Market data reviewed 24 September 2026. Market figures refer to full-year 2025.

To find wine importers in Germany, start with the sales channel and price position your winery can serve. Compare each company’s portfolio, regional reach and buying model before contacting its wine buyer. A specialist supplying Berlin restaurants, a Munich retailer importing directly and a business serving grocery chains can all buy wine, but they offer very different routes to market.

This guide profiles 10 wine importers, explains the latest full-year import figures and gives wineries a practical process for building a German buyer shortlist.

German wine imports: the market in numbers

According to the OIV’s State of the World Wine Sector in 2025, published in May 2026, Germany imported 12.9 million hectolitres of wine worth €2.6 billion in 2025. Import volume fell 0.6% from 2024, while value increased 4.0%.

Source: OIV, May 2026, section 4.4, page 22. Figures are rounded as reported; one hectolitre equals 100 litres. Italy remained Germany’s leading supplier by both volume and value. Bottled-wine imports rose 2.5% in volume and 7.8% in value.

What this means for your winery: a large import market does not guarantee demand for every wine. Rising total value alongside slightly lower volume is a reason to examine category and buyer fit; it does not prove that consumers will pay more for your particular product. Build your proposal around a specific portfolio gap, viable pricing and a channel you can support.

10 wine importers in Germany to research

Germany’s wine buyers use different business models. Some combine importing with distribution or wholesaling; others also sell through retail and online stores. The examples below, drawn from the BestWineImporters database, give wineries a starting point for researching potential partners. Selection is illustrative rather than a ranking by size or suitability. A listing does not indicate that a company is currently seeking new suppliers.

Reidemeister & Ulrichs GmbH

Reidemeister & Ulrichs combines importing, distribution and wholesaling from Bremen. Its drinks portfolio spans wine, sparkling wine and spirits, making it a candidate for wineries researching an importer with several trade functions.

Before approaching: Establish which customer channels and price segments the relevant wine team serves, then assess how your range would complement its existing wines.

Website: ruu.de

Wein Wolf GmbH

Bonn-based Wein Wolf combines importing and distribution with an online store. Its product categories include wine, sparkling wine, organic wine and spirits. Organic producers can use that category as an initial screening signal, then assess the actual range and purchasing requirements.

Before approaching: Confirm the intended sales channel and the wine category your proposal would enter; an organic listing alone does not demonstrate a gap in the portfolio.

Website: weinwolf.de

Schlumberger Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

Schlumberger is based in Meckenheim and combines importing, distribution and retail activities. Its portfolio covers wine, sparkling wine and spirits. Wineries should assess the relevant wine range separately from the broader drinks business when considering a commercial fit.

Before approaching: Clarify the target customer segment, expected positioning and existing representation of your region or style.

Website: schlumberger.de

Rindchen’s Weinkontor GmbH & Co. KG

Rindchen’s Weinkontor, based in Bönningstedt, combines wine importing with retail and online sales. Its listed categories include organic and sparkling wine. This combination makes its consumer-facing assortment a useful starting point for wineries assessing range fit and presentation.

Before approaching: Compare your intended retail price and product story with the current assortment, and establish the commercial requirements of the proposed sales route.

Website: rindchen.de

Lobenbergs Gute Weine GmbH & Co. KG

Lobenbergs Gute Weine is a Bremen-based importer with an online store. Its listed categories cover wine, organic wine and sparkling wine. Wineries considering this route should examine how individual estates and wines are presented to customers as part of their buyer research.

Before approaching: Assess overlap with existing wines from your region and identify a clear reason for adding your range.

Website: gute-weine.de

Mack & Schühle AG

Mack & Schühle is based in Owen and combines importing, distribution and wholesaling. Its portfolio spans wine, sparkling wine and spirits. These trade functions make the company relevant to wineries researching distribution partners, subject to a match with the appropriate part of the business.

Before approaching: Establish the correct team, target channel and volume expectations before developing a proposal.

