Wine · Terminology

Qualitätswein

Germany and Austria's mainstream quality tier — from one named region, and chaptalisation is allowed.

Qualitätswein — historically Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete, QbA — is Germany's mainstream quality tier: wine from one of the 13 designated regions (Anbaugebiete), from approved varieties, meeting a minimum must weight, and passing an official analytical and sensory test.

The dividing line from the tier above is chaptalisation: a Qualitätswein may be enriched with sugar to raise its alcohol; a Prädikatswein may not.

In practice

  • The 13 regions include Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Nahe, Baden, Franken and others.
  • Every bottle carries an AP number (Amtliche Prüfungsnummer) proving it passed the official examination.
  • Under EU law, Qualitätswein and Prädikatswein are both PDO; the German hierarchy sits inside that.
  • Austria uses the same term, with its own regional system and the DAC scheme layered on top.

Where you'll meet it

  • Most everyday German wine on export shelves.
  • The Germany and Austria country guides.
  • The tier immediately above Landwein, the German PGI level.

The German pyramid

Tier EU category Chaptalisation Notes
Deutscher Wein Wine Permitted No region stated
Landwein PGI Permitted 26 broad areas; usually dry or off-dry
Qualitätswein PDO Permitted One of 13 regions; AP number
Prädikatswein PDO Forbidden Six ripeness levels

Running alongside it, and often more informative, is the VDP classification — a private growers' association that ranks by vineyard site rather than must weight, in deliberate imitation of Burgundy.

Austria's version

Austrian Qualitätswein requires a Staatliche Prüfnummer, and adds the DAC system on top: a DAC wine is a Qualitätswein that also conforms to a regional typicity profile — specified grapes, style and often ageing. A wine that doesn't fit the DAC profile is sold under the broader regional name instead.

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