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In Germany, the trend towards dry wines and white wines continues: According to figures from the German Wine Institute (DWI) based on the quality wine test, in 2022 around 50 per cent of all quality and Prädikat wines were offered in dry flavours. This corresponds to an increase of two percentage points compared to the previous year. 20 years previously, only 35 per cent of German quality wines were dry.
According to DWI figures, the share of quality-tested white wine grew by two percentage points to 66 per cent in 2022. The increase in white and rosé wine production came at the expense of red wines, which still accounted for 21 per cent. Rosé wines not only increased in consumption last year, but also in the range offered by producers. With an increase of one percentage point to 13 per cent of quality and Prädikat wines, rosés reached their previous high of 2020.
White wine varieties also saw strong growth in cultivation: their share in Germany increased from its lowest level of 63.1 per cent in 2006 to 68.4 per cent in 2022. According to the DWI, the area planted with white wine varieties totalled 70,752 hectares in 2022. This represents an increase of 614 hectares compared to 2021.
As in previous years, the most popular grape varieties with the largest increase in area were white Burgundy varieties. Pinot Gris grew the most (+396 ha), followed by Chardonnay (+173 ha) and Pinot Blanc (+119 ha). The cultivation of all white Pinot varieties varieties, including Auxerrois, grew to 17,308 hectares. The cultivation area of Germany's most important grape variety Riesling also grew moderately by 92 ha. This meant that around a quarter of the nationwide vineyard area was planted in 2022.
Of the Bukett grape varieties, that of Sauvignon Blanc continued to grow by 120 hectares to 1,923 hectares. Other varieties with slightly increasing area shares include Scheurebe (1,483 ha), Gewürztraminer (1,120 ha), Gelber Muskateller (579 ha) and Goldmuskateller (86 ha).
Among the Piwis, white varieties were also the most popular in 2022. The Souvignier Gris variety achieved the largest increase in acreage, with an increase of 74 hectares to 205 hectares, putting it in third place among the most important white fungus-resistant grape varieties behind Solaris (207 hectares) and Cabernet blanc (260 hectares). Together, all white Piwi varieties totalled a vineyard area of 1026 hectares (+144 ha).
Among the red Piwi varieties, which now cover 1,794 hectares of vineyards, Regent had a share of around 90 per cent. However, its vineyard area has been declining slightly for years. New varieties such as Cabernet Cortis (60 hectares) and Pinotin (36 hectares) are developing as alternatives in this segment.
Germany's total vineyard area remained virtually constant at 103,391 hectares.
(uka / Source: German Wine Institute)