German designation for “Quality wine with special attributes” – Qualitätswein mit Prädikat. There are 5 levels of QmP wines, in ascending order of sweetness and complexity, they are: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese. QmP wines are certified at every stage from the vineyard through bottling and must come from a single district (subregion).
Wines having this designation pass a three-step quality control examination that includes testing for ripeness in the vineyard at harvest time; clinical analysis to measure alcohol content, residual sugar, extract and acidity levels; and a sensory examination during a “blind tasting” where experts determine, not only if the color, clarity, smell and taste meet standards for overall balance and harmony, but whether the wine is typical of the region, grape variety, quality category, and vintage to be stated on the label.