die
Rebsorte
🍇 What exactly is a 'Rebsorte'?
The German word die Rebsorte (feminine, article: die) refers to a specific variety or cultivar of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera). Each Rebsorte has unique characteristics regarding taste, aroma, grape color, growth habits, and susceptibility to diseases. These characteristics significantly determine the character of the wine produced from it.
There are thousands of Rebsorten worldwide, from well-known ones like Riesling or Cabernet Sauvignon to rare, local varieties.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Rebsorte
'Rebsorte' is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rebsorte |
| Genitive | der | Rebsorte |
| Dative | der | Rebsorte |
| Accusative | die | Rebsorte |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Rebsorten |
| Genitive | der | Rebsorten |
| Dative | den | Rebsorten |
| Accusative | die | Rebsorten |
Example Sentences
- Welche Rebsorte bevorzugst du für Weißwein? (Which grape variety do you prefer for white wine?)
- Deutschland ist bekannt für seine vielfältigen Rebsorten, insbesondere den Riesling. (Germany is known for its diverse grape varieties, especially Riesling.)
- Die Eigenschaften einer Rebsorte werden durch das Terroir beeinflusst. (The characteristics of a grape variety are influenced by the terroir.)
- Bei der Weinprobe lernten wir verschiedene rote Rebsorten kennen. (At the wine tasting, we got to know different red grape varieties.)
🍷 Usage in Daily Life and Jargon
The term 'Rebsorte' is primarily used in contexts related to viticulture (Weinbau), winemaking (Önologie), and wine consumption.
- When buying wine: You might ask for wines of a specific 'Rebsorte' (e.g., „Haben Sie einen trockenen Grauburgunder?“ - Do you have a dry Pinot Gris?).
- In wine studies: Used to describe and classify wines and their origins.
- In viticulture: Winemakers (Winzer) select 'Rebsorten' suitable for the climate and soil.
- In botany: Used for the scientific classification of subspecies of the grapevine.
It's a specific technical term, distinct from more general terms like 'Traube' (the individual grape berry) or 'Weinrebe' (the vine plant itself).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Rebsorte'
Remembering the article ('die'): Think of 'die Sorte' (the sort/variety). Many German nouns ending in '-e', especially those denoting a type or group (like 'Sorte', 'Klasse'), are feminine. So, 'die Rebsorte' is 'the' (feminine) sort of vine.
Remembering the meaning: The word is a compound of 'Rebe' (vine) and 'Sorte' (sort/variety). Logically, it means the sort/variety of vine.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- Traubensorte: Very similar, often used interchangeably. Means 'grape variety'.
- Weinsorte: Sometimes used synonymously ('wine variety'), but can also refer to the finished wine type, not just the grape.
- Varietät (der Weinrebe): More technical, botanical term ('variety of the grapevine').
Antonyms (in a broader sense)
- Wildrebe: Wild vine, the non-cultivated form.
- Tafeltraube: Table grape, a grape variety grown primarily for eating, not winemaking.
- Generischer Wein / Verschnitt: Generic wine / blend (Cuvée), a wine not named after a single grape variety but blended from several (though high-quality blends are also common).
⚠️ Be careful not to confuse 'Rebsorte' with 'Reblaus' (phylloxera, a pest) or 'Rebschnitt' (vine pruning).
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Sommelier: "Welche Rebsorte darf es heute sein?"
Antwortet der Gast: "Die mit möglichst wenig 'Reue'-Sorte am nächsten Morgen!"
(Translation: The sommelier asks: "Which grape variety (Rebsorte) would you like today?"
The guest replies: "The one with as little 'regret'-variety ('Reue'-Sorte) as possible the next morning!") - It's a pun on Rebsorte/Reue-Sorte.
📜 Poem about Grape Diversity
Im Weinberg, sonnenverwöhnt und rein,
wächst nicht nur eine, nein!
Die Rebsorte, fein und auserlesen,
ob Riesling, Müller, welch ein Wesen.
Mal rot, mal weiß, im Glase klar,
bringt jede Sorte Wunder dar.
Der Winzer pflegt sie, Jahr für Jahr,
ein Schatz der Vielfalt, wunderbar.
(Translation: In the vineyard, sun-kissed and pure, / Grows not just one, no! / The grape variety, fine and select, / Be it Riesling, Müller, what a being. / Sometimes red, sometimes white, clear in the glass, / Each variety presents wonders. / The vintner tends it, year after year, / A treasure of diversity, wonderful.)
❓ A Little Riddle
Ich bin eine Art, doch keine Mode,
Ich wachse am Stock, nicht auf der Kommode.
Aus mir wird oft ein edler Tropfen gemacht,
hab viele Namen bei Tag und Nacht.
Mal bin ich rot, mal weiß, mal rosé,
bestimme den Wein von A bis Z.
Was bin ich?
(Translation: I am a type, but not a fashion, / I grow on a vine stock, not on a dresser. / A noble drop is often made from me, / I have many names by day and night. / Sometimes I'm red, sometimes white, sometimes rosé, / I determine the wine from A to Z.
What am I?
Answer: Die Rebsorte)
💡 More Interesting Facts
Word Composition:
The word 'Rebsorte' is a compound noun, made up of:
- Die Rebe: Meaning the grapevine (plant).
- Die Sorte: Meaning a specific type, sort, or variety within a genus.
Famous German Grape Varieties (Rebsorten):
- White wine: Riesling, Müller-Thurgau (also called Rivaner), Silvaner, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc).
- Red wine: Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Dornfelder, Portugieser, Trollinger.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Rebsorte?
The noun 'Rebsorte' is feminine. The correct article is die Rebsorte. It refers to a specific variety of grapevine used for winemaking.