German wine differs from wines of other countries — it's light, lively and fruity, thanks to Germany's unique climatic and geological conditions.
With the exception of Saale-Unstrut and Sachsen in the east, the wine-growing regions are concentrated in the south and southwestern part of Germany. They are among the most northerly wine regions in the world and straddle the border between the humid Gulf Stream climate of the west and the dry Continental climate of the east. The long growing season and moderate summer temperatures bring forth filigree wines that are relatively low in alcohol. The diversity of German wine stems from the many soil types and grape varieties — there is no "uniform" type or style of German wine — and this diversity is reflected in Germany's 13 wine-growing regions.
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Ahr
The Ahr is one of Germany's northernmost wine regions.
Baden
Baden is the southernmost of Germany's wine regions.
Franken
Franken lies some 65 km east of the Rhine, in Bavaria, with most of its vineyards planted on the hilly slopes lining the Main River and its tributaries.
Hessische Bergstraße
The tiny region Hessische Bergstraße takes its name from an old Roman trade route known as the strata montana, or mountain road.
Mittelrhein
The Mittelrhein, known as "the Rhine Gorge", is a winegrowing area located between Bonn and Bingen, which extends about 100km south along the banks of the Rhine.
Mosel
The Mosel Valley is a gorge the river carved between the Hunsrück and the Eifel, and the valleys of its tributaries, the Saar and the Ruwer.
Nahe
The Nahe region is named after the river that traverses the valleys of the forested Hunsrück Hills as it gently flows toward Bingen on the Rhine.
Pfalz
Bordered by Rheinhesen on the north and France on the south and west, the Pfalz's vineyards sweep across this remarkably pretty, peaceful land for nearly 80 uninterrupted kilometers (50 miles).
Rheingau
The Rheingau is one of the most distinguished wine regions of the world.
Rheinhessen
Germany's largest wine region, Rheinhessen, lies in a valley of gentle rolling hills.
Saale-Unstrut
Vines have been cultivated since AD 998 on the hillsides lining the Saale and Unstrut rivers which lend their name to the small, but growing, Saale-Unstrut region.
Sachsen
Sachsen is Germany's easternmost and smallest wine-growing region.
Württemberg
Apart from the urban centers of Stuttgart and Heilbronn, Württemberg is a rural, hilly countryside with vineyards and orchards scattered amidst forests and fields.