Ranked as tenth in terms of overall production, Germany has become synonymous with great Riesling. There are numerous styles form very dry to extremely sweet and what makes German Riesling so special is the structure to allow for aging, from seven to ten years for the finest dry versions to three or four decade for the richest dessert wine. The best examples are planted on steep slopes along the Rhine and Moselle rivers; they display a great sense of place along with a distinct minerality. While Riesling is the best wine from Germany, other white varieties such as Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Sauvignon Blanc are performing well in Germany's cool climate. The same is true for Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir), which in the best examples, have the complexity and richness of a fine red Burgundy. Most people are surprised to know that Germany is the world's leading producer of sparking wine. While much of this is inexpensive sparkling wine destined for supermarkets, there are dozens of producers who make classic methods bubblies from some of their finest Riesling Chardonnay and Weissburgunder grapes.