Lagenwein

Lagenwein is a classification for German wines that indicates origin from a specific Lage, or vineyard site, within a wine region. It forms part of a three-tier system used to label origin on quality wines: Gutsabfüllung (estate bottling), Ortswein (village wine), and Lagenwein (site wine). The Lage is a geographically defined vineyard site, and the label typically names the Lage to reveal the wine’s terroir and vineyard-specific characteristics.

A Lagenwein may carry the quality designation Qualitätswein (QbA) or Prädikatswein (for example, Spätlese, Auslese), with the key requirement that the grapes originate from a single Lage. Blends from multiple Lagen are not permitted for that labeled wine. The designation is intended to signal a higher degree of provenance and terroir expression than Ortswein, while not necessarily implying the highest tier of site classification.

The concept was introduced as part of German wine law reform to improve transparency about origin and terroir. In some regions, additional tiers such as Große Lage exist for top-tier sites, creating a hierarchy of site quality beyond Lagenwein. In practice, producers use Lagenwein to distinguish wines from individual vineyard sites and to communicate characteristics tied to the specific Lage. Critics have noted that accurate implementation depends on consistent mapping of Lage names to actual vineyards, which can vary by region and producer.