VDP

VDP

Today's "Association of German Wine Estates" was founded in 1910 under the name "Association of German Nature wine auctioneer eV". This was done at the initiative of the mayor of Trier (Rhineland-Palatinate) Albert of Bruchhausen (1859-1948), who was also the first president of the association. Model and the predecessor was founded two years earlier association Large ring VDP Mosel . The founding members were clubs from different areas. At that time the goal was to produce wines of quality standards for particular members on Auctions sale. In 1972, a switch from a "federation of auction clubs" to a "federation of wineries". A name change to "Association of German quality wine and quality wine estates eV" with revised targets in 1990. President, Michael Prinz zu Salm-Salm. In 1994, the abandonment of the large position control decided and introduced regular operating controls. The VDP manifesto was adopted in 1996 to ensure the wine heritage for the future. Uniform classification standards for plants German origin were introduced in 1998. As the name for use in the marketing turned out to be too long and cumbersome, occurred in 2000 a change in the "Association of German Prädikatsweingüter eV" In the press and in the ads is the abbreviation 'VDP - The VDP ". 2002, a three-level, 2012 was an extended four- VDP classification adopted.

Main goals of the VDP are image building, promotion of quality pursuit, regulating the sale and claim to represent members from other associations. The VDP VDP are the elite of the German wine producers. As of early 2012 there were 196 member companies, which are organized into local chapters by production area. The highest authority is a federal Bureau. In July 2007, the VDP General Assembly chose Steffen Christmann Arnold as a successor to the incumbent for 17 years Michael Prinz zu Salm-Salm, unanimously elected President and decided to expand to seven members of the Presidium. Besides Michael Graf Adelmann (Württemberg) and Reinhard Prince Loewenstein (Mosel) as Vice-Presidents are Armin Schlossgut Diel (Nahe), Paul Prince Rudolf (CHF), Joachim Dr. Heger (Baden) and William Because Robert (Rheingau) represented. Christmann named as the most important tasks of the VDP guide the consistent implementation of the classification, and the clarification of modern quality standards. In addition, the Mitgliedsbestriebe for Sustainability are sensitized in viticulture.

Membership in the VDP is awarded only after a longer testing phase. Members must agree to abide by stringent quality standards with higher standards than in the German wine law. These are lower yield , higher weight must hand and read from the title selection . The vineyard must be located in prime locations and have at least one component of 80% of the traditional varieties of the respective regions. It must be used for environmentally friendly methods. With the association Naturland was a concept for Organic Viticulture and targeted organic fertilization natural humus supply is promoted in the vineyard. The membership must at least every five years to be confirmed by recent VDP controls. The wines need to label and capsule the VDP characters wear (coat with black eagle). The proportion of VDP is wineries with 4,000 acres but only about four percent of German vineyards, the proportion of quality and quality wines is considerably higher. The VDP goods are on average since nearly eight generations of family ownership. The VDP is a winery membership classification. See the rules for layers and wines under VDP classification .