Growing Regions

The largest geographical classification is the anbaugebiet.

An anbaugebiet is a German term referring to a growing region for quality wine, either QbA (qualitätswein bestimmter anbaugebiet) or QmP (qualitätswein mit prädikat). There are now thirteen of these regions, and their regional name is required on labels of quality wines.

Eleven were initially established in 1971 by German law in an effort to meet European Common Market rules. They are ahr, baden, franken, hessische bergstrasse, mittelrhein, mosel-saar-ruwer, nahe, rheingau, rheinhessen, pfalz and württemberg. Two more Anbaugebiete have been added from the former East Germany-saale-unstrut and sachsen.

Each Anbaugebiet may be further divided into bereiche (districts), grosslagen (general sites), and einzellagen (individual sites or vineyards).