It is a truth not always acknowledged that a wine in possession of good fortune must be in want of a proper designation. Among the Germans, whose industry in matters of both philosophy and fermentation is not inconsiderable, there once existed a term of such consequence that no respectable bottle could hope to ascend the social ladder of the dining table without it. This term, now more historical than current, is QmP—a set of initials that once ruled the etiquettes of German wine with all the quiet authority of a well-bred dowager.

In our present age, where every label proclaims its own perfection, it may be a relief to turn to a system that attempted, with Teutonic seriousness, to measure quality by something more substantial than mere advertisement. Let us, therefore, examine this vanished creature of the wine world: its birth, its glory, and its eventual transformation into something more modern, though perhaps less romantic.

A Name of Some Consequence: What QmP Stood For

The letters QmP derive from the German phrase Qualitätswein mit Prädikat, which one might render into English as “quality wine with distinction” or “quality wine with special attributes.” It denoted not a brand, but a legal category within German wine law that governed, with admirable precision, which wines might be considered not simply drinkable, but distinguished.

In more formal terms, QmP referred to wines that:

• Originated from a specified, recognized German wine-growing region
• Were produced from approved grape varieties
• Achieved a legally defined level of ripeness at harvest (measured by the natural sugar content of the grapes)
• Were not improved by the addition of sugar to the must (a practice called chaptalization)

Thus, if one imagines the wines of Germany as a society assembled in a great ballroom, QmP wines would be those properly introduced, well-born, and vouched for by the strictest of chaperones.

The Society of German Wines: Where QmP Stood in the Hierarchy

Under the old German wine law, wines were ranked not only by their place of origin, but by their must weight—that is, the concentration of sugar in the grape juice at harvest, measured in degrees Oechsle. The assumption—very sensible, and yet not without exceptions—was that riper grapes would yield more concentrated, more interesting wines.

Within this society, there were two principal classes of respectability:

1. Tafelwein and Landwein – the modest country cousins, simple table wines
2. Qualitätswein – the respectable middle class, wines of a defined region and acceptable quality

Above these rose the more distinguished company: Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP). These wines did not merely pass the examination; they did so with honours. They were awarded one of several Prädikate—distinctions—depending on the ripeness of the grapes at harvest.

The Six Prädikate: Degrees of Ripeness and Refinement

Within QmP, the system of Prädikate resembled nothing so much as a series of increasingly exalted titles, each denoting not the character of the individual wine, but the promise of its raw material.

The principal Prädikate, in ascending order of must weight, were:

All these shared the dignity of QmP, and their names appeared proudly on labels, as if to assure the drinker that the wine had not been assembled carelessly, but had passed through a series of trials and examinations worthy of a heroine in a three-volume novel.

The Principle Behind QmP: Ripeness as Virtue

The underlying philosophy of QmP was simple, though not without its assumptions: riper grapes make better wine. The system therefore measured potential quality not by taste, not by reputation, nor by price, but by the sugar content of the must at harvest.

This approach had both elegance and limitations:

• Elegance – It was objective, measurable, and could be enforced by law. No amount of charm from a persuasive wine merchant could alter the reading of an Oechsle scale.
• Limitation – It mistook potential for certainty. A high must weight suggests the possibility of greatness but does not guarantee it. Poor vineyard sites, careless winemaking, or unbalanced sweetness could still yield disappointing wines, however distinguished their Prädikat.

Yet, for all its imperfections, QmP brought structure and seriousness to German wine at a time when many regions were content with vaguer claims. It was a system for those who preferred their pleasures regulated rather than entirely left to chance.

A Change in Fashion: From QmP to Prädikatswein

Even the most respectable of institutions cannot escape reform. In the course of modernizing its wine law, Germany retired the term QmP in favour of a new designation: Prädikatswein. The wines themselves did not suddenly alter their character on the appointed day, but their official title did.

Today, what was once called Qualitätswein mit Prädikat is now simply Prädikatswein. The familiar Prädikate—Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein—remain, but the umbrella term QmP is now of historical interest rather than legal force.

One might say that QmP has become like a former title of nobility, no longer recognized by the current government, but still remembered with a certain nostalgic affection by those acquainted with older labels and older laws.

Why QmP Still Matters to the Modern Drinker

If the term is now historical, why trouble oneself with it at all? The answer is that wine, like society, is better understood when one knows its history.

Sweetness, Dryness, and the Misunderstandings of QmP

Many a puzzled drinker, encountering the old QmP classifications, supposed that they described sweetness in the finished wine. This was a misunderstanding, though a very common one.

• A Kabinett could be delicately off-dry or even quite sweet.
• A Spätlese might be made in a dry style, despite its later harvest.
• An Auslese could be anything from off-dry to dessert-sweet.

The QmP system spoke not of how much sugar remained after fermentation, but of how much was present before it began. In this, it resembled those parents who pride themselves on their children’s early accomplishments without always considering what those children will become as adults.

To know whether a QmP wine was dry or sweet, one had to look for additional terms such as trocken (dry) or halbtrocken (half-dry), or to be acquainted with the producer’s style. The law could measure the grapes; it could not entirely govern the winemaker’s taste.

QmP in the Wider World of German Wine Classification

In the present day, German wine classification has grown more intricate, with increased emphasis on origin—village, vineyard, and even specific sites of renown. Various regional associations, most notably the VDP (an association of top estates), have introduced their own hierarchies based on terroir rather than sugar levels alone.

Yet the ghost of QmP lingers. The Prädikate are still employed, especially for Rieslings of a more traditional style, and the concept of ripeness at harvest continues to shape how many German wines are described and understood.

One might say that QmP was an important chapter in a continuing story—a story in which German wine moves from being judged by numbers on a scale to being appreciated for the individuality of its vineyards and the character of its makers.

A Polite Farewell to a Former Title

Though the term QmP has been retired from official service, it deserves a courteous bow as it withdraws from the stage. It represented an earnest attempt to bring order and fairness to the evaluation of wine at a time when such order was sorely needed. It taught generations of drinkers to consider not only where a wine was from, but how ripe its grapes had been, and what distinctions they had earned.

To encounter QmP now is to meet an old acquaintance: perhaps a little formal, perhaps somewhat out of fashion, but undeniably respectable. It reminds us that wine, like society, thrives on both tradition and change; that systems rise, serve their purpose, and are succeeded by others; and that, in the end, our judgement must be guided not solely by law or label, but by taste, experience, and the quiet pleasure of a well-filled glass.

If, therefore, you find yourself at table with a German wine bearing the venerable letters QmP, you may do it the honour of recognizing its history. For though the law may have moved on, the wine in your glass still speaks—with all the eloquence of its origin, its ripeness, and its maker—of a time when quality was measured with almost mathematical seriousness, yet still intended for the simple, enduring enjoyment of those fortunate enough to drink it.