German Red Wine: 10 Fascinating Bottles, Grape Varieties, Food Pairings
While the German wine scene is often associated with Riesling wine and other whites, the country is also the home to delicious red wine styles like Spätburgunder, Lemberger, and Schwarzriesling.
In fact, red wine grapes were documented in the country as far back as the 14th century.
In this article, we’ll explore these fabulous red grapes, uncover the top 10 German red wine bottles, and the best foods to pair with these wines.
Further reading
Popular German Red Wine Grapes
Red grape varieties account for over a third of the German vineyard plantings. Some popular German red wine grapes include:
1. Spätburgunder
Germany’s most famous red grape is Spätburgunder (German word for Pinot Noir.)
It is very closely associated with the warm Baden wine region. Other popular regions that grow the German Pinot Noir include Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Mosel, and Rheingau regions.
Spätburgunder wines are typically full-bodied and can range from intensely earthy to refreshingly fruity depending on the soil and wine production style.
2. Dornfelder
German winemakers originally grew the Dornfelder grape variety to add color to the typically pale German red wines. However, today this blending grape is also used to produce everyday wines in Pfalz and the Rheinhessen.
Dornfelder wines are fresh, fruity, and slightly floral. Barrel-aged wines are complex, rich, and spicy.
3. Portugieser
The Portugieser grapes came to Germany from Austria. These grapes from the Pfalz and Ahr regions produce friendly, easygoing red wines with fresh berry and pepper aromas.
Winemakers also use it in traditional rosé wines.
4. Lemberger
Lemberger is a popular grape widely grown in the Württemberg wine region. It creates juicy, fresh, and medium-bodied wines that are full of blackberry, plum, and earthy notes.
The best quality wine from this grape has excellent aging potential.
5. Schwarzriesling
Schwarzriesling is the German word for ‘black Riesling.’ However, it is not related to the Riesling grape but is actually a mutation of Spätburgunder.
This early ripening grape is known as Pinot Meunier in France and resembles Riesling only in shape. It is generally used in the Sekt sparkling wine.
6. Other Popular German Red Wines
Some other German reds include:
- Trollinger: Almost exclusive in Württemberg, this late-ripening grape yields light, fragrant, acidic wines.
- Domina: A cross of Portugieser and Spätburgunder, the grape yields full-bodied, pleasant wines.
- Regent: Regent wines are rich with cherry aromas and a firm tannin structure.
- Saint Laurent: These wines are intense yet fresh with fruity aromas of elderberries and wild cherries.
- Acolon: Acolon wines have a good structure and length with subtle tannins with nuanced fruit flavors.
Other typical grapes like Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are also produced in Germany.
10 Spectacular German Red Wines You must Try
Here are complex red wines from the region that’s historically known for sweet wine.
- 2005 Weingut Bernhard Huber 'R' Schlossberg Spätburgunder - Pinot Noir Grosses Gewächs
- 2007 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Bürgstadter Hundsruck Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs
- 2015 Jean Stodden Spätburgunder Alte Reben Trocken
- 2009 August Kesseler Assmannshauser Hollenberg Spatburgunder Grosses Gewachs
- 2012 Daniel Twardowski Ardoise Pinot Noix
- 2014 Weingut Rudolf Furst R Burgstadter Centgrafenberg Spatburgunder Grosses Gewachs
- 2015 Schloss Proschwitz Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs
- 2016 Weingut Aldinger Fellbacher Lämmler Lemberger Grosses Gewächs
- 2012 Thörle Saulheimer Hölle Spätburgunder
- 2013 Schneider Black Print
1. 2005 Weingut Bernhard Huber 'R' Schlossberg Spätburgunder - Pinot Noir Grosses Gewächs ($332)
This Baden Spätburgunder wine has a nose of black currant and red berries with a delicate balance of acidity and tannins on the palate.
2. 2007 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Bürgstadter Hundsruck Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs ($268)
This German Pinot Noir wine from Franken displays notes of blackberry balanced with hints of earthiness and oak.
3. 2015 Jean Stodden Spätburgunder Alte Reben Trocken ($222)
This dry red wine from Ahr bursts with smoke, oak, and cherry aromas that continue as flavors on the palate. It also displays medium acidity, tannins, and a dry finish.
4. 2009 August Kesseler Assmannshäuser Höllenberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs ($157)
This German red wine boasts a sweetness of golden cherries and red plums with a medium body and refreshing acidity.
5. 2012 Daniel Twardowski Ardoise Pinot Noix ($195)
Some of the best wine critics have highly acclaimed this Burgundian-stylered wine for its intoxicating maraschino cherry, vanilla, and tobacco aromas, silky black fruit palate, and subtle spice hints.
6. 2014 Weingut Rudolf Furst R Burgstadter Centgrafenberg Spatburgunder Grosses Gewächs ($127)
Another Spätburgunder from the German wine label - Rudolf Furst, this quality wine displays zesty, fresh acidity with red berry fruit flavors and firm tannins.
7. 2015 Schloss Proschwitz Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs ($44)
This German wine opens with a nose of red fruits, licorice, and vanilla, displays great structure and fruity acidity on the palate, and finishes quite elegantly.
8. 2016 Weingut Aldinger Fellbacher Lämmler Lemberger Grosses Gewächs ($38)
This Württemberg dry wine has subtle smoke, currant, and herb aromas that reflect on the palate along with medium acidity and tannins.
9. 2012 Thörle Hölle Spätburgunder ($34)
This Spätburgunder wine displays vanilla and ripe cherry on the nose with beautiful oak scents. The palate has perfect acidity and very supple tannins with blackberry and licorice flavors.
10. 2013 Schneider Black Print ($13)
The Cabernet Dorsa wine is full-bodied and fruity with dark berry aromas and raspberry notes, leading to a delicious lingering finish on the palate.
Delectable Food to Pair with the German Red Wines
Here are some great food pairings with classic German red wines.
- Spätburgunder: Grilled fish, smoked meats
- Dornfelder: Game and cheeses
- Portugieser: Roasted pheasant, goose, wild mushroom
- Lemberger: Mushroom pasta, grilled lamb, roasted beef
- Schwarzriesling: Spicy tender ragouts, lamb, game
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