Stargarder Land (wine region)
Encyclopedia
Stargarder Land is a small region for country wine
in northeastern Germany, which was defined in an amendment to the German wine law
on 4 March 2004. Located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, approximately 100 km north of Berlin, it is by far the northernmost official wine-growing area of Germany. The designation Mecklenburger Landwein is used for country wines from this region.
In two respects, Stargarder Land is different from all other wine regions in Germany. First, the 13 well-established German wine
regions (usually referred to as Anbaugebiete) are all allowed to produce wine of all quality levels of the German wine classification
, while Stargarder Land is only allowed to produce wines belonging to the lower part – Tafelwein (table wine) and Landwein (country wine
) – and not the higher "quality wine" categories Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) and Prädikatswein. Since the name of the wine region is always displayed prominently on the labels
of German quality wines, but not the lesser categories, this is a significant difference. Second, Stargarder Land is only 3.7 hectares (9.1 acre) in size, which would be small even for a single vineyard site in other regions. The smallest of the 13 regions for quality wine is Saxony
, which in 2006 had 416 hectares (1,028 acre) of vineyards, and the largest was Rheinhessen
with 26281 hectares (64,941.7 acre). Thus, Stargarder Land is something of a newly created oddity in the German wine regulations, and the region is generally not considered as Germany's 14th Anbaugebiet, but rather as a smaller district which leads its own existence outside the regions.
The region's wine is produced by two small winemaking cooperative
s, one in Rattey (Schloss Rattey) operating 3.5 hectares (8.6 acre) and one in Burg Stargard
on 0.2 hectare (0.494210326030552 acre). The amount of wine produced is so small that it is not sold commercially, but rather handed out as dividend to the members of the cooperatives.
, Blauer Spätburgunder, Huxelrebe
, Müller-Thurgau
, Phoenix
, Ortega
and Regent
. Approximately two thirds of the production consists of red wine varieties. The 2008 statistics recorded rounded-off figures of 1 hectares (2.5 acre) each for Ortega, Phoenix and Regent, and less than 1 ha for the other four allowed varieties.
in the region apparently dates from 1853. Documentation of a viticultural tradition was necessary in order to be defined as a wine region in 2004.
The modern history of the region takes its beginning in 1999, when an association of "private winemakers" in Rattey was formed. In 2001, the Agricultural ministry of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was petitioned to grant Stargarder Land official status.
Because of the "wine lake
", the European Union
operates a system of planting rights to vineyards, where new vineyards only are allowed if planting rights are transferred from another vineyard where the vines are ripped up. EU applies this system to each member state, and in the German implementation of this system, the planting rights have been divided out by the federal German government to the wine-growing German states. This meant that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern didn't have any planting rights, and only could acquire such rights if they were transferred from another state. As a solution, Rhineland-Palatinate
, where over 60% of the German vineyard surface (or over 60,000 ha) is situated, gave up 3.7 hectare of its planting rights. Thus, under present wine regulations, Stargarder Land is prohibited from growing in size.
Country wine
Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients ; they may also have additional flavours taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs. This definition is sometimes broadened to include any fermented alcoholic beverage except beer...
in northeastern Germany, which was defined in an amendment to the German wine law
Wine law
Wine laws are legislation regulating various aspects of production and sales of wine. The purpose of wine laws includes combating wine fraud, by means of regulated protected designations of origin, labelling practices and classification of wine, as well as regulating allowed additives and...
on 4 March 2004. Located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, approximately 100 km north of Berlin, it is by far the northernmost official wine-growing area of Germany. The designation Mecklenburger Landwein is used for country wines from this region.
In two respects, Stargarder Land is different from all other wine regions in Germany. First, the 13 well-established German wine
German wine
German wine is primarily produced in the west of Germany, along the river Rhine and its tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman era. Approximately 60 percent of the German wine production is situated in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where 6 of the 13 regions ...
regions (usually referred to as Anbaugebiete) are all allowed to produce wine of all quality levels of the German wine classification
German wine classification
German wine classification consists of several quality categories and is often the source of some confusion, especially among non-German speaking wine consumers. The official classification is set down in the wine law of 1971, although some changes and amendments have been made since then...
, while Stargarder Land is only allowed to produce wines belonging to the lower part – Tafelwein (table wine) and Landwein (country wine
Country wine
Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients ; they may also have additional flavours taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs. This definition is sometimes broadened to include any fermented alcoholic beverage except beer...
) – and not the higher "quality wine" categories Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) and Prädikatswein. Since the name of the wine region is always displayed prominently on the labels
German Wine Label
A German wine label can offer a wealth of information for the consumer, despite the reputation they traditionally have of confusing laymen. , MSNBC Life Style editor describes German wine labels as a "thicket of exotic words and abbreviations" that require "the vinous equivalent of Cliff notes to...
of German quality wines, but not the lesser categories, this is a significant difference. Second, Stargarder Land is only 3.7 hectares (9.1 acre) in size, which would be small even for a single vineyard site in other regions. The smallest of the 13 regions for quality wine is Saxony
Saxony (wine region)
Saxony is a region for quality wine in Germany located in the German federal state of Saxony. The region is sometimes referred to colloquially as the Elbtal . The wine region covers , which makes it Germany's third smallest region, just ahead of Mittelrhein and Hessische Bergstraße in size...
