You get the most wine for your money between ten and 20 euros per bottle. So it's a good idea to stick to village wines. We blind tasted around 300 of them from Germany and Austria.
It sounds a bit paradoxical: we hear everywhere that the sales crisis in wine community is having a particularly strong impact on the so-called "mid-price segment", and here mainly in the region between ten and 20 euros per bottle. Yet this is precisely the price range in which you get the most wine for your money.
At least if you know where. In this context, it's not the worst idea to stick to the village wine category, which was rediscovered in Germany and Austria not so long ago. After all, the second level of the pyramid of origin, known from the French wine hierarchy and especially from Burgundy, is not really new here either. If you look at historical wine lists, you will realise that village wines (French "villages") were once widespread, famous, and expensive in Germany. A Würzburg, Rüdesheim, Assmannshäuser or Forster wine could be the most expensive wine on the menu—more expensive than today's much more famous French growths. The origin was a guarantee of quality far above the grape variety. In the English-speaking world, "Hochheimer" even changed from "Hockamore" to "Hock", a synonym for German white wine—regardless of its origin.
After the world wars, the predicate system based on the sugar content of the grapes at harvest also replaced the pyramid of origin in the dry sector. With the wine law of 1971, the idea of origin was lost through the extension of vineyard designations to less suitable areas and the introduction of large vineyards without any claim to typicity. From then on, even the palest litre wines could adorn themselves with grandiose vineyard names—and often still do today.
Village wines, on the other hand, are a completely different matter where they are taken seriously. Not only do you often get excellent quality with village wines, but ideally they reflect their origin so clearly that—as in Burgundy—you can taste them quite reliably even without looking at the label. The new village wines are therefore not simply a quality level, but rather a commitment: to origin, home—to terroir.
Last year, we tasted around 300 village wines from Germany and, to a lesser extent, from Austria. Not least for technical reasons, we were only able to include those wines that are explicitly labelled as "Ortswein", which is why we mainly list wines that have been classified as village wine in a corresponding association classification. In some cases, however, the designation is misleading. Some wines in our list are on the same level as wines from top vineyards in the winery hierarchy. They had to be downgraded to village wine, for example, because the respective grape varieties may not be offered with a vineyard designation due to association regulations, or because it is a cuvée of wines from different vineyards in one village. The wine designation rarely helps here by providing additional information such as "Reserve" or "Goldkapsel— but the price usually speaks a clear language.
Most genuine village wines have one thing in common: they offer a lot of wine for the money.
Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt-Urbans-Hof
— Mosel
2023 Ockfen Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Neuwiese"
91 WP
excellent
32.00 €
Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt-Urbans-Hof
— Mosel
2023 Schoden Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Saarfeils Finale"
91 WP
excellent
32.00 €
Weingut Kruger-Rumpf
— Nahe
2024 Bingerbrück Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "1937"
91 WP
excellent
35.00 €
Weingut Haart
— Mosel
2020 Piesport Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "Piesporter Réserve"
90 WP
excellent
21.00 €
Weingut Leitz
— Rheingau
2024 Rüdesheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "Magic Mountain"
90 WP
excellent
18.50 €
Weingut Peter Lauer
— Mosel
2024 Ayl Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Faß N°6 - SENIOR"
16.90 €
Schloßgut Diel
— Nahe
2023 Dorsheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "Eierfels®"
90 WP
excellent
23.00 €
Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt-Urbans-Hof
— Mosel
2024 Ockfen Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
25.00 €
Weingut Hermann Dönnhoff
— Pfalz
2024 Wachenheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt-Urbans-Hof
— Mosel
2023 Mehring Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Am Wasserlauf"
89 WP
very good
32.00 €
Weingut Clemens Busch
— Mosel
2024 Pünderich Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "vom blauen Schiefer"
89 WP
very good
24.50 €
Weingut Fritz Haag - Dusemonder Hof
— Mosel
2018 Brauneberg Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "J"
89 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt-Urbans-Hof
