German wine drinkers favor dry varieties, white wines dominate

The German wine market is increasingly favoring dry varieties, with a notable shift away from sweeter options. Last year, 53 percent of all German quality and predicate wines were offered in a dry taste profile, according to the German Wine Institute (DWI). This trend marks a continued increase, with dry wines' share growing from 48 percent in 2020 and just 40 percent in 2010.

“

The trend towards dry wines and white wines in Germany continues.

The preference for less sweetness extends to sparkling wines as well. Currently, 54 percent of quality-tested Sekt (German sparkling wine) are classified as 'brut' to 'brut nature,' a significant rise from every second bottle five years ago. This growing demand for dry wines has led to a decline in the popularity of semi-sweet and sweet wines.

“

The share of dry wines was still only 40 percent in 2010.

White wines now dominate the German wine landscape, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the quality and predicate wine offerings last year, a slight increase from the previous year. In contrast, red wine's share has fallen to 17 percent, with rosé making up 13 percent. This represents a substantial shift from 15 years ago when red wine constituted 33 percent of the market.

“

The trend towards less sweetness is also recognizable with sparkling wines.