The Local Germany

Meet the man introducing internationals to German wine

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:52:08 +0200

Jérôme Hainz is dedicated to passing on his passion for wine, in the heart of Germany's largest producing region. The Local went on tour with him to discover just how diverse the country's wine landscape is.

Germany's winemakers cope with climate change by breeding new grapes

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 13:02:12 +0200

Germany’s winegrowers are breeding new grape varieties to cope with climate change and resist the development of fungi amidst the increase in global temperatures.

German guidelines for alcohol intake are too high, study argues

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 12:03:31 +0200

Having one glass of wine a day has long been considered harmless. But a new study has found that even moderate consumption of alcohol is detrimental for one's health, and countries such as Germany need to review their guidelines.

5 things you really should know about wine in Germany

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 18:21:52 +0200

While Germany might not be the first country people think of when it comes to wine, it has a heck of a lot to offer - and we're not just talking about its famed Riesling white grape variety.

Man becomes wine queen after no blond beauties found

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 19:05:15 +0200

When no successor could be found for the current wine queen in the town of Kesten, Sven Finke joked, “If you don’t find anyone, I'll be the new queen”. Little did he know that his lighthearted offer would become reality.

Syrian refugee crowned wine queen in Germany

Thu, 04 Aug 2016 17:38:26 +0200

After escaping the civil war in Syria, Ninorta Bahno has managed to make a name for herself in Germany by being elected the city of Trier's wine queen.

Germany's top refreshing summer drinks

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 17:24:54 +0200

Just like countries all over Europe, there's no shortage of multinational cola and other global thirst quenchers to be had in German shops. But what do you sip when you want a little local flavour? Read on to find out...

Nato head wowed by Merkel's wine stamina

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:26:12 +0200

The head of Nato has spoken admiringly of German chancellor Angela Merkel’s capacity for white wine, telling interviewers in Norway that when the two unwind over drinks: “let’s put it like this: she isn't the first to leave."

OECD warns Germany to cut down on booze

Tue, 12 May 2015 18:03:47 +0200

As some of the biggest boozers among rich countries' citizens, Germans have been warned that they should cut down on alcohol to safeguard their health and save the taxpayer money.

Germans buy half their wine at Aldi and co

Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:31:00 +0100

Practically every second bottle of wine bought in Germany comes from one or other of the country's fable discount supermarkets such as Lidl and Aldi.

Keeper of Germany's finest wine cellar

Thu, 23 Jan 2014 19:17:00 +0100

Keeping the keys to Bremen´s 15th century wine cellar means becoming a part of a 600-year-old tradition. The vast collection is one of the indebted city's most valuable assets but is being targeted by a wealthy Chinese collector.

Bigger vineyards 'a threat' to German wine

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 13:32:00 +0100

Plans to lift EU restrictions on the size and location of vineyards could pose a grave threat to German vintners, according to a report due to be published on Monday by Wirtschaftswoche business magazine.

Vintners harvest bumper ice wine crop

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:22:00 +0100

Fans of ice wine can rejoice over a bumper crop of the German specialty after this weekend’s deep freeze, according to the nation’s vintners.

'Buy your own wine,' court tells divorcee

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:27:00 +0200

A Munich district court told a newly divorced woman has no right to the valuable wine collection her husband built up during their marriage, since she never participated in picking out the bottles, it was reported on Tuesday.

Mosel Valley bridge to be built in wine country

Tue, 03 May 2011 18:52:00 +0200

Opponents of a giant bridge to be built through Germany's historic wine country, prized for its world-class Rieslings, mourned on Tuesday their defeat in a years-long battle to stop the project.

Small wine harvest to boost vintage's price

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:39:00 +0200

Germany's 2010 wine vintage will be more expensive than previous years due to a meagre harvest caused by bad weather, the German Wine Institute (DWI) said Thursday.

Rare grape harvest cancelled in Hamburg after thieves strip vines

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:53:00 +0200

The wine harvest at one of Germany’s most northerly vineyards has been cancelled this year after thieves stole most of the grapes off the vine from the hill above the left bank of Hamburg’s harbour in the St. Pauli district, the city said on Wednesday.

Behemoth wine barrel to be tapped after 400 years

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:09:00 +0200

The world’s oldest giant wine barrel, held in a Saxony-Anhalt hunting mansion, has been refilled for the first time in its 400-year history and will be filling glasses at a festival beginning on Friday.

Bridging discord in the Mosel Valley

Thu, 13 May 2010 17:06:00 +0200

The Mosel Valley is known for its scenic views and Riesling vineyards, but plans to build a massive new bridge have brought discord to this idyllic part of Germany. David Wroe reports.

German vintners report ‘small but fine’ grape harvest

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:06:00 +0200

German vintners are reporting that while this year’s harvest is significantly smaller than average, it yielded grapes of the highest quality.