, which in 2006 had 416 hectares (1,028 acre) of vineyards, and the largest was Rheinhessen
Rheinhessen (wine region)
Rheinhessen is the largest of 13 German wine regions for quality wines with under cultivation in 2008. Named for the traditional region of Rhenish Hesse, it lies on the left bank of the River Rhine between Worms and Bingen in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate...
with 26281 hectares (64,941.7 acre). Thus, Stargarder Land is something of a newly created oddity in the German wine regulations, and the region is generally not considered as Germany's 14th Anbaugebiet, but rather as a smaller district which leads its own existence outside the regions.
The region's wine is produced by two small winemaking cooperative
Winemaking cooperative
A winemaking cooperative is an agricultural cooperative which is involved in winemaking, and which in similarity to other cooperatives is owned by its members...
s, one in Rattey (Schloss Rattey) operating 3.5 hectares (8.6 acre) and one in Burg Stargard
Burg Stargard
Burg Stargard is a municipality in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated southeast of Neubrandenburg.Burg Stargard is a small town in Mecklenburg Strelitz...
on 0.2 hectare (0.494210326030552 acre). The amount of wine produced is so small that it is not sold commercially, but rather handed out as dividend to the members of the cooperatives.
Grape varieties
Seven grape varieties are allowed in the region: Blauer PortugieserBlauer Portugieser
Blauer Portugieser is a red Austrian and German wine grape found primarily in the Rheinhessen, Pfalz and wine regions of Lower Austria. It is also one of the permitted grapes in the Hungarian wine Egri Bikavér . In Germany, the cultivated area covered or 4.5% of the total vineyard area in 2007...
, Blauer Spätburgunder, Huxelrebe
Huxelrebe
Huxelrebe is a white grape used for wine. Huxelrebe is primarily found in Germany, where the cultivated area covered in 2006, with a decreasing trend. It is primarily found in the German wine regions Rheinhessen, Palatinate and Nahe. Small plantations are also found in England.- Properties...
, Müller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau is a variety of white grape which was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. It is used to make white wine in Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Hungary, England, in Australia, Czech Republic, Slovakia,...
, Phoenix
Phoenix (grape)
Phoenix is a white variety of grape of German origin used for wine. It was created by Dr. Gerhardt Alleweldt at the Geilweilerhof Institute for Grape Breeding in Siebeldingen in 1964, by crossing the Vitis vinifera variety Bacchus with the hybrid grape Villard Blanc.In 2008, there were of Phoenix...
, Ortega
Ortega (grape)
Ortega is a grape variety used for white wine. It was created in 1948 by Hans Breider at the Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Wein-, Obst- und Gartenbau in Würzburg and was released with varietal protection in 1981. It is a cross between Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe...
and Regent
Regent (grape)
Regent is a dark-skinned inter-specific hybrid grape variety, used for making wine. It has both European and American vine species in its pedigree and a broad resistance against the most significant fungal diseases which affect grapes, such as downy mildew.Regent was created in 1967 by Professor...
. Approximately two thirds of the production consists of red wine varieties. The 2008 statistics recorded rounded-off figures of 1 hectares (2.5 acre) each for Ortega, Phoenix and Regent, and less than 1 ha for the other four allowed varieties.
History
The region is said to have 800 years of wine growing history, although presumably on a smaller scale most of this time, since professional viticultureViticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
in the region apparently dates from 1853. Documentation of a viticultural tradition was necessary in order to be defined as a wine region in 2004.
The modern history of the region takes its beginning in 1999, when an association of "private winemakers" in Rattey was formed. In 2001, the Agricultural ministry of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was petitioned to grant Stargarder Land official status.
Because of the "wine lake
Wine lake
The wine lake refers to the continuing supply surplus of wine produced in the European Union. A major contributor to that glut is the Languedoc-Roussillon, which produces over one-third of the grapes grown in France. In 2007 it was reported that for the previous several vintages, European...
", the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
operates a system of planting rights to vineyards, where new vineyards only are allowed if planting rights are transferred from another vineyard where the vines are ripped up. EU applies this system to each member state, and in the German implementation of this system, the planting rights have been divided out by the federal German government to the wine-growing German states. This meant that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern didn't have any planting rights, and only could acquire such rights if they were transferred from another state. As a solution, Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, where over 60% of the German vineyard surface (or over 60,000 ha) is situated, gave up 3.7 hectare of its planting rights. Thus, under present wine regulations, Stargarder Land is prohibited from growing in size.