To Find the Best German Wine, Look For the VDP Eagle

Let’s face it, unless you're fluent in German, trying to decipher a German wine label can be daunting. Between the umlauts, lengthy compound words, and classifications based on grape ripeness levels, even seasoned wine enthusiasts might be puzzled.

However, there's a symbol that cuts through the confusion: a golden eagle clutching a cluster of grapes. It represents the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP), an association of Germany's top estates committed to producing wines of the highest quality. When you spot this eagle on a bottle, it's a reliable indicator that the wine was crafted with exceptional care and precision.

A symbol of heritage and quality

The eagle has long been a symbol of Germany. It represents strength, unity, and tradition. The VDP adopted the emblem to signify its dedication to uphold and advance the country's winemaking heritage. The grape cluster emphasizes the organization's focus on viticultural excellence.

Founded in 1910, the VDP began as a response to widespread fraud and inconsistency in German wine. A handful of producers came together to protect what they called “natural wine” (made without additives). Over the decades, it evolved into a national standard-bearer for quality. Today, the organization includes more than 200 producers from all 13 of Germany’s winegrowing regions.

It’s a highly selective group. Membership is by invitation only, and producers must meet rigorous criteria around yield control, sustainable farming, hand-harvesting, and estate bottling. “You can’t apply to join the VDP — you have to be asked,” says Caro Maurer, MW. “It’s a decision made by the members themselves.”

Inside the VDP Weinbörse

Maurer was on hand at VDP's annual Weinbörse during late April in Mainz, Germany. Held each spring, this event gathers wine professionals, journalists, and buyers from around the world to taste the newest vintage from every VDP member. It's one of the best ways to experience the scope of VDP wines across rows of tasting tables, and where you can see Germany’s wine future take shape in real time.

Over the last few decades, the association has remained dynamic, though the total number of members remains largely consistent. More than 100 producers have departed, whether due to estate sales, closures, or reputational issues, while 142 new members have joined. “That shows how dynamic and self-regulating the organization really is,” says Maurer.

From small boutique vineyards to Germany's largest estate of 620 acres, the VDP represents a wide range, but a shared standard of excellence. 

“VDP is not the 200 best wineries in Germany, it’s 200 of the best wineries — there’s a difference,” says Maurer.

Some members trace their roots over centuries, like Schloss Vollrads, which has documented wine sales back to 1211. Others, like Weingut Dr. Hermann (established in 1967), are relatively young, but they’ve proven themselves through quality and consistency.

Germany’s most exclusive wine club

One of the VDP’s newest members, added in January 2025, Weingut Dr. Hermann is a Riesling-focused estate in the Mosel Valley with more than 22 acres of steep, rocky vineyards, managed by Christian Hermann. Though winegrowing has been part of the Hermann family for generations, the estate was formed after the division of the historic Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben in Ürzig property. 

“It has always been a dream to become a member,” said Wendy Elsink of Weingut Dr. Hermann as she poured during the 2025 VDP Weinbörse. “The VDP is really a name in Germany. For consumers, it’s like a seal of confidence, especially when the German wine law is seen as complicated. This makes it much easier.”

The VDP’s vineyard classification, explained

To help consumers, the VDP introduced its own vineyard classification system in the early 2000s, inspired by Burgundy. It prioritizes terroir over sugar ripeness, and it offers a clear hierarchy.

• VDP.Gutswein: Regionally sourced entry-level estate wines
• VDP.Ortswein: Village-level wines from superior sites
• VDP.Erste Lage: Premier Cru vineyards with a proven track record
• VDP.Grosse Lage: Grand Cru sites that produce the estate's finest, most expressive wines

Dry wines from Grosse Lage sites are labeled VDP.Grosses Gewächs (GG). These are powerfully structured, cellarworthy wines, typically made from Riesling or Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), that showcase the best of what a vineyard can offer.

While Riesling is still the backbone of VDP production, it’s far from the only grape. The association includes benchmark producers of Silvaner in Franken, Pinot Noir in the Ahr and Baden, and Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Lemberger in Württemberg. German Sekt (sparkling wine) is also on the rise, as traditional-method bottlings gain traction.

Though Germany has roughly 250,000 acres under vine, only about 15,000 acres, roughly 6%, are cultivated by VDP estates. But within that 6% are some of the country’s most iconic and expressive wines.

“The VDP classification only applies to its members,” says Maurer. “It’s a private system, but it sets a benchmark the rest of Germany increasingly looks to.”

More than just a badge of quality, the golden eagle signifies trust, terroir, and the dynamic legacy of German wine.

So, the next time that you navigate a wine shop or restaurant list and come across a bottle with that eagle on the label, you’re in good hands. Let the eagle guide you.