German Wines

[jantolick]

We are changing the theme of our restaurant to a Bavarian format. We are on a limited budget but would like to stock the 5 most popular german wines which would also provide a minimal variety. If anyone can help, please respond.

Thanks,
John Antolick

[hotwine]

Suggest you peruse the postings for the last 180 days under this forum of Rieslings. That will give you some ideas for German wines, especially those of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (MSR), Rheingau and Rheinhessen regions. To those I would add Franken wines as worthy of inclusion. All can be found in very inexpensive forms, in varying degrees of dryness/sweetness. Suggest you locate a vendor for Schmitt-Sohne MSRs for starters; they come in blue bottles with red, blue and gold labels - pretty easy to spot on the shelves. Try them yourself, paired with the foods you plan to offer on your menu. Then in a short time (a few weeks) you can branch out and carry more of a variety. (Sorry, but I don't have my cellarbook here at the office to give you more specific wines to look for.) Or, you could go to a good retailer, tell him how much you wanted to spend per bottle for a given quantity, and ask him to compile a selection for you. And if he gives you any Liebfraumilch, tell him Thanks anyway, and move on to another retailer.

[hotwine]

Whoops. Just noticed that the forum heading is Germany/Alsace/Wines/Varieties, rather than Riesling. Sorry 'bout that.