First Growth

Erstes Gewächs

First introduced in 1999 with the class name for dry wines in the German wine-growing area Rheingau from classified top sites, the so-called first principles. This designation is available to other growing areas not open to this, mutatis mutandis, to use the identical name large greenhouse . This is due to the fact, because of the Rheingau wine-growing region as a single before the year 2002 were VDP classification In 1999, legally authorized label and First Growth regulation had created a state of Hesse is a registered label. There are only permitted varieties Riesling and Pinot Noir, especially coming from prime vineyards. These are sharply demarcated plots (frogs) of the classified documents. This classification was based on scientific criteria with the Research Institute Geisenheim developed. Were classified parts of 79 of a total of 123 positions Rheingau. Due to the cultivation and production criteria and the sensory test, as First Growth, however, only about 3% of the total harvest classified.

General conditions are produced from Producers bottling Gutsabfüllung or taste in dry areas, low-hectare yield (up to six eyes per sqm, up to 50 hl / ha), hand-picking and at least late in proper reading must weight. The guidelines are for Riesling wines at least 12% alcohol content and a maximum of 13 g / l residual sugar (VDP general since 2005 is 9 g / l). First presentations for common plants and big plants are 9 g / l, so that each VDP Rheingau operating decisions with respect to the residual sugar. For Pinot Noir wines that are at least 13% of total alcohol content by volume and a maximum of 6 g / l residual sugar. The wines have a special sensory Testing complete, the earliest on 1 May of the following year is possible. Will be commercialized earlier than 1 September of the following year allowed. Already on the market wines can be re-examined and prohibits negative result in further commercialization. The filled in the Rheingau wine bottles with the Schlegel VDP capsule on the bottle label bear the text "First Growth" with three Romanesque arches double on a black background. See also Charter Rheingau .

In February 2012 was the Rheingau wine-growing association of the Hessian state government the request is made, the § 10 of the Regulations under the Hessian wine law and the fight against phylloxera (HAVO) regarding changes to the "award of quality marks." The goal is the previous name "First Growth" in the from VDP been used exclusively " Large greenhouse "to rename. A decision is still open.