Beyond its long-standing reputation as the land of Riesling and other white grapes, Germany has rapidly become one of the world’s most compelling sources of Pinot Noir—known locally as Spätburgunder. As of 2021, Germany had 11,602 hectares of Pinot Noir, ranking third globally, behind only France and the United States.
Over the past two decades, the variety has steadily expanded its footprint in the country, now accounting for around 11.2% of all plantings in German vineyards. In 2020, it surpassed Müller-Thurgau to become the country’s second most planted grape. Climate change—bringing with it warmer summers, longer growing seasons, and greater ripening consistency—has played a pivotal role in elevating both quality and style of the variety’s wines in Germany.
