🏷️ Kabinett

Kabinett is the lowest of the six Prädikat levels of German Prädikatswein. The Wine Act names them Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein. A domestic wine may carry one of these terms only if the Prädikat was granted on application, together with an official test number.

Kabinett is awarded only if the wine was not enriched, that is, no sugar or must was added to raise its alcohol. The Wine Act requires at least 7% vol. of actual alcohol in Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese. The minimum natural alcohol of the must is not fixed in the Act itself: the state governments set it, graded by Prädikat. In wine-growing zone A it may not be below 9.5% vol. for Prädikatswein, in zone B not below 10.0% vol.; in Ahr, Mittelrhein, Mosel and Saale-Unstrut it may be lowered to 9.0% vol. for certain grape varieties and vineyards.

The German Wine Institute describes Kabinett as fine, light wines from ripe grapes with low alcohol. It states that each Prädikat has a minimum must weight in degrees Oechsle that depends on grape variety and growing region, usually stricter in the warmer southern regions.

Quality wine and Prädikatswein may be sweetened only with grape must, under the Wine Ordinance. The words Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein may not be used for drinks that are not wine.