Facts & figures

FOUNDATION

• 1910

MEMBERS

• 196 estates from all wine-growing regions in Germany

VDP BACKGROUND

• The VDP estates harvest ca. 2 % of the total annual German crop.
• The VDP estates cultivate ca. 5 % of the total German area devoted to viticulture, equivalent to ca. 4,900 ha (ca. 12,000 acres).
• The VDP estates account for more than 8 % of German wine sales/turnover

RIESLING COMPETENCE

• 22 % of Germany’s vineyards are planted with Riesling.
• Within the VDP, 55% of all vineyards are planted with Riesling.
• The VDP’s  2,700 ha (6,700 acres) are equivalent to 7% of Riesling vineyards worldwide and 12 % of Germany’s vineyard area devoted to Riesling. 

ABOVE-AVERAGE ORGANIC VITICULTURE

• Some 800 wine estates in Germany cultivate approximately 4,500 ha (11,200 acres) of vineyards according to organic guidelines.
• Some 27 VDP wine estates cultivate approximately 710 ha (1,000 acres) of vineyards according to organic guidelines. This is equivalent to 14,5 % of VDP estates and their holdings.
• VDP estates own ca. 5 % of Germany’s vineyards.
• VDP estates own ca. 14 % of Germany’s vineyards cultivated according to organic guidelines.

QUALITY COMPETITIVENESS

• 1990: 161 estates are member of the VDP
• Since then: 113 estates joined, and 78 estates left the association
• 2012: 196 German wine-estates are members ot the VDP

VDP SALES STRUCTURE

• Collective sales volume of VDP estates is ca. 270 million euro with sales of ca. 32 million bottles.
• 50 % of VDP wines are sold directly to customers.
• 30 % of VDP wines are sold via the specialty trade (wine shops).
• 20 % of VDP wines are sold via restaurateurs/caterers.
• 80 % of VDP wines are sold in the domestic (German) market; 20 % are exported.
• More than half of exports are dry in style.

ERSTE LAGE WINES

• Wines from VDP-classified Erste Lage = “Grands Crus” account for 2% of VDP estates’ production.
• 2011: 400 wines from 149 wine estates and 226 vineyard sites.