Kabinett
Definition - What does Kabinett mean?
Kabinett is a German wine classification term that indicates that the wine was made from fully ripe grapes at harvest. The classification system of wines using this term was implemented in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic in the early 1970’s to let consumers know that the wine did not have any added sugar during the winemaking process, a process known as chaptalization.
WineFrog explains Kabinett
Kabinett is a term that indicates a dry, non-chaptalized wine, made from grapes that were allowed to fully ripen on the vine before harvest and has been used since the 1700’s. While a German term, it is used throughout Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, as these wine regions historically had very short, cool growing seasons, until global warming increased the growing season and temperatures throughout these regions.
Many regions implemented a regulated rating system to indicate which wines, were produced without chaptalization, or the addition of sugar or honey, during the winemaking process. Under current wine regulations, the term is no longer necessary, although it can be found on wines bottled prior to 2009.
