Niederlausitz (wine region)
Encyclopedia
Niederlausitz is a small region for table wine
and country wine
in eastern Germany
, which was defined in an amendment to the German wine law
in 2007. It is located in Brandenburg
, which is the federal state surrounding Berlin
. The designation Brandenburger Landwein is used for country wines from this region.
Niederlausitz is not part of the 13 well-established German wine
regions for quality wine (usually referred to as Anbaugebiete), and is located to the north of all of them, but south of Stargarder Land
, which was defined in 2004. This means that Niederlausitz wineries are not allowed allowed to produce wine of all quality levels of the German wine classification
. Only the lower part - Tafelwein (table wine) and Landwein (country wine
) - and not the higher "quality wine" categories Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) and Prädikatswein may be produced.
Currently, the Niederlausitz region covers only 11 hectares (27.2 acre) of vineyards spread out over 14 locations. A peculiar aspect of the Niederlausitz region is that some of the vineyards are planted in former coal strip mines
.
Table wine
Table wine is a wine term with two different meanings: a wine style; and a quality level within wine classification.In the United States, table wine primarily designates a wine style - ordinary wine which is neither fortified nor sparkling....
and country wine
Country wine
Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients ; they may also have additional flavours taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs. This definition is sometimes broadened to include any fermented alcoholic beverage except beer...
in eastern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which was defined in an amendment to the German wine law
Wine law
Wine laws are legislation regulating various aspects of production and sales of wine. The purpose of wine laws includes combating wine fraud, by means of regulated protected designations of origin, labelling practices and classification of wine, as well as regulating allowed additives and...
in 2007. It is located in Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, which is the federal state surrounding Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The designation Brandenburger Landwein is used for country wines from this region.
Niederlausitz is not part of the 13 well-established German wine
German wine
German wine is primarily produced in the west of Germany, along the river Rhine and its tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman era. Approximately 60 percent of the German wine production is situated in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where 6 of the 13 regions ...
regions for quality wine (usually referred to as Anbaugebiete), and is located to the north of all of them, but south of Stargarder Land
Stargarder Land (wine region)
Stargarder Land is a small region for country wine in northeastern Germany, which was defined in an amendment to the German wine law on 4 March 2004. Located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, approximately 100 km north of Berlin, it is by far the northernmost official wine-growing area of Germany...
, which was defined in 2004. This means that Niederlausitz wineries are not allowed allowed to produce wine of all quality levels of the German wine classification
German wine classification
German wine classification consists of several quality categories and is often the source of some confusion, especially among non-German speaking wine consumers. The official classification is set down in the wine law of 1971, although some changes and amendments have been made since then...
. Only the lower part - Tafelwein (table wine) and Landwein (country wine
Country wine
Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients ; they may also have additional flavours taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs. This definition is sometimes broadened to include any fermented alcoholic beverage except beer...
) - and not the higher "quality wine" categories Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) and Prädikatswein may be produced.
Currently, the Niederlausitz region covers only 11 hectares (27.2 acre) of vineyards spread out over 14 locations. A peculiar aspect of the Niederlausitz region is that some of the vineyards are planted in former coal strip mines
Surface mining
Surface mining , is a type of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit are removed...
.