Quality wines produced in specified regions

Quality wine from certain growing areas , usually abbreviated Q on the wine label. B. A., was a quality level of the wine until 2012 . It is above table wine and country wine but below grade wine . In contrast to other quality levels (e.g. table wine), the grapes must come from one of the approved growing areas . The grapes used must come exclusively from approved grape varieties of the Vitis vinifera species . If the grape variety is still in the approval process, the designation "from experimental cultivation" must be noted on the label.

The higher requirements for such wines are particularly aimed at the degree of maturity of the grapes . The must weight must be at least 50 ° to 72 ° Oechsle , depending on the growing area and grape variety . In the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, the minimum must weight at Dornfelder for quality wine is 68 ° Oechsle. An enrichment with sugar (but only fructose and glucose ) before fermentation ( chaptalization ) is allowed. The wines are subjected to an analytical test based on organoleptic, wine law and chemical criteria and have an official test number on the label . The wines must have a total alcohol content of at least 9% with an existing alcohol content of 7%; the difference is the residual sugar content in the wine and thus determines its sweetness.

Certain growing area

The specific cultivation area defines a delimitation of the area on which "quality winegrowing" is legally possible, i.e. quality wine in specific cultivation areas (bA) or quality wine bA with predicate is permitted.

The terms "specific growing area", "wine growing area" and "wine growing area" are often - not quite correctly - used synonymously.

See: Quality wine growing in Germany

Quality wine of guaranteed origin

The traditional specific designation "quality wine guaranteed origin" (QgU) was recognized for certain quality wines of certain growing areas in Germany by Article 15 (2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 823/87 of March 16 1987. The designation has been possible since 1994. These are varietal wines of quality level Q. b. Typical for a growing area or a sub-region. A. However, hardly any use is made of the term QgU to guarantee geographical origin in Germany.

Other countries

Similar, if not always comparable, regional classifications are also found in other countries, e.g. B. France , Italy , Spain and Portugal to find. So apply in France for wines subregional and local AOC (about Margaux ) stringent requirements for maximum yield and must weight as a regional AOC (z. B. Bordeaux Supérieur ). In addition to this classification, some organizations (appellations) award additional ratings for certain wineries and vineyards (e.g. Premier Cru and Grand Cru). In Italy the names DOC and DOCG are comparable, which are also upgraded by subzones and predicates such as "classico" and so on.