Records of German wine shipments date back to the early 13th century. The author addresses the strange and complex question of why German wines, as rich in history and renown as any in the world, are looked down upon by a large proportion of the wine-loving public. He details the top wines and producers and discovers how they will never lack for a market, but also how that only accentuates the gulf between the best and worst of Germany's wines. He also covers the great history of Germany's wines from the Emperor Charlemagne, who actively encouraged the planting of vines, to the medieval churches that acquired and expanded large wine estates, some of which survive to this day. The book also contains information about top vineyard sites, the range of grape varieties, lesser-known wine styles, controversial German wine laws and issues such as vineyard classification.