From aromatic whites and sparkling Sekt to versatile Rieslings and even elegant, perfumed reds, German wines are worthy of celebrations — but they're also perfect for everyday enjoyment. Explore these wines with recipes that bring out their best.

Germany’s cool summer nights intensify the alluring aromas of their white varieties. Just think of Gewürz with its rose petal and acacia honey fragrance, or Grauburgunder (aka Pinot Grigio) which often suggests pears, hazelnuts and pineapple. Dry but rich and packed with flavour, these wines are fantastic with seafood and all sorts of Asian dishs, from sushi to Szechuan chicken.

For centuries, German vintners have been blending fine wines made from different grape varieties, then re-fermenting them to make crisp, dry, beautifully balanced bubbly called Sekt.

Germans love Pinot Noir (called Spätbugunder in Germany) so much that hardly any bottles get to travel and see the world. Few other red wines are as light on their feet and yet so full of character. Look for suave cherry and red berry aromas with hints of almond and smoke. Germany has other interesting reds too. Dornfelder is their second most popular red variety — offering deep colour, gentle tannins and lovely red fruit flavours.

Riesling is Germany’s versatile masterpiece offering everything from tangy, bone-dry Mosel wines full of lime and mineral notes to the lush extravagance of Eiswein. Winemakers let this varietal reveal all the nuances of the place in which it's grown, using harvest time and the length of fermentation to achieve the fine balance of acidity and ripe sweetness they desire.