Germany

Germany is one of the world’s oldest wine regions with plantations going back to Ancient Roman times. During the 18th and 19th century the top wines were held in such high regard that they sold for more than the first growths of Bordeaux. Unfortunately the depression, war and disease all took their toll and demand and prices collapsed. Due to the huge imports of cheap cask wine into New Zealand in the late 20th century one of the biggest misunderstandings of German wine is that they are all sweet and simple, nothing could be further from the truth. The top estates are producing better quality than ever before, including some of the world’s greatest white wines from the Riesling variety.