GG stands for “Grosses Gewächs,” which translates to “great growth” in English. It is a term used to denote the highest quality level of dry, single-variety wines from Germany's top vineyards. These vineyards, known as Grosse Lage, are considered to be the equivalent of grand cru vineyards in France's Burgundy region. The GG designation is a way to distinguish these exceptional wines and highlight their prestigious origins.
When you come across a German wine labeled with GG, you can be sure that it is a wine of utmost quality and craftsmanship. These wines are made exclusively from grapes grown in the designated vineyard and must adhere to strict quality standards. The GG wines are typically made in a dry style, emphasizing the expression of the grape variety and the unique characteristics of the vineyard.
To provide further information and transparency, GG-labeled wines are required to include the grape variety and the name of the vineyard from which they are made on the label. This allows consumers to have a clear understanding of what they are drinking and where it comes from. For example, if you see a wine labeled “GG Riesling Mosel,” you know that it is a dry Riesling wine from a top vineyard in the Mosel region of Germany.
The GG designation is not granted to every wine produced in a Grosse Lage vineyard. The wines must go through a rigorous selection process, ensuring that only the best wines receive the GG label. This selection process involves blind tastings by a panel of experts, who evaluate the wines based on their quality, typicity, and ability to age.
It is important to note that the GG designation is specific to dry wines. In Germany, wine styles vary from dry to sweet, and the GG category focuses solely on dry wines. If you come across a German wine labeled with other terms like Kabinett, Spätlese, or Auslese, these indicate different levels of sweetness in the wine.
As a sommelier, I have had the pleasure of tasting several GG wines from different regions in Germany. One particular experience that stands out is when I tried a GG Riesling from the Rheingau region. The wine had a beautiful balance of acidity and fruitiness, with pronounced flavors of ripe peach, citrus, and a hint of minerality. It was a wine of great complexity and elegance, showcasing the unique characteristics of the Rheingau vineyard.
GG on a German wine label signifies a dry, single-variety wine from Germany's top vineyards, known as Grosse Lage. These wines are of the highest quality and must meet stringent standards to receive the GG designation. They are labeled with the grape variety and the name of the vineyard, providing transparency and allowing consumers to appreciate the distinctiveness of these exceptional wines.