VDP.MEMBER ESTATE
The Wine Eagle
The Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter (VDP) is an association of Germany’s finest winegrowing estates. Its members commit to quality standards above and beyond those stipulated in the German Wine Law, including reduced yields, higher must weights and hand harvest of top sites. A strong emphasis is also placed on traditional varieties and sustainable viticulture.
THE VDP.CLASSIFICATION PYRAMID
VDP.GROSSE LAGE®
VDP.GROSSE LAGE® denotes the highest-quality German vineyards, each precisely demarcated by parcel. Wines grown in Grosse Lagen are notable for their extraordinary sense of place and ripening potential. Each region has its own carefully crafted definition of which varieties are allowed in these vineyards — Riesling for the Nahe.
VDP.ERSTE LAGE
VDP.ERSTE LAGE® is reserved for world-class single sites with a distinctive character and optimal growth conditions. Before being awarded this classification, the vineyards must have already demonstrated an extended history of top quality. They are planted with varieties typical for the given region — Riesling for the Nahe.
VDP.ORTSWEINE
Die VDP.ORTSWEINE are the ambassadors of their village. They are sourced from a town’s traditional vineyards with an established history of producing distinctive wines. Alongside high-quality vineyard sites, regional varieties and reduced yields are requirements for this type of wine.
VDP.GUTSWEINE
Die VDP.GUTSWEINE offer an excellent point to start exploring the origin-based quality hierarchy of the Prädikatsweingüter. The wines are produced from an estate's own vineyards in correspondence with the VDP's strict quality standards.
