The new VDP classification

The VDP cleaned up its existing classification by modeling it more closely after the classification used in Burgundy (grand cru, premier cru, villages appellation, regional appellation). The fact that the best sites will from 2012 on be called Grosse Lage instead of Erste Lage will further help position the term of Grosses Gewächs in the market (the Grosses Gewächs being the dry wine made from a Grosse Lage).

The VDP obviously wants to strengthen its concept of the Grosses Gewächs being the finest wine by reducing the number of vineyards that will be allowed the new Grosse Lage designation. But since each region can decided for itself which sites are going to be demoted to Erste Lage it remains to be seen how successful this plan is going to be.

The new classification also chisels in stone the perceived superiority of dry wines over sweet wines as only dry wines from a Grosse Lage qualify as a Grosses Gewächs. Sweet wines can still use the Prädikat categories of Kabinett, Spätlese etc. In fact, the Prädikat levels are solely reserved for sweet wines, which means there won't be any Spätlese trocken.

The following is my translation of the official resolution, which can be found here.

1. In the future origins will be defined within the VDP as
   VDP Grosse Lage (great site)
   VDP Erste Lage (first site)
   VDP Ortswein (local wine)
   VDP Gutswein (estate wine)
2. In a first step the regions will determine their Grosse Lage sites. Classification of additional sites as Erste Lagen is optional. Thus each region decides about their own classification as a 3- or 4-level classification of their origins. Simple or lesser sites will be represented as VDP Gutsweine or VDP Ortsweine.
3. It is the goal to realize the one wine principle within dry single vineyard wines. The Prädikate are used exclusively for wines with residual sugar and dessert wines for which each region defines their own flavor profiles.
4. The dry wine of a Grosse Lage is the Grosses Gewächs
5. The labeling of "trocken" (dry) is mandatory, the labeling of "halbtrocken" (half dry) is optional.
6. For the VDP Ortsweine the same designations can be used as for the VDP Lagenweine. VDP Gutsweine can be labeled as either Qualitätsweine or Prädikatsweine in all styles.
7. In order to avoid undue hardships members can be freed from the classification above by specifying the necessary exception.
8. The regions will come up with regional concepts and further details while complying with the points stated above.
9. Individual exemptions (see 7) require the approval of the regional association. These and the regional implementations (see 8) shall be confirmed by the VDP.
10. Wines will be marketed accordingly starting with the 2012 vintage.