— Mosel
2023 Piesport Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Mutter Gottes"
89 WP
very good
32.00 €
Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt-Urbans-Hof
— Mosel
2024 Mehring Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
89 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Peter Lauer
— Mosel
2024 Ayl Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Faß N° 4"
16.90 €
Weingut Jülg
— Pfalz
2023 Schweigen Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
17.00 €
Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich
— Nahe
2024 Bockenau Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "Schiefergestein"
89 WP
very good
25.00 €
Weingut Peter Lauer
— Mosel
2024 Ayl Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Faß N°25"
16.90 €
Schloßgut Diel
— Nahe
2023 Burg Layen Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
16.50 €
Weingut Achim Ritter und Edler von Oetinger
— Rheingau
2024 Erbach Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
88 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Markus Huber
— Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
2024 Traisental DAC Reichersdorf Riesling Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
88 WP
very good
16.00 €
Weingut Nelles
— Ahr
2023 Heimersheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein Alte Reben
88 WP
very good
12.50 €
Weingut Meyer-Näkel
— Ahr
2024 Dernau Riesling VDP.Ortswein
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann
— Württemberg
2023 Schnait Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
14.50 €
Weingut Clemens Busch
— Mosel
2024 Pünderich Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "vom roten Schiefer"
88 WP
very good
17.50 €
Weingut Christoph Edelbauer
— Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
2024 Kamptal DAC Langenlois Riesling Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Rings
— Pfalz
2024 Kallstadt Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
Weingut Peter Lauer
— Mosel
2024 Ayl Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Faß N° 3"
16.90 €
Weingut Balthasar Ress
— Rheingau
2024 Rüdesheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
16.00 €
Weingut Hermann Dönnhoff
— Rheinhessen
2024 Westhofen Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Emrich-Schönleber
— Nahe
2024 Monzingen Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "Halgans"
88 WP
very good
Weingut Emrich-Schönleber
— Nahe
2024 Monzingen Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "Frühtau"
88 WP
very good
Weingut Hermann Dönnhoff
— Nahe
2024 Schlossböckelheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Müller-Catoir
— Pfalz
2024 Haardt Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
18.60 €
Weingut Leitz
— Rheingau
2024 Rüdesheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
13.50 €
Weingut Pfeffingen
— Pfalz
2024 Ungstein Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "Terra Rossa"
88 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Robert Weil
— Rheingau
2024 Kiedrich Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
22.50 €
Weingut Peter Lauer
— Mosel
2024 Ayl Riesling VDP.Ortswein "Faß N° 2"
16.90 €
Weingut S.A. Prüm
— Mosel
2024 Graach Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
19.50 €
Weingut A. J. Adam
— Mosel
2024 Dhron Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
20.00 €
Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. v. Bassermann-Jordan GmbH
— Pfalz
2024 Forst Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. v. Bassermann-Jordan GmbH
— Pfalz
2024 Deidesheim Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
14.50 €
Weingut Georg Mosbacher
— Pfalz
2023 Forst Riesling VDP.Ortswein trocken "BASALT"
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut May
— Franconia/Franken
2023 Retzbach Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
92 WP
excellent
52.00 €
Weingut Rudolf Fürst
— Franconia/Franken
2023 Astheim Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken "R"
91 WP
excellent
85.00 €
Battenfeld-Spanier
— Rheinhessen
2023 Mölsheim Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken
91 WP
excellent
50.00 €
Weingut Friedrich Becker
— Pfalz
2022 Schweigen Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
90 WP
excellent
24.00 €
Kühling-Gillot
— Rheinhessen
2023 Oppenheim Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
90 WP
excellent
50.00 €
Weingut J. Neus
— Rheinhessen
2023 Ingelheim Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein
89 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Bergdolt - St. Lamprecht
— Pfalz
2023 Kirrweiler Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken "Tempus"
89 WP
very good
25.00 €
Weingut Heitlinger
— Baden
2022 Tiefenbach Pinot Gris VDP.Ortswein trocken Reserve
89 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut Jülg
— Pfalz
