Tasting according to the strictest rules
Tasting and editorial director Marcus Hofschuster has an outstanding reputation as a conscientious and incorruptible wine critic. Together with trained sommelier Kim Schreiber, he tastes wines from all regions of Europe for wein.plus, always according to identical quality and tasting standards.
Currently, wein.plus 3,179 classified wineries with professional descriptions and ratings of wines 166,423 Wines are published. Producers and wines are updated and added to on a daily basis.
The ratings from wein.plus are among the most reliable in the industry. They are comprehensible and repeatable.
Our rules:
- Each wine is tasted exclusively blind. During the evaluation, the taster never knows which wine from which producer is in the glass.
- All wines are tasted in a neutral tasting room in Erlangen to minimise distracting influences. In contrast to other wine guides, wein.plus does not evaluate wines at trade fairs or at the producer's premises.
- To validate the ratings, cross-checks are carried out on a regular basis , in which wines that have already been tasted once before are put through their paces.
- There are only enough samples per day to guarantee plenty of time and peace and quiet for each individual wine. Many wines are also tasted at least twice in order to take into account their development in the air.
- All tasters have many years of experience and taste full-time.
Why we award fewer points than other tasters
In recent years, we have observed an upward shift in scores throughout the wine industry and the tasting media. Wines that used to be awarded 85 points are now more likely to score 90 points or more.
In contrast, we continue to use the original, stricter categorisation, which allows for much better differentiation. For this reason, the recommendable wines at wein.plus start at 80 WP.
The classification of producers
One of the best producers in the worldYear after year, the wines from these wineries are among the absolute best of their kind and are almost unrivalled at the top - regardless of vintage fluctuations. But even the simpler growths are almost without exception excellent. There are practically no weaknesses, and even mediocre wines are almost unheard of. |
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One of the best producers in the countryProducer of first-class wines that are usually among the best of their kind, even by international standards. Mediocre wines are very rare, and there are hardly ever any real weaknesses. Even in difficult years, first-class quality wines are regularly produced here. |
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One of the best producers in the regionThe wines maintain a consistently high level and are among the best in their respective categories in the region. There are hardly any weaknesses, although they can occur in problematic vintages. However, these must be compensated for in good years with particularly convincing ranges in order for a winery to maintain its status. Basically, you can buy blind here. |
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Good producerThe quality can fluctuate here, but as a rule two-star producers produce good to very good wines that are well worth looking out for. |
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Producer of simple winesIdeally, the wines here are clean, palatable and good value, but rarely meet higher standards. Major weaknesses can occur. |
Our drinking recommendations
Each wine rating contains a forecast of the best drinking period under normal storage conditions. However, many wines remain in good condition even beyond this period. We just do not want to guarantee that they will continue to develop favourably. However, ideal storage conditions in particular can significantly extend the development period.
Our Favourite wines
In contrast to the points rating, which is intended to reflect the actual quality of a wine as neutrally and objectively as possible, the "Favourite wines" is a completely subjective award for the wines that we personally like best.
Favourite wines the "" wines are the finest and most interesting wines for us in their style, category and price range. We would buy them for ourselves at any time.
To the Favourite wines
Grading according to the 100-point system
wein.plus our wines are rated according to the internationally recognised 100-point system, which is based on the American school grading system. We use the abbreviation WP = wein.plus points in our scoring system.
What our scores mean
100 WP uniqueWines that can only be done differently, but not better. |
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95-99 WP greatWorld-class wines whose depth, complexity, character and expressiveness create an unforgettable, sensual experience. |
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90-94 WP outstandingFirst-class wines that are among the best of their kind. They are characterised by purity, harmony, depth and character. |
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85-89 WP very goodRemarkable wines with personality, expression, complexity and depth. They deserve the attention of every wine lover. |
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80-84 WP goodClean, harmonious, at best typical wines. |
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75-79 WP passableNeutral, simple wine, without any faults. |
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70-74 WP adequateVery simple wines whose weaknesses outweigh their merits. |
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60-69 WP inadequateWines with considerable shortcomings that stand in the way of enjoyment. |
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50-59 WP UnsatisfactoryWines with serious, disfiguring defects or gross wine faults. |
Tasting team
Marcus Hofschuster
is tasting and editorial manager at wein.plus.
He began his intensive interest in wine as a teenager. In the decades that followed, he acquired a profound knowledge of the world of wine through travelling and countless tastings.
During his time as a wine merchant in Schwabach and Nuremberg, he came up with the idea of a comprehensive guide to the best German and international wines, which he put into practice in 1999: he gave up the wine trade and since then has devoted himself exclusively to tasting wein.plus, which he has made a permanent fixture in European wine criticism for over 20 years.
With his strict evaluation system, his thorough and uncompromising tasting practice and his incorruptibility, Marcus Hofschuster sets standards for serious tasting in terms of actual wine quality.
Kim Schreiber
was born in Nuremberg and grew up in Eckental-Eschenau in Middle Franconia. As a trained hotel manager and sommelier, she has worked in various Bavarian hotels and top restaurants, including the Vue Maximilian, Tantris and Rilano No.6 in Munich. More
Voices of our members
We value the independent and objective assessments of wein.plus. Marcus Hofschuster has a very sound knowledge of wine. In addition, wein.plus helps to spread wine culture and wine appreciation.
Alex Ferrigato
Weingut Schreckbichl, Girlan (Südtirol)