HENRI's Wine Guide published

MUNICH. A festive setting for a highly decorated selection of outstanding personalities: The new HENRIS Wine Guide 2026 was presented today in Munich at the Rosewood Munich, honouring outstanding personalities from the German wine world and at the same time bringing numerous innovations and top performances to the "stage".

HENRIS differs from many other publications in its evaluation. Once again this year, HENRIS relied on blind tastings, which are the foundation of the testers' work and the most honest and rigorous form of evaluation. Without labels or prestige, the only thing that counts is what convinces in the glass – which is precisely why inclusion in the guide is a special honour for over 500 German wineries.

Hans-Josef Becker, Weingut J. B. Becker, is honoured as Wine Personality of the Year: "Becker's wines are so confidently independent that they have long been in a league of their own, where trends are no longer relevant. With an unyielding commitment to quality and a healthy dose of likeable stubbornness, Becker has been managing to bottle timelessness for decades."

Special honours this year:

• WINE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: Hans-Josef Becker, J. B. Becker Winery, Rheingau
• COLLECTION OF THE YEAR: Ökonomierat Rebholz, Palatinate
• COOPERATIVE OF THE YEAR: Winzer Sommerach, Franconia
• HANDWRITING OF THE YEAR: Clemens Busch, Clemens Busch Winery, Mosel
• WINERY MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Claus Burmeister, Burg Ravensburg Winery, Baden
• INSPIRATION OF THE YEAR: Kaiserstuhl Touristik Ihringen e.V., Weinwirtschaft Ihringen, Baden
• HIGHEST NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Oliver Zeter, Oliver Zeter Winery, Palatinate

CO-OPERATIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Remstalkellerei eG, Württemberg

A look into the future: NEXT GENERATION 2026 – Germany's wine talents:

For the 2026 edition, HENRIS, together with its expert advisory board and regional winegrowers' associations, has selected Germany's most promising young winemakers. The talents presented are following different paths – from working in the family business to successfully taking over the business to founding their own. They are united by their passion for wine, their commitment to quality and their dedication to combining tradition with new ideas, thereby sustainably developing German viticulture. The winners in the "Next Generation 2026" category are:

Ina-Sophie Bamberger, Bamberger Wine and Sparkling Wine Estate (Nahe) - Carlo Clauß, Clauß Winery (Baden) - Felix Estelmann, Estelmann Winery (Palatinate) - Julia Glaser, Glaser Himmelstoss Winery (Franconia) - Johanna Bernhart, Schlumberger-Bernhart Private Winery (Baden) - Johannes Tesch, Tesch Winery (Nahe) - Felix Walter, Josef Walter Winery (Franconia)

Other wineries recognised for continuous quality development:

Germany's top 12 wineries with 5 red grapes:

Aldinger Winery ( Württemberg), Georg Breuer Winery ( Rheingau), Dönnhoff Winery (Nahe), Emrich-Schönleber Winery ( Nahe), Rudolf Fürst Winery (Franconia), Bernhard Huber Winery (Baden), Peter Jakob Kühn Winery (Rheingau), Raumland Sparkling Wine Cellar (Rheinhessen), Ökonomierat Rebholz Winery ( Palatinate), Joh. Jos. Prüm Winery (Mosel), Schloss Lieser Thomas Haag ( Mosel), Robert Weil Winery (Rheingau)

The event also honoured wineries that have distinguished themselves through particularly consistent and sustainable quality development. A total of nine wineries were newly accepted into the highest category of five black grapes.

This award places them among the world's best and at the forefront of international viticulture. The following wineries have particular cause for celebration:

Burg Ravensburg Winery (Baden), Heitlinger Winery (Baden), Jülg Winery ( Palatinate), Philipp Kuhn ( Palatinate), Schlör Winery (Baden), Schloss Johannisberg (Rheingau), Schloss Reinhartshausen (Rheingau), Seeger Winery (Baden), Wegeler Wineries – Gutshaus Mosel (Mosel)

In addition to the top names in the German wine world, 124 wineries were awarded a higher grape rating for their continuous quality development and have improved compared to last year's rating. This figure impressively demonstrates how strong, dynamic and quality-oriented German winegrowing is today.

In addition, 20 wines were named Wines of the Year 2026 in their respective grape varieties:

• Riesling of the Year: Van Volxem – 2024 Scharzhofberger P Riesling GG
• Mature Riesling of the Year: Nikolaus Köwerich – 2009 Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Beerenauslese
• Riesling Kabinett of the Year: Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch, Erben Thanisch – 2024 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett
• Riesling Beerenauslese of the Year: Von Hövel – 2024 Scharzhofberger Riesling Beerenauslese
• Silvaner of the Year: Horst Sauer – 2023 Hütte Silvaner
• Sauvignon Blanc of the Year: Rainer Schnaitmann – 2023 Rèserve Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Blanc of the Year: Weingut Dr. Heger – 2023 Ihringer Winklerberg Hinter Winklen Gras im Ofen Pinot Blanc GG
• Pinot Gris of the Year: Martin Waßmer – 2023 Dottinger Castellberg GC Pinot Gris
• Chardonnay of the Year: Bernhard Huber – 2023 Hecklinger Schlossberg Chardonnay GG
• White Wine Composition of the Year: Weedenborn Winery – 2022 Grande Réserve
• Exotic Whites – Wine of the Year: Winzerhof Stahl – 2024 Steinmauer Chenin Blanc
• Local Hero White: Weingut Ziereisen – 2022 Jaspis 10⁴ Unfiltered Gutedel
• Best Rosé of the Year: Weingut Aldinger – 2023 Untertürkheimer Gips Trollinger 1st Growth
• Pinot Noir of the Year: Rudolf Fürst – 2023 Centgrafenberg Pinot Noir GG
• Lemberger of the Year: Aldinger Winery – 2023 Lämmler Fellbach Lemberger GG
• Red wine composition of the year: Knipser Winery – 2020 XR Cuvée
• Exotic reds – Wine of the Year: Fritz Waßmer – 2022 Kaiserberg Herbolzheim Cabernet Franc
• Local Hero Red: Hofmann Winery – 2022 Röttinger Feuerstein RR Tauberschwarz
• Sparkling wine brut nature of the year: Clauß Winery – 2020 Grande Cuvée brut nature
• Sparkling wine brut of the year: Raumland sparkling wine house – 2016 XVI. Triumvirat Grande Cuvée brut

HENRIS publishes the 2026 Wine Guide – sending a clear signal for quality, transparency and integrity. What began years ago with a dedicated, independent team of professional testers has now reached another milestone with the new HENRIS Wine Guide. Once again, the continuity, enthusiasm and discipline of the tasters form the backbone of the new guide. At its heart is a principle that has shaped HENRIS from the very beginning: blind tastings are the most honest and rigorous form of evaluation. Without labels, without prestige, without expectations, the only thing that matters is what's in the glass – and that's precisely why inclusion in this guide is a special honour for more than 500 German wineries. The new guide is based on a simple, uncompromising foundation: quality is what counts. With its publication, HENRIS sets a standard for modern, independent and credible wine evaluation – while at the same time honouring the winemakers who continue the cultural heritage of German wine day after day.

The Wine Guide Germany 2026 is an indispensable companion for wine lovers. With over 550 wineries profiled, it offers sound guidance and inspiration. Germany's best wines are presented in selected top lists. The "Fill the Fridge" section once again features a selection of affordable wines under £15 for enjoyable everyday moments. Another new feature is the rating of non-alcoholic wines from our listed wineries.