Germany is an old world wine country that is famously known for its Riesling production. Germany takes its white wine very seriously with white wines making up over 65% of the country’s vineyards. Germany is among the most northerly wine-growing countries of the world. It is primarily the warm Gulf Stream and its tempering influence on western Europe's climate that enables grapes to ripen this far north. The climate and weather in Germany's wine-growing regions present challenges to viticulture that are unknown in the Mediterranean region. Some of the wine grapes that this old world region is best known for include: Riesling and Sparkling Wines.