History of the national association

1910 Founded as the Verband Deutscher Naturweinversteigerer e.V.
(a national association of regional associations of German wine estates that sold their “natural wines”* at auction).
*By the start of the 20th century, the finest wines produced in Germany were known as “Naturweine,” or “natural wines” (not chaptalized; see below: 1955) – the forerunners of today’s Prädikat wines. The term “natur” remained in use until the German wine law of 1971 excluded it from permissible wine nomenclature.  

President: Albert von Bruchhausen, mayor of the city of Trier/Mosel

Founding regional associations:

• Verein der Naturwein-Versteigerer der Rheinpfalz
• Vereinigung Rheingauer Weingutsbesitzer
• Trierer Verein von Weingutsbesitzern der Mosel, Saar und Ruwer
• Verein Badischer Naturweinversteigerer
• Verein der Naturwein-Versteigerer in Hessen
• Verein der Naturwein-Versteigerer an der Nahe

1926 Some 16 years after its founding, the organization is entered in the official register of associations.

1934 New president

• Jakob Werner of Rüdesheim/Rheingau, district farmers’ leader, becomes president.
• Compulsory integration into the Reichsnährstand, the government organization responsible for administering food and agricultural production and marketing from 1933 to 1945.  

1935 Creation of a new constitution
The purpose of the association – subject to the approval of the Reichsnährstand – is to preserve and promote the interests of its members. Its activities, in particular:

• to regulate conditions and timing of wine auctions
• to commission joint advertising
• to participate in exhibitions at home and abroad
• to deal with all other questions related to the sale of wine
• to exchange information about viticulture and winemaking.  

1938 Last formal meeting of the association’s executive committee before the outbreak of war. 

1938 to 1945 The work of the association is in abeyance until 1945.

1949 The Association formally resumes operation.President
Dr. Albert Bürklin, Wachenheim/Pfalz A new constitution is adopted ("necessary alterations in the light of the transition to democracy“). Membership includes the following regional associations:

• Verein der Naturweinversteigerer der Rheinpfalz, Neustadt
• Trierer Verein von Weingutsbesitzern der Mosel, Saar und Ruwer e.V., Trier
• Vereinigung Rheingauer Weingüter, Eltville
• Verein Badischer Naturweinversteigerer e.V., Freiburg
• Verein der Naturweinversteigerer in Rheinhessen e.V., Mainz.

1955  Amendment to the constitution
(§3) Membership in the association is limited to regional associations whose members auction, or sell by other means, only  natural (unchaptalized), estate-bottled wines. (Chaptalization: adding dry (cane or beet) sugar to grape must/juice prior to fermentation to increase the alcohol content of a wine.)1955 The association holds its first Spitzenweinversteigerung, auction of top-quality wines, in Wiesbaden. 

1958 Creation of a new constitution  
All members’ wines are subject to quality control monitoring.
New requirements for the regional associations:

• The majority of production must consist of natural wines.
• To ensure the long-term production of impeccable natural wines, members are to follow association guidelines with regard to vineyard layoutand maintenance; choice of grape variety; harvesting procedures; and cellar equipment and technology.

1969 New president: Wolfgang Michel, Hochheim/Rheingau

1971 Name changes to Verband Deutscher Prädikatswein-Versteigerer e.V. (VDPV).

1972 Creation of a new constitution

• Membership in the national association changes from regional auction associations to individual wine estates.
• Additional efforts to improve quality are encouraged and sales conditions are regulated.
• The association is the official representative of the members vis-à-vis other associations and authorities.
• New president: Peter W. von Weymarn, Nierstein/Rheinhessen
• Name changes to Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter e.V. (VDP)

1978 New president: Erwein Graf Matuschka-Greiffenclau, Schloss Vollrads/Rheingau
 
1982 Amendment to the constitution

• Starting must weights higher than those prescribed by law are adopted.
• Use of the VDP logo (stylized eagle bearing a cluster of grapes) becomes obligatory.
• There is to be a clear differentiation between members’ estate-bottled wines and other wines they bottle.  

1990 Name changes, New president

• Name changes to Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter e.V.
• New executive committee is elected
• New president: Michael Prinz zu Salm, Salm, Wallhausen/Nahe
• Association’s goals are revised. New: Commitment to viticulture in harmony with nature.
• More stringent quality criteria are introduced: maximum yields are set; minimum starting must weights are raised; marketing: use of the VDP logo on capsules is mandatory; members are subject to regular estate inspections.
• Fundamental decision is made in favor of classification.

1994 Amendment to the constitution

• VDP decides to refrain from using Grosslage appellations.
• Grapes qualifying in the categories Auslese and above will be harvested by hand. 

1996 VDP Manifesto

• VDP Manifesto is passed. Its goal is to preserve viticultural heritage for future generations.

1998 Classification

• Uniform principles for a classification of “growths of German origin” are agreed upon.

2000 Name changes

• Name changes to VDP. Die Prädikatsweingüter (VDP. The Prädikat Wine Estates)  

2002 Breakthrough achieved at annual meeting: Accord of 2002

• Prädikat wine estates throughout Germany agree on uniform production criteria for classified wines based on a three-tier model, from bottom to top:
  “House wine” labeled with a proprietary name and/or the name of a village or region
  Wine from classified sites
  Grosses Gewächs and/or Erstes Gewächs

2006 Key changes are agreed upon at the general meeting.

• Erste Lage is selected to be the uniform umbrella term in all regions for all wines of the top category. These wines can be identified by the logo    on the label and/or embossed on the bottle.
• Erste Lage dry wines are to be denoted as Grosses Gewächs (Germany’s Grand Cru wines).
• Erste Lage fruity wines with natural sweetness are to bear the traditional Prädikats, from Spätlese and Auslese to Trockenbeerenauslese.

2007 New President: Steffen Christmann, Gimmeldingen/Pfalz

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