Top five best value Grosses Gewächs to try

The Große Gewächs (GG) of the VDP – an association of 200 of Germany’s leading wineries – represents the highest quality wine made in Germany today.

These are the finest dry wines made from the country’s top-ranked vineyards made to stringent regulations.

Harvest yields are capped at 50 hectolitres per hectare, though in practice they are usually much lower, and hand harvesting is mandatory.

These are only the basic requirements, without even considering the experience, commitment and expertise of the winemakers behind these wines.

All of this comes at a price: the average GG costs around €49 per bottle. However, wines from some estates command several hundred euros per bottle and are sold exclusively by subscription to a loyal customer base.

Risk versus reward

The figures on a GG’s price tag can therefore be viewed from two perspectives – as a price or as a value. The latter increases with a winery’s reputation, its image and the loyalty of customers who secure their allocation year after year.

People tend to stick with what they know and avoid risk, and many are willing to pay a premium for that reassurance.

At the same time, those who have the courage to try something new are often rewarded.

Many VDP members produce wines that remain undervalued, particularly in relation to their quality and price. A number of family-run estates have recently passed into the hands of a new generation whose education and international experience are bringing fresh momentum to these wineries – though this still needs to be recognised by consumers and critics alike.

One example is Weingut Kranz in the Pfalz, where son Xaver has been working alongside his father Boris since 2023.

It would be presumptuous to speak of second-tier wineries. If anything, that perception applies more to visibility than to quality. Sebastian Schäfer of Weingut Joh. Bapt. Schäfer in the Nahe, for instance, is naturally reserved and takes a discreet approach to marketing.

Yet in Wiesbaden – where the annual GG release tasting is held – he has once again demonstrated that his dry GG wines rank among the finest, even if they are not among the most expensive.

Here are five GGs that won’t break the bank yet promise a richly rewarding tasting experience.

Five great value Grosses Gewächs to try

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