Libfraumilch

Muller-Thurgau grapes are often used in the production of Liebfraumilch wines.

Vineyards near Liebfrauenkirche

Libfraumilch ( German: Liebfraumilch or German: Liebfrau (е) nmilch ) is a semisweet white German wine that is produced mainly for export in the regions of Rheingessen , Palatinate , Rheingau and Nahe . The name of the wine is the German word, which literally means "the milk of the Virgin" ("milk of the Virgin"). Often incorrectly translated as "the beloved woman’s milk" . The original German spelling of the word Liebfrauenmilch is given to wine produced from the vineyards of the church of Liebfrauenkirche or Our Lady in the land of Rhineland-Palatinate in Worms since the 18th century. The spelling Liebfraumilch is more common on labels of exported wine ^[1] .

The generic label “Libfraumilch” (depicting the Madonna and Child) is usually used to sell fine wines originating from anywhere in Germany’s largest wine producing regions, with the notable exception being the Moselle . Wine with very similar characteristics, but made from higher quality grapes, can be labeled Spätlese or Auslese . In the United States and Britain, perhaps the most famous was an example with Blue Nan wine, which no longer uses the name Liebfraumilch.

Although the term Liebfraumilch is associated with poor quality wine , the German Wine Law requires him to be rank 3 out of 4 according to Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA) . It should also be from the regions of Rheinhessen, Palatinate, Nahe or Rheingau, made from grapes, at least 70% of which belongs to the Riesling , Sylvaner or Muller-thurgau cultivars , and must also contain 18-40 g / l of residual sugar.