Germany’s Rheingau region intensifies quality control with "Erstes Gewächs" classificationNEW YORK - February 21, 2001 The quality designation "Erstes Gewächs" became effective in Germany's Rheingau region on June 19, 2000, signed into law by the minister of agriculture for the state of Hesse. This classification is designed to ensure the highest achievable quality in the region's wine production, and eligibility is meticulously monitored. Its application begins with the 1999 vintage, and the Rheingau's Erstes Gewächs wines were first released in September 2000. Erstes Gewächs imposes stringent prerequisites for classification, and has been compared with France's Grand Cru designation. Wines must be from a classified vineyard site where the terroir is exceptionally conducive to the growth of superior grapes. The criteria for meeting Erstes Gewächs designation have been determined after years of work by the Geisenheim branch of the German Meteorological Service in collaboration with local research and teaching institutes, involving on-site vineyard surveys with regional growers. Of the Rheingau's 3,227 planted hectares (7,974 acres), a total of 1,132 hectares (2,797 acres) have now been approved for Erstes Gewächs classification. Specifications for the classification include the following:
In addition, it is recommended (but not mandatory) that wines be bottled in the Rheingau’s antique-blue flutes and are not offered below a retail price of DM 25 (approx. US $12.00). For the initial release of the Rheingau’s Erstes Gewächs wines, a total of 55 wines of the 1999 vintage were submitted for consideration; 29 wines made the grade. These come from the following wineries:
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