by Joel B. Payne

Germany’s most popular grape varietal, Riesling, continued to gain ground again last year. According to a report just released by the German Department of Statistics, 21,722 hectares were planted with the iconic German varietal, bringing its total to 21.3% of the country’s 102,026 hectares of vineyard area. That is 500 hectares more than in 2006.

With 5,272 hectares, the Mosel remains the largest Riesling growing region, with the Pfalz closing in fast at 5,248 hectares. According to Monika Reule, managing director of the German Wine Institute, 60% of the world’s Riesling plantations are located in Germany. She attributes the continued growth to “the rising demand, especially in export markets.”

Although Riesling is by far the most widely planted white wine varietal, the major change over the past generation has been the shift to red wine plantings, which now account for 36.8% (37.674 ha) of all German vineyards, almost triple the area in 1982.

According to the statistics just released, there are currently over 100 different grapes varieties planted in Germany, ten of which account for three fourths of all plantings.