2024 Schweigen Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
24.00 €
Weingut Müller-Catoir
— Pfalz
2024 Neustadt Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "V"
89 WP
very good
22.80 €
Weingut Heitlinger
— Baden
2023 Hilsbach Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken Reserve
89 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut J.J. Adeneuer
— Ahr
2023 Neuenahr Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein "Goldkapsel"
88 WP
very good
20.00 €
Weingut Bergdolt - St. Lamprecht
— Pfalz
2024 Kirrweiler Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "Mineral"
88 WP
very good
14.80 €
Weingut Wolfgang Maitz
— Styria/Steiermark
2022 Südsteiermark DAC Ehrenhausen Morillon Ortswein trocken STK
88 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Jülg
— Pfalz
2022 Schweigen VDP.Ortswein trocken "Calcaire Blanc"
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Friedrich Becker
— Pfalz
2022 Schweigen Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
25.00 €
Weingut Bercher
— Baden
2024 Burkheim Grauburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
10.20 €
Weingut Dr. Heger
— Baden
2023 Ihringen Grauburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
15.50 €
Weingut Bercher
— Baden
2024 Burkheim Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
10.20 €
Weingut Blankenhorn
— Baden
2023 Schliengen Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
19.90 €
Weingut Peter Wagner
— Baden
2023 Oberrotweil Chardonnay Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
Up to 25.00 €
Weingut Müller-Catoir
— Pfalz
2024 Neustadt Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken "V"
88 WP
very good
22.80 €
Weingut Müller-Catoir
— Pfalz
2024 Haardt Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
18.60 €
Weingut Dr. Wehrheim
— Pfalz
2023 Birkweiler Chardonnay VDP.Ortswein trocken "Keuper"
88 WP
very good
18.90 €
Weingut Heitlinger
— Baden
2021 Hilsbach Pinot Blanc VDP.Ortswein trocken Reserve
88 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut Gross
— Styria/Steiermark
2023 Südsteiermark DAC Ehrenhausen Weißburgunder Ortswein trocken STK
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Münzberg, Lothar Keßler & Söhne GbR
— Pfalz
2024 Godramstein Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "Löß-Lehm"
88 WP
very good
14.50 €
Weingut Münzberg, Lothar Keßler & Söhne GbR
— Pfalz
2024 Godramstein Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "Kalkgestein"
88 WP
very good
14.50 €
Weingut Hans Wirsching KG
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Iphofen Weißburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
12.00 €
Weingut Neumeister
— Styria/Steiermark
2024 Vulkanland Steiermark DAC Straden Weißburgunder Ortswein trocken STK
88 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Sulzfeld Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
90 WP
excellent
17.00 €
Weingut Bischel
— Rheinhessen
2024 Gau-Algesheim Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken "Terrassen"
90 WP
excellent
18.50 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Sulzfeld Blauer Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Sulzfeld Roter Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Sulzfeld Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
13.00 €
Weingut Heiligenblut
— Rheinhessen
2023 Heimersheim Silvaner Ortswein
88 WP
very good
18.90 €
Weingut Hans Wirsching KG
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Iphofen Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken "K"
88 WP
very good
12.00 €
Weingut Rainer Sauer
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Escherndorf Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut May
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Retzstadt Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
14.50 €
Weingut Höfler
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Michelbach Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken "Urgestein"
88 WP
very good
12.00 €
Weingut Horst Sauer
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Escherndorf Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
11.00 €
Staatlicher Hofkeller
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Würzburg Silvaner VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
12.00 €
Weingut Wolfgang Maitz
— Styria/Steiermark
2022 Südsteiermark DAC Ehrenhausen Sauvignon Blanc Ortswein trocken STK
89 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Sulzfeld Gelber Muskateller VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Markus Huber
— Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
2024 Traisental DAC Reichersdorf Grüner Veltliner Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
89 WP
very good
16.00 €
Weingut Neumeister
— Styria/Steiermark
2024 Vulkanland Steiermark DAC Straden Gelber Muskateller Ortswein trocken STK
