What is Prädikatswein?

Prädikatswein is a wine of very high quality. Prädikat is often mentioned on bottles of Eiswein and every now and then we get the question what this means.

The winemaker may put Prädikat on the label of the bottle if the wine meets strict regulations regarding, for example, harvest and maturation. Below are the most important requirements that must be met:

1. The alcohol content of the wine must be at least 5% Vol.
2. Enrichment and sweetening of the harvested grapes is not permitted. For example, no sugar may be added.
3. The yield per hectare must be limited to a maximum of 9,000 kilos of grapes / 6,750 litres of wine
4. Must weight must be officially checked (of the picked grapes)
5. Eiswein may not bear any other prädikatswein indication on the label (for example trockenbeerenauslese)
6. Eiswein can be sold from May 1 after the harvest
7. The grapes for Eiswein should be harvested at -7 degrees or colder
8. The grapes must have a minimum content of 125 Oechsle at harvest and must be pressed while still naturally frozen
9. The wine must not be enriched with oak chips

If you receive or buy a Prädikats Eiswein, you are assured of an Eiswein that has been made with care and in accordance with the applicable regulations.