Which designation denotes a top single-vineyard site?

• A. Erste Lage
• B. Große Lage
• C. Ortswein
• D. Gutswein

Answer: (A)

In German wine labeling, Lage signifies a vineyard site, and the quality tiers reflect how selective the designation is about origin. A top single-vineyard site is designated as Erste Lage, meaning the wine comes from a named, single vineyard recognized for its exceptional terroir and character. This label signals a high level of quality tied to a specific site.

Gutswein refers to estate wines from grapes across the producer’s holdings, not a single site. Ortswein comes from grapes within a single village but may involve multiple vineyards within that village. Große Lage is a higher tier for premier sites, but it is associated with carefully selected great sites and isn’t the standard term used for a single distinguished vineyard in this context.

So the designation that denotes a top single-vineyard site in this framework is Erste Lage.