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The German Winegrowers' Association has presented a draft framework for a vineyard classification system. It is intended to define in the future origins for the wine designations "Erstes Gewächs" and "Großes Gewächs". The draft stipulates that the wine-growing regions' protective associations should appoint regional committees for this purpose. These committees are to be made up of producers from the growing regions as well as experts from science and the wine industry.
However, the draft, which is to become part of the German wine ordinance, only describes the framework conditions. It will be years before the first legal authorisation of Großes Gewächse and Erste Gewächse wines is granted. This is because the first step is for the new committees to draw up the respective regulations for their protected designation of origin (PDO/growing region). These will be used to determine the reputation of the vineyards and thus their suitability for Erste Gewächse and Grosse Gewächse on the basis of defined characteristics. In the next step, a panel of experts will decide on applications from winegrowers who wish to have their vineyards authorised as Grosse or Erste Lage sites. Only then can winegrowers submit the wines produced there for testing. In addition to other factors, the tasting of five vintages of the wine applied for by experts and the bottle price achieved in the past will also play a role.
A working group within the association had been discussing the topic for over three years, including with winegrowers and officials from Alsace and Austria. This is because the wine regulation adopted in 2021 lacks a clear definition of the origin of Erste Gewächse and Grosse Gewächse wines. The DWV draft on site classification is now intended to fill this gap. In the next step, the new draft will be integrated into the wine ordinance and then applied by the new committees with the involvement of the wineries.
"The committees are of outstanding importance. It is an open system from the producers for the producers," explained DWV Secretary General Christian Schwörer. However, DWV President Klaus Schneider is also certain: "Our draft only provides a framework. The decisive factor will be how the conservation organisations and their members fill this framework with life. All businesses seriously interested in using the terms, as well as our regional members, are called upon to get involved in a quality-assuring process."
VDP President Steffen Christmann, who represents his association in the DWV working group, sees this as the first opportunity to work with the terms "Erste Gewächse" and "Große Gewächse" in a "standardised, serious and quality-oriented manner throughout Germany". "This consensus offers the opportunity to protect the quality of origin that we at the VDP have been developing for over 20 years at a legal level. The next challenge, which is no small one, will be in the future the organisation of the specifications in the individual growing regions within the framework of the protective associations. As an equal partner, we are happy to contribute our experience here," explained the VDP President.
In order for the draft to be formally included in the wine ordinance, it must first be approved by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and reviewed by the Federal Ministry of Justice. It will then be submitted to the Bundesrat for a vote. Due to the early federal elections in February 2025, it is currently difficult to estimate a timetable. Those involved expect the draft to become law in summer 2025 at the earliest, but possibly even later.
(uka / press release, own research)