Resources & Links:
Sign up for the Wine Educate newsletter – weekly study tips and resources for Levels 1, 2, and 3 www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup

Episode Overview:

Welcome to Episode 65! This episode continues our wine law series with a deep dive into German wine laws at the WSET Level 3 level. If you haven’t already, be sure to listen to Episode 64 for the Level 2 overview first—this builds directly on that foundation.

In today’s episode, we go beyond the ripeness categories and start exploring the historical and political context behind Germany’s evolving classification system. From the sweeping 1971 wine law to the emergence of the VDP, and the 2021 governmental shift toward site-specific quality labeling, there’s a lot to unpack.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• A quick review of Germany’s long wine history and how vineyard sites were historically identified and mapped

• The 1971 Wine Law and why it wiped out recognition of many of the smaller, high-quality vineyard sites

• The role of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) and its own private classification system modeled after Burgundy

• Key terms:

  • Erste Lage, Grosse Lage, and Grosses Gewächs (GG)

  • How VDP members maintain higher quality standards than the legal minimum

• The 2021 German Wine Law changes, influenced by the VDP, that introduce a new quality pyramid based on geographic origin rather than just must weight

• How to spot a GG wine and why they’re worth seeking out

• Tips for understanding the difference between Prädikat levels and origin-based classification

• A reminder that wine laws are not static—they evolve, and it’s exciting to see systems like Germany’s adapt and improve

Study Tip of the Week (Level 3):
Wine laws do show up on the exam—and in many different ways. Even though we don’t have time to cover them in depth during class, I’m using the podcast to give you the background and context that can really help you absorb the material. Share this episode with your fellow classmates if you're currently in a Level 3 course. It all starts with today’s episode.

Resources & Links:
Sign up for the Wine Educate Newsletter – the hub for all upcoming classes, study tools, and wine trips:
👉 www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup

How to Contact Us:
Email: joanne@wineeducate.com
Website: www.wineeducate.com
Instagram: @wineeducate

Wine Educate Podcast – Episode 64
German Wine Laws (Level 2 Overview)

Welcome to Episode 64 of the Wine Educate Podcast. In this episode, host Joanne Close dives into one of the most confusing—but fascinating—topics in WSET Level 2: German Wine Laws.

Whether you’re just starting your wine studies or deep into Level 3 prep, this episode will walk you through the core classifications used in Germany, including how to interpret wine styles based on sugar levels and labeling clues.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The three main quality levels covered in Level 2:
  Landwein, Qualitätswein, and Prädikatswein

• The six Prädikat categories, from Kabinett to Trockenbeerenauslese

• Labeling terms like Trocken and Halbtrocken and how to spot dry vs. sweet styles

• Hacks for using alcohol percentage and label clues to figure out sweetness levels

Joanne shares helpful context on why sugar levels matter so much in a cool climate like Germany, and how those rules evolved. Plus, she offers practical advice on how to confidently read a German wine label—and what to do when you’re faced with a Riesling decision at the wine shop.

Homework:
Visit your local bottle shop and look at their German wine selection.
Can you identify whether a wine is likely to be dry or sweet using the label terms and alcohol percentage? Pick one up and give it a try!

Up Next:
In Thursday’s episode, Joanne returns with a deeper dive into the German Wine Laws at the Level 3 level. If you’re currently studying for Level 3 or just love going deeper with your wine knowledge, you won’t want to miss it.

See you Thursday!

Resources & Links:

• Sign up for the Newsletter – Get weekly Level 1, 2 & 3 tips, podcast links, and study resources www.wineeducate.com/newsletter-signup

What happens if you’re given a sweet white wine on the Level 3 tasting exam?

In Episode 63, Joanne shares a smart (and easy to miss) strategy for the order in which you taste the wines during the exam—especially if one of them is a sweet/luscious style like Sauternes or Tokaji.

Most students instinctively begin with the white wine, but if that white is sweet, it can completely overwhelm your palate and throw off your ability to assess the red wine accurately. That sugar will mute fruit, distort tannin perception, and make the red seem more acidic and bitter than it really is.

Joanne walks through:

• Why you should consider tasting the red before the white in some cases

• Clues to help you identify a sweet wine without tasting it

• How to avoid tanking the red wine analysis due to a sugar-loaded first impression

• What to look for: deep gold color, honeyed aromas, and slow, viscous legs

This is the kind of small but powerful exam-day detail that can save you critical points. Whether you’re weeks away from your Level 3 tasting or just starting to prep, tuck this tip in your back pocket—you’ll be glad you did.

Next week, we kick off a brand-new series on Wine Laws, starting with Germany. If you’ve ever struggled with understanding European labeling or regional classifications, this one’s for you.

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