A chronological review

The Prädikat Wine Estates’ long quest to introduce the ERSTE LAGE classification.
A chronological review of the evolution of a concept in the course of two decades –  an idea is put into practice.

 

1984

Rheingau: The Rheingau vintners’ association CHARTA was founded. As of 1987, it revived the tradition of the Dahlen map of 1885 for its members by classifying the top vineyards of the Rheingau as “the best parcels of famous sites since time immemorial.” Members’ wines that originated from these sites and that were produced according to the prescribed guidelines were entitled to be designated “ERSTES GEWÄCHS Based on the Guidelines of CHARTA.”

1992

Rheingau: The first Riesling wines to bear the first growth logo – three Romanesque double arches on a black strip – appeared on the market.

1992 – 1998

Classification initiatives developed in the Pfalz and in Rheinhessen.

April 1993

STRASBOURG MANIFESTO was issued in conjunction with the “wine summit” of great European wine estates – a joint project of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux and VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter, or Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates). The Prädikat estates call for (excerpt):

• a regulation enabling every European wine-growing region to have a say inthe  labeling laws relevant to their respective wines
• a regulation that safeguards and/or makes possible the introduction of regional appellations of origin and classification
• legislation that takes into account the needs of traditional wine-growing regions
• legislation that acknowledges the differences of viticultural conditions and traditions among the wine-growing nations of Europe...there is no universal approach applicable to all of Europe
• above all: there should be equitable conditions for all producers who are highly committed to quality and tradition

 

July 1996

Speyer: VDP MANIFESTO – Safeguarding Our Viticultural Heritage for the Future
“A vineyard classification – from which other wine-producing countries have long benefited – will safeguard our collective viticultural heritage for the future.”

1997

VDP-NAHE PASSES A RIESLING STATUTE
Only Riesling wines from the best, narrowly demarcated sites will bear vineyard names.

1998

FOUNDING OF THE COMITÉ ERSTES GEWÄCHS
Wine estates from the Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz regions form a committee to move forward the “erstes Gewächs” (first growth) concept, and to define the criteria necessary to produce and publicize such wines.

July 1998

Bacharach: STANDARDIZED CLASSIFICATION PRINCIPLES FOR FIRST GROWTH WINES OF GERMANY. Establishing a classification based on origin, growth or estate – depending on regional circumstances and differences – becomes a declared aim of the VDP estates. The long-term goal of the VDP classification is to produce wines with a recognizable, high-quality profile that are
internationally comparable with “Grands Crus.” Criteria for the production of classified growths: Origin is limited to classified vineyards. Grape varieties are limited to traditional varieties, such as Riesling and the Burgunder (Pinot) varieties. Maximum yields will be set and will be well below the existing low yields already adhered to by VDP estates. Harvesting by hand is obligatory. The wines are subject to critical tastings prior to release. These minimum standards are applicable in addition to the 30 general criteria that are requisite for VDP membership.
 

July 2001

Castell: VDP ADOPTS INTERNAL RESOLUTION ON WINE CLASSIFICATION – Members agree upon three-stage model at annual meeting - a combination of the best portions of the Bordeaux and Burgundy classifications.

• At the base of the “quality pyramid” are the “Gutsweine” and “Ortsweine,” i.e. house wines.
• The second level of the “quality pyramid” consists of “klassifizierte Lagenweine,” or wines from classified sites. Henceforth the VDP estates will restrict their use of vineyard designations to those sites that impart a distinctive character to their respective wines. Every VDP regional association will, under private law, determine with sites merit classification status. The wines must meet additional quality criteria.
• The first and highest level of the “quality pyramid” comprises the “Grosses Gewächs,” or great growths. The wines of this exclusive category are from the finest portions (parcels) of narrowly demarcated sites and are subject to even stricter production criteria.

“Our association of top-quality wine estates will continue to voluntarily practice quality-oriented measures in the vineyard and in the cellar to produce wines of distinguished character – based on the precept of “quality over quantity.”

June 2002

Oestringen: VDP ACCORD OF 2002 - a classification statute for Grosse Gewächse – Breakthrough achieved at VDP Annual Meeting - Prädikat wine estates throughout Germany agree on uniform production criteria.
After many rounds of tough discussions, members agreed upon a set of quality standards that are as uniform as possible, stringent, and applicable nationwide. The focal point is the profile of a Grosses Gewächs as a dry wine. The lusciously sweet wines are on a par with the Grosse Gewächse. They are identifiable by a common logo  , embossed on the bottle or following the name of the vineyard site on the label, and the sweeter wines will bear the name of a Prädikat.
In the same year, members of the regional committees on “erstes Gewächs” from the Pfalz, Saale-Unstrut, Württemberg, Baden, Franken, Mittelrhein, Nahe, Rheingau and Rheinhessen regions defined the boundaries of their classified vineyards and presented the first vintage of Grosse Gewächse at a gala premier in Berlin.

March 2003

Düsseldorf: THE MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER COMITÉ “ERSTE LAGE” PASSES REGIONAL REGULATIONS  FOR A THREE-STAGE CLASSIFICATION STATUTE. Distinctive terroirs call for an individual concept.
The “Erste Lage” model embraces the same stringent production criteria outlined in the classification statute of the VDP Accord of 2002. With regard to wine style, however, it takes into consideration the region’s distinctive terroirs and traditional taste profiles. As such, wines labeled “Erste Lage” will comprise a whole spectrum of fascinating interpretations of terroir: full-bodied, dry QbA; light, subtle Kabinett; elegant, fruity Spätlese; and complex, lusciously sweet Auslese wines. Clear taste profiles have been assigned to the individual quality categories.
Just as the classification in St. Emilion varies from that of Medoc, regional differences in Gemany necessitate that classification be open to various interpretations.  Nevertheless, all regions that are participating in the classification system will use a common logo to identify wines from the peak of the quality pyramid.

August 2003

The Ahr is the last region to adopt the classification statute for the production of Grosse Gewächse.
The Prädikat wine estates of the Ahr are the last to adopt the three-stage classification model. They classified 15 vineyards. Henceforth, these are the only sites that will appear on their labels. The production of Grosse Gewächse is limited to Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Frühburgunder (an earlier-ripening mutation of Spätburgunder) with a minimum starting must weight of 90 degrees Oechsle. All other stringent production criteria were adopted.
 

June 2006

At the VDP general meeting, members agreed upon “Agenda 2015” for premium wines of the VDP classification.

• VDP ERSTE LAGE is 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.
• All wines that are designated VDP ERSTE LAGE will be produced according to the same strict, terroir-oriented criteria.
• VDP ERSTE LAGE dry wines will be denoted as Grosses Gewächs (great growths). As of vintage 2006, these wines will all be dry in style, i.e. have a maximum residual sugar level of nine grams per liter, as prescribed by law.
• VDP ERSTE LAGE fruity wines with natural sweetness will be denoted by the traditional Prädikats, from Spätlese and Auslese to Trockenbeerenauslese. For every vineyard, every region will define which taste profile(s) is (are) optimal for reflecting a vineyard site’s terroir.
• Vineyard sites that number among those in the top category will no longer be permitted to be used for wines in the second category, i.e. wines from classified sites.

The logo , a stylised numeral one that partially frames a cluster of grapes, on the label and/or embossed on the bottle.