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Red wines are becoming more important in Germany, and their style is changing. They are increasingly made in a consciously French style, with higher alcohol, less residual sugar and wood-agening. The main red variety is Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir). In parallel there is a growth in the popularity of the white varieties from the Pinot family: Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Rulander (Pinot Gris) and Chardonnay (allowed since 1991 in the south). Spat- and Weissburgunder wine of good international class comes from the Kaiserstuhl and Ortenau districts of Baden. Both these Pinot vines are equally at home in the Pfalz, where their wines have a shade more acidity. In fact, high-quality Spatburgunder wine is being produced in many parts of Germany, often by growers with experience in other countries.

Other red wine varieties include Blauer Portugieser, which makes mostly light wine, and Dornfelder, a new crossing which makes a wine akin to beaujolais.