Wining and dining around Germany

Word got out long ago that exclusive German wines can now be found on wine lists all over the country, no longer just in the wine-making regions, and that they are growing in popularity. Wine merchants, wine bars and restaurants with fine wine lists as well as glittering wine events can now be found in many German towns and cities.
In Berlin Restaurant Sachs' short but excellent wine list is popular with German wine lovers. The "Alpenstück" serves modern German cuisine and most of the wines in its specialist selection are German. For a representative choice of Württemberg wines, try the "Württemberger Weinhaus" in the city's Charlottenburg district. "Die Quadriga", the Hotel Brandenburger Hof's restaurant, describes its wine list as a treasure trove of German wines. As the recipient of many awards, the restaurant certainly knows its way around German wine. With 850 wines on the list, diners can choose from over 450 rieslings, 120 pinot noirs and a host of other grape varieties, all the best vintages from the best vineyard sites in Germany. This restaurant, Hotel Königshof in München and Hotel Louis C. Jakob in Hamburg have won the Gault Millau Guide to German Wines' best wine list award.

In München the "Alter Hof" wine shop stocks a fine selection of Franconian wines, the "Pfälzer Residenz" wine bar specialises in wines from the German Wine Route region and "Käfer-Schenke" restaurant serves fine food as well as top-quality German wines.

The ancient "Ratskeller" restaurant in Bremer stocks what is probably the world's widest selection of fine German wines. The restaurant has sold wine since 1405 and 1,200 different wines from all 13 growing regions dating back to 1653 are now stored in its cellars beneath Bremen's old town. Its vaults traditionally hold outstanding bottles from every vintage - a priceless collection that includes over 100 different "Trockenbeerenauslese" wines alone.

"Ständige Vertretung", a Rhenish restaurant in Hamburg not only serves Rhenish "kölsch" beer but also German wines. German wine can also be enjoyed at the "Port" restaurant in the "Hafen Hamburg" hotel overlooking the harbour. The "Kleinhuis" restaurant in the "Baseler Hof" hotel serves contemporary German cuisine with many German wines served by the glass to accompany it.

"Auerbachs Keller" in Leipzig has been one of the most famous restaurants in the world since Goethe's time. The historical tavern offers a selection of fine red and white German wines.

Every year, the Mercure hotel chain holds a huge wine tasting and compiles a new list of "grands vins de Mercure" featuring German wines. As a result, wine drinkers at its 140 city-centre and holiday hotels have an excellent selection to choose from.