FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany and German Wine

The FIFA Women's World Cup is recognized as the most important International competition in women's football and is played amongst women's national football teams of the member states of FIFA, the sport's global governing body. Contested every four years, this year’s Women’s World Cup tournament is currently been held in Germany, from June 26 to July 17.

Picture: Silvia Neid, head coach of Germany's women's national football team poses with Theo Zwanziger (hidden), President of the German Football Federation during a press conference on June 21, 2011 in Berlin. The FIFA Women's World Cup is taking place in Germany from June 26 to July 17, 2011. AFP, Johannes Eisele

At all the soccer games German wine is being served, which was selected by the German Wine Institute (DWI). The Director of the DWI said that the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 is a great way to for the German wine industry to present itself to an international audience. “"The national and international stadium guests can convince them that we have not only great soccer players but also first-class whites and reds, "the head of DWI said.

The German Wines Offered in the Soccer Stadiums

Here are the wines selected.

White Wines

2009 Riesling Grauschiefer Qualitätswein trocken, Weingut Friedrich Altenkirch Lorch, Rheingau

2009 Riesling Spätlese trocken, Alte Reben, Oppenheimer Sackträger, Weingut Gröhl, Weinolsheim, Rheinhessen

2010 Bischoffinger Sommer Cuvée Qualitätswein trocken, Winzergenossenschaft Bischoffingen, Vogtsburg, Baden

2010 Riesling Spätlese trocken, Alte Reben, Ayler Kupp, Weingut Margarethenhof Jürgen Weber, Ayl, Mosel

Rose Wine

2010 Spätburgunder Weißherbst Qualitätswein feinherb Klosterweingut Abtei St. Hildegard, Rüdesheim, Rheingau

Red Wines

2010 Spätburgunder Qualitätswein trocken, Weingut Seehof - Familie Fauth Westhofen, Rheinhessen

2010 Saint Laurent Qualitätswein trocken, Weingut Sascha Montigny, Laubenheim, Nahe

2010 „Toujours“ Spätburgunder Qualitätswein trocken, Weingut Deutzerhof Cossmann-Hehle, Mayschoss, Ahr

2010 Dornfelder, Qualitätswein trocken Weingut Anselmann Edesheim, Pfalz

2008 „Cabernero“ Qualitätswein trocken, Weingut Eberbach-Schäfer, Lauffen, Württemberg

2008 Spätburgunder , "saborondo art" Qualitätswein trocken, Weingut Neumer, Uelversheim, Rheinhessen

2009 Spätburgunder, Qualitätswein trocken, Weingut Burggarten, Heppingen, Ahr


7 out of 10 Wines are Red: The German Red Wine Revolution

Outside of Germany, it is hard to find a German red wine. The shelves in London, New York and Hong Kong are filled with white wine. When the world thinks of German wine, it thinks of white wine. But there has been a red wine boom in Germany over the past 30 years. The share of red wines in terms of production has increased from 10 percent in the 1980s to about 35 percent now in Germany. Of course, given its location, the German red wines tend to be not like the fruity red wines we know from warmer countries, but lean and more elegant, with a lot of finesse. 30 years ago, in the international scene, people would not talk about German red wine. But this has changed. Germany now produces red wines that can compete with the best of the world.

All Wines are Dry: Germany Drinks Dry

When we taste wines at the German Wine Society in Washington DC, the large majority of wines are sweet-style Kabinett and Spaetlese wines. These are of course exceptional wines, skillfully made by first-class winemakers like Ernst Loosen, essentially made by not letting the fermentation going its full course so that natural sugar remains in the wine and/or adding a bit of sweet-reserve (sterilized grape juice) to increase the sweetness level in the wine. These are the wines that are so popular among the fans of German wine in the world. When you go to the trendy restaurant Spruce in San Francisco, which has won many awards for its exceptional German wine portfolio, these are the wines you find there.

But when you go for a drink to Rutz Wein Bar in Berlin, one of the best wine bars in Germany, you find very few of these wines and instead an amazing range of dry wines. Today, wine loving Germany drinks dry. There is no doubt about it. The overwhelming majority of the wines produced in Germany is dry. And the German (dry) grand cru Rieslings can compete with the best wines in the world. The word is getting around - slowly but surely - and more and more dry German Rieslings appear on the international market.

What is the future? I think the sweet-style wines will definitely stay, although they have become “niche wines” as David Schildknecht said at the 1. International Riesling Symposium last year. These are very well crafted wines that are kind of unique in the world. They have an USP that the dry wines cannot take away from them. But the dry German wines, I am sure, will establish themselves on the world market. These Rieslings are exceptional as well. Not as unique as the sweet style wines, but also sensational.

3 of the 4 White Wines Are Rieslings: Riesling Remains Germany’s Signature Grape

All the wines were Rieslings. Of course, Riesling is the king of German wine. But there are other grapes, which are popular in Germany, like Silvaner or Grauburgunder. However overall, these other white grape varieties are largely absent from the international market.

Worldwide, there are about 34.000 hectares planted with Riesling. Germany – with 22.400 hectares – accounts for 2/3 of the total. The second largest Riesling producer is Australia, with 4500 hectares. But this is only about 1/10 of the total. Nevertheless, Australia was a bit underrepresented at the 1st International Riesling Symposium. Alsace follows with 3500 hectares. Austria, the US with Washington State and New York State as well as New Zealand make up the remainder. But overall Riesling is really a niche wine, accounting for only less than 1 percent of total wine production in the world - but a very special niche wine.

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