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| Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete – QbA |
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QbA wine must come from one of Germany's thirteen official growing regions. The grapes are usually not at a very high level of ripeness and chaptalization is allowed, which means sugar may be added to the unfermented grapes to increase the final alcohol level (but not necessarily to increase sweetness). This is a very common quality level and with a production of 5.9 million hl in 2005 (German Wine Institute), it is the most widely available German wine quality level.
Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete, abbreviated QbA. They are quality wines from one of the 13 specified wine-growing regions (Mosel, Ahr, Baden, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Mittelrhein, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg) and they must fulfill the following conditions:
• be produced exclusively from German produce from the legally recognized roster of grapes permitted in Germany,
grown in one of the 13 specified wine-growing regions; the region must be declared on the label
• must reach a natural alcohol content corresponding to a must weight between 51 and 72o Oechsle (depending on
region and grape variety)
• must reach an existing alcohol content of at least 7% by volume
The alcohol content of these wines may be strengthened prior to fermentation by chaptalization.
There is a grade Riesling-Hochgewächs:within QbA quality range which is exclusively for gapes of the Riesling variety;
Riesling-Hochgewächs: a 100% Riesling QbA with at least 1.5% more natural alcohol (= ca. 10o Oechsle) than the minimum required by law. The wines must achieve at least three points during the official quality control examination compared with the normal minimum of 1.5 points.
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