German wine is typically associated with Riesling, the nation’s most heralded and widely planted grape. Yet, beyond Riesling’s bright glare, Germany boasts a diversity of intriguing white wines and if you know what you are looking for you can get great wines at great prices.  Red Wines though fewer in number contain some remakable gems.

In Rheinhessen, varieties like Silvaner, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc grow alongside Riesling. In Franken, Silvaner reigns supreme, while in Baden, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are dominant. Additionally, developments in cross-breeding have introduced varieties like Scheurebe, Müller-Thurgau and Bacchus.