Unit 11 of 26 · Online wine course

German Wine Course

Riesling, the Mosel, the Rhine and the warm south. 6 lessons · about 48 min

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The 6 lessons

  1. Germany at a glance: Riesling, rivers and a cool climate

    Why Germany's cool climate makes fresh, racy wines, how steep river slopes help grapes ripen, its 13 regions, and Riesling, the star.

    You will be able to:

    • explain why Germany's cool climate makes fresh wines
    • describe how steep river slopes help grapes ripen
    • recognise trocken, Riesling and Spätburgunder on a wine list
    about 8 min

  2. The grapes of Germany: Riesling and beyond

    Riesling is Germany's star and Spätburgunder its leading red. Most German labels name the single grape inside, so a handful of names unlocks the list.

    You will be able to:

    • explain why German labels usually name one grape
    • describe Riesling and how Germany's top grape changed
    • decode Burgunder names and match grapes to styles
    about 8 min

  3. The Mosel: Riesling on steep slate

    Why the Mosel's steep slate slopes ripen Riesling in a cool valley, how its light, zesty, low-alcohol wines taste, and which slopes and bottles to look for.

    You will be able to:

    • explain why Mosel vines grow on steep slate slopes
    • describe the light, high-acid style of Mosel Riesling
    • name famous Mosel slopes and pick a first bottle
    about 8 min

  4. The Rhine heartland: Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Nahe

    Why a bend in the Rhine makes Rheingau Riesling fuller, how huge Rheinhessen grew up, and why the small Nahe is a patchwork of rocks.

    You will be able to:

    • explain why the Rheingau's vineyards are sunny and sheltered
    • describe Rheinhessen's rise and its red-slope Riesling
    • rank Rhine heartland wines from everyday to famous
    about 8 min

  5. Pfalz, Baden and Franken: Germany's warmer south

    Germany's sunnier south makes riper, fuller wines: dry Riesling in the Pfalz, Pinot grapes in Baden and earthy Silvaner in Franken.

    You will be able to:

    • explain why Germany's south makes riper, fuller wines
    • match Pfalz, Baden and Franken to their signature grapes
    • read the south's price ladder from everyday to GG
    about 8 min

  6. Reading a German label: from village to small print

    Read a real German bottle: village and vineyard names, the 2021 law's ladder, the VDP eagle, the small print on the back and Sekt.

    You will be able to:

    • read a German village and vineyard name
    • place a wine on the law's and the VDP's ladders
    • decode a German front label, back label and Sekt
    about 8 min

Related reading on Winelingo: Wine of Germany