Premiere of the German GG's 2021

An extraordinary and unique event

"You have to do it like Roquefort" - this is exactly what no less than Hugh Johnson himself recommended to the VDP ((the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates) more than 20 years ago, when the Association was preparing to catapult itself back onto the stage of the world's great wines. The vision: a clearly outlined and consistent implementation of a designation of origin for German wines. Roquefort was the first "appellation" that prescribed in which area, from which sheep, in which cave, and how long matured a "cheese" could finally call itself Roquefort. This demarcation ultimately helped the noble mouldy product to achieve world fame. Everything else (Cheddar, for example) is just "cheese" - Hugh Johnson said with a smile.

On the eve of the premiere of the Grosse Gewächse in Wiesbaden, the VDP honours the founders and members of it’s association with a beautifully made image film, its 20th anniversary, and provides insights into the development of today's 4-level site classification pyramid: Gutswein, Ortswein, Erste Lage and Große Lage. It is a tribute and a touching document to the newly increased self-confidence of the association, which was practically on the brink of collapse after bitter historical setbacks. The VDP pin of honour was awarded posthumously to Bernhard Breuer, who was one of the most consistent advocates of the strict implementation of classification.
Theresa Breuer found touching words of thanks, and simply wished her father could stand here and witness this. Like a phoenix from the ashes, - or from the Roquefort cave, a new era of German wine is rising. Dry wine, of course.