Wine law term for special wine qualities in Germany and Austria, as well as in France - see under Sélection de grains nobles. See also under Selection.
Germany
New quality designation introduced in all wine-growing regions in Germany from the 2001 vintage. The quality concept is supported by the DWV (German Winegrowers' Association), the DWI (German Wine Institute), the regional wine organisations and all supra-regional associations. According to Armin Göring, Managing Director of the DWI at the time, this was intended to be a valuable decision-making aid for wine buyers: The term Selection on the label guarantees wine lovers dry wines of excellent quality from grape varieties typical of the region. This refers to German premium wines, which are the dry equivalent of noble sweet Auslese wines. These are intended to be the top products of a winery from selected vineyards with officially registered parcels. The typical and classic grape varieties of the growing regions have been defined by the federal states.
In almost all federal states, these are primarily Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, but also other varieties. The prescribed hand harvest limits the yield to 60 hectolitres per hectare. Enrichment of the grape must to increase the alcohol content is permitted; the natural alcohol content must be 12.2% vol. The residual sugar content of the wines must be less than 9 g/l; only acid-emphasised Riesling wines may have up to 12 g/l residual sugar. Selection wines must demonstrate the quality specifications "elegance and varietal aromas" as part of a separate sensory test before they are released for sale on 1 September of the year following the harvest.
This provision was abolished in 2018. An evaluation carried out by Rhineland-Palatinate had shown that the use of the designation Selection no longer had any significant economic importance. Only six producers used it for wines produced on 3.65 haWhile selection remains a nationally protected term, it is not a traditional term protected for Germany under EU law and may therefore in the future be used freely again in Germany (apart from aspects relating to trade mark law). In contrast, the "Rheinhessen Selection" quality label, which has its legal basis in Section 7 of the Rheinhessen regional ordinance (state law), continues to be well received.
Austria
The quality designation Selection may only be used for a quality wine with a vintage (not permitted for Prädikat wine types ). The alcohol content must be at least 13% vol. The wine must be produced from recommended grape varieties with the best recognisable characteristics in terms of varietal character and origin. In the case of white wine, the submission for obtaining the state inspection number may not take place before 15 March, in the case of red wine not before 1 November of the year following the harvest. These provisions also apply to Premium and Reserve.
The designation Grande Selection (but not Grand Selection) is permitted for longer maturation. The submission of the State Control Number for white wine may not take place before 1 November of the year following the harvest, and for red wine not before 1 May of the second year following the harvest. The provisions also apply to Grande Reserve.
