Postino, Houston Wine Merchant, Montrose Cheese and Wine, and more. In New Orleans, there are tons of great German wines to choose from at Bacchanal Wine, Sylvain (including a great German sparkling wine that’s perfect with their french fries and fried chicken), as well as at Martin’s Wine Cellar.
For more information on German wines, check out the German Wine USA website!
xo,
This blog post is sponsored by Wines of Germany. All opinions are our own.