89 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut Egon Schäffer GbR
— Franconia/Franken
2023 Dettelbach Scheurebe VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
88 WP
very good
10.00 €
Weingut Pfeffingen
— Pfalz
2024 Ungstein Scheurebe VDP.Ortswein trocken "SP"
88 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut K. & G. Strauss
— Styria/Steiermark
2023 Südsteiermark DAC Gamlitz Sauvignon Blanc Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
Weingut Egon Schäffer GbR
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Escherndorf Müller-Thurgau VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
87 WP
very good
10.00 €
Weingut Egon Schäffer GbR
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Dettelbach Scheurebe VDP.Ortswein Alte Reben
87 WP
very good
9.90 €
Weingut Brandl
— Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
2024 Kamptal DAC Zöbing Grüner Veltliner Ortswein trocken "Terrassen"
10.40 €
Weingut Gross
— Styria/Steiermark
2023 Südsteiermark DAC Gamlitz Gelber Muskateller Ortswein trocken STK
87 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder
— Württemberg
2023 Schozach Sauvignon Blanc VDP.Ortswein trocken **
87 WP
very good
9.30 €
Weingut K. & G. Strauss
— Styria/Steiermark
2024 Südsteiermark DAC Gamlitz Sauvignon Blanc Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
Up to 12.10 €
Weingut Schwab
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Thüngersheim Scheurebe VDP.Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
Weingut Neumeister
— Styria/Steiermark
2024 Vulkanland Steiermark DAC Straden Sauvignon Blanc Ortswein trocken STK
87 WP
very good
18.00 €
Staatlicher Hofkeller
— Franconia/Franken
2024 Würzburg Müller-Thurgau VDP.Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
11.00 €
Weingut Franz Keller
— Baden
2023 Oberrotweil Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein
91 WP
excellent
32.00 €
Weingut August Kesseler
— Rheingau
2023 Assmannshausen Pinot Noir VDP.Ortswein trocken "Cuvée Max Alte Reben"
89 WP
very good
60.00 €
Hessische Staatsweingüter GmbH Kloster Eberbach
— Rheingau
2022 Assmannshausen Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
17.50 €
Weingut Friedrich Becker
— Pfalz
2019 Schweigen Pinot Noir VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
24.00 €
Weingut Meyer-Näkel
— Ahr
2023 Ahrweiler Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein "Grauwacke"
89 WP
very good
29.00 €
Weingut Meyer-Näkel
— Ahr
2023 Dernau Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein "Blauschiefer"
89 WP
very good
29.00 €
Weingut Jülg
— Pfalz
2023 Schweigen Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
89 WP
very good
29.00 €
Weingut August Eser
— Rheingau
2019 Mittelheim Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
10.90 €
Weingut Bercher
— Baden
2021 Jechtingen Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
11.00 €
Weingut J.J. Adeneuer
— Ahr
2023 Ahrweiler Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2023 Sulzfeld Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Peter Wagner
— Baden
2023 Oberrotweil Spätburgunder Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
Up to 25.00 €
Weingut Dr. Wehrheim
— Pfalz
2022 Siebeldingen Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "Muschelkalk"
88 WP
very good
23.00 €
Weingut Dautel
— Württemberg
2023 Cleebronn Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
14.90 €
Weingut August Kesseler
— Rheingau
2023 Assmannshausen Pinot Noir VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
25.00 €
Staatlicher Hofkeller
— Franconia/Franken
2023 Großheubach Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
13.80 €
Weingut Deutzerhof
— Ahr
2023 Mayschoss Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "A&O"
89 WP
very good
26.00 €
Weingut J. Neus
— Rheinhessen
2023 Ingelheim Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein
88 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2023 Sulzfeld Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Kreuzberg
— Ahr
2023 Walporzheim Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
27.00 €
Weingut Steintal
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Klingenberg Cabernet Franc VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
29.00 €
Weingut Kistenmacher-Hengerer
— Württemberg
2022 Heilbronn Merlot VDP.Ortswein trocken "Henri"
88 WP
very good
19.90 €
Weingut Deutzerhof
— Ahr
2022 Mayschoss Dornfelder VDP.Ortswein trocken "PURPUR"
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Kistenmacher-Hengerer
— Württemberg
2019 Heilbronn Lemberger VDP.Ortswein trocken "IV", von alten Reben
88 WP
very good
13.90 €
Weingut Karl Haidle
— Württemberg
2023 Stetten Lemberger VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
Staatlicher Hofkeller
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Dorfprozelten Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
13.20 €