Germany's wine growing area totals hectares 103.000.
135 grape varieties may be cultivated in Germany, 100 for white
wine and 35 for red wine.
Generally, Germany is considered to be a white wine country. Since the 1980s, however, German red wine production has constantly increased. Nowadays, over 35% of the vineyards are cultivated with red grapes.
Out of the 135 grape varieties, only about 20 have a significant market share.
Until the early 20th century, Elbling was Germany's most planted variety, after which it was eclipsed by Silvaner during the middle of the 20th century.
After a few decades in the top spot, in the late 1960s Silvaner was overtaken by the high-yielding Müller-Thurgau, which in turn started to lose ground in the 1980s.
From the mid-1990s, Riesling became the most
planted variety.
As for red grape varities, throughout the 1960s and 1970s, there was a downward trend, which was reversed around 1980.
From mid-1990s and during the next decade, there was an almost explosive growth of plantation of red varieties, which, however, has come to a stop. From around 2005, the proportion of red varieties stabilized around 37%, about three times the 1980 level, before declining again in the following years, with Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) being stable.
Germany has become the #3 producer of Pinot Noir in the world, after France and the USA.
Today, almost 50% of the total output is accounted for by Riesling, Spätburgunder and Müller-Thurgau. Riesling is on a light upward trend, Spätburgunder is stabil and Müller-Thurgau is on a downward trend.
Among the white grape varieties, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are all on an upward trend. Germany is now the #1 producer for Weissburgunder and the #2 producer for Grauburgunder. Müller-Thurgau, Kerner, and Bacchus are on a decline. Silvaner is also retreating, except for the area of Franken, where it is increasing.
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