Liebfraumilch is a sweet white German wine. The name is a German word literally meaning "milk of our blessed mother" and derived from "liebe Frau" which translates to "beloved woman/lady". It is the best selling wine of Germany.
The correct German spelling of the word is Liebfrauenmilch, named after the vineyard of the church Liebfrauenkirche in Worms, Germany. The term "Liebfrauen" in a church name generally stands for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Liebfrauenmilch is a high quality hock of very limited distribution. The Valckenburg wine company sells their wine produced in the original vineyard under the name "MADONNA Liebfraumilch," although ironically it is not legally a Liebfraumilch, but rather a QmP. The generic label Liebfraumilch is used to market low quality vintages from the whole Rheinhessen/Nahe area. It is unknown in Germany and exclusively used for exports.
Peter Josef Valckenberg, a Dutch immigrant started a wine export firm in Worms in 1786. In 1808, he acquired the monastery vineyards from the French occupation forces. His family then developed and dominated the German export market. It remains a major company.
In the U.S. and the U.K., perhaps the best known example is Blue Nun. While the term is associated with low quality wine, Liebfraumilch is required by the German Wine Law to be one step above the lowest category, Tafelwein (table wine).
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