German Wine: The Basics

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In a world that seems to be clamoring for wines that are bigger, bolder, and overstated, the delicate wines of Germany are quick to get lost in the shuffle. Or, perhaps it’s the lengthy and somewhat complicated labeling that is off-putting to those who don’t sprechen Deutsch (speak German). Or, conceivably it’s a bit of both. Regardless of your reasons for not enjoying the unique and tremendous flavors and sensation offered by German wines, the time has come for you to make your discovery (or just get reacquainted). At their best, German wines combine subtle sweetness with balancing natural acidity that appear seamlessly as an element of the complex fruit and spice flavors revealed with each sip. At worst they are thin, singular, and thirst quenching at best. These wines are often found with fanciful English names and quirky labels in the bargain aisles of your local grocery. They should, in most cases, be avoided as they are hardly representative of true German quality wines and will frequently fail to satisfy.