What does Prädikatswein mean?

Prädikatswein is the German and Austrian quality level where the grapes' ripeness at harvest earns the wine a Prädikat, from Kabinett to Trockenbeerenauslese.

Also known as: Qualitätswein mit Prädikat, QmP

Prädikatswein is a quality level in Germany and Austria where the wine receives a Prädikat, a distinction based on how ripe the grapes were at harvest. Ripeness is measured as the weight of the grape must in degrees Oechsle. Until 2007 the German level was called Qualitätswein mit Prädikat.

The German Prädikate are, in rising order of ripeness, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese. Spätlese means late harvest, Auslese selected bunches and Beerenauslese selected overripe berries, often affected by noble rot. Eiswein is made from grapes picked and pressed while frozen, and Trockenbeerenauslese from raisin-like berries shrivelled by noble rot.

A Prädikatswein may not be chaptalised, meaning no sugar may be added before fermentation. The Prädikat describes the ripeness of the grapes, not automatically the sweetness of the wine. A Kabinett or Spätlese can be dry, usually marked trocken on the label, while Beerenauslese, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese are almost always sweet.

Like Qualitätswein, the wine must pass an official analysis and tasting. In Austria the Prädikate start at Spätlese, as Kabinett counts as Qualitätswein there, and also include Strohwein and Ruster Ausbruch.