Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter

Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter e.V. or the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates, is an organisation where most (but not all) of Germany's top wine producers are members. It is commonly known under its acronym VDP. Its membership includes about 200 wine estates and it was founded in 1910 as "Verband Deutscher Naturweinversteigerer e.V.", Association of German Natural (i.e. not chaptalized) Wine Auctioneers. It consists of 13 regional associations, one for each region in the German wine classification system.

In order to be a VDP member, a wine estate must adhere to certain standards which are slightly more stringent than those set down in the German wine law. VDP members may (and almost always do) use the VDP logotype, a stylized eagle with a cluster of grapes, on their wine bottles. Also, the members have access to the new VDP-specific classifications "Erste Lage" and "Grosses Gewächs" for top dry wines that fulfill the requirements. VDP and its regional associations also arrange German wine auctions and various marketing events.

Especially in the Mosel region, where the regional VDP association is known as "Grosser Ring", several well-renowned wine estates are instead members of "Bernkasteler Ring", which arranges similar auctions and marketing evens.

Estates

(as per May 2007):

ee also

*German wine label

External links

* [http://www.vdp.de/ VDP website]