Website: mus.de

Eggers & Franke GmbH

Eggers & Franke operates as an importer and distributor from Bremen, with wine, sparkling wine and spirits in its portfolio. Wineries should assess the current wine range and its route to customers when considering a possible distribution relationship.

Before approaching: Clarify the relevant purchasing function, customer channels and potential portfolio overlap before discussing exclusivity or sending samples.

Website: egfra.de

Pinard de Picard GmbH & Co. KG

Pinard de Picard is based in Saarwellingen and combines importing and distribution with retail and online sales. Its categories include wine, organic wine, sparkling wine and spirits. Wineries can assess both the assortment and the company’s consumer-facing presentation when researching a potential fit.

Before approaching: Identify the intended commercial channel and show how your wines add something distinct to the existing selection.

Website: pinard-de-picard.de

Peter Riegel Weinimport GmbH

Peter Riegel Weinimport is based in Orsingen. Its database profile combines importing, retail and online sales and includes wine, organic wine and sparkling wine. Organic producers should examine the current assortment and certification requirements as part of their qualification process.

Before approaching: Confirm the applicable certification, packaging and target-price requirements for the wines you intend to offer.

Website: riegel.de

Stephan Pellegrini GmbH

Stephan Pellegrini is an importer based in Landau in der Pfalz. Its listed categories cover wine, organic wine, sparkling wine and spirits. The importer classification establishes a relevant starting point for producer research; the appropriate customer channel still needs to be qualified.

Before approaching: Confirm the target customer segment and current portfolio priorities, then tailor the proposal to the relevant wine category.

Website: pellegrini.de

Research note: Company-level facts above are drawn from BestWineImporters database records reviewed on 28 September 2026. The “Before approaching” points are editorial guidance, not statements of the companies‘ buying requirements. Portfolio categories may overlap, and location does not establish distribution coverage.

Find importers that match your wines. Explore the wider German buyer database and available contact information. Request a demo tailored to your origins, price range and target channels.

Before building a list, review the differences between importers, distributors and agents and establish which functions your partner needs to perform.

Choose a buyer type that fits your winery

Boutique wineries and limited-production wines

Start with specialists whose existing producers, price points and customers resemble the business you want to build. Look for a clear reason to add your wine: an origin missing from the portfolio, a complementary style or a product suited to a particular restaurant or retail audience. Ask about trial orders, reorder expectations and how the buyer introduces unfamiliar producers.

Premium producers targeting restaurants and specialist retail

Assess how the importer supports the sale after taking delivery. Ask about account coverage, tastings, staff education and who presents your wines to customers. A long brand list is less useful than evidence that the company can explain and sell a wine at your intended price. Prepare a concise positioning statement and support it with product details rather than broad claims about quality.

Volume producers and private-label suppliers

Research buyers whose channels and purchasing model match your available volumes. Prepare clear information on production capacity, minimum orders, lead times, packaging options and continuity of supply. Before pursuing a large account, model the commercial terms and the resources needed to service it. Private-label capability should be discussed with each buyer; it is not implied by inclusion in the company table.

If Germany is one of several options, use our guide to choosing wine export markets to compare product fit and practical market-entry costs.

Build and qualify a German importer shortlist

1. Define your offer. Record origin, wine style, certifications, export price, available volume, minimum order and target channel. State whether the offer is bottled wine, bulk wine or private label.
2. Find a relevant longlist. Combine a specialist database with official company websites, portfolio catalogues and trade-event research. Record where each claim came from and when you checked it.
3. Check portfolio fit. Identify comparable wines, possible gaps and direct competitors. Write one specific reason for approaching each company.
4. Confirm the buying model. Establish whether the business imports directly, acts as an agent, or buys from another German distributor. Ask which regions and customers it can serve.
5. Test commercial compatibility. Discuss price positioning, order size, delivery expectations and marketing support before investing in samples or travel.
6. Identify the buyer and next step. Verify the current purchasing contact and ask whether the relevant category is under review. Prioritize a small, well-matched group for personalized outreach.

For a repeatable scoring method, follow our qualified importer-list workflow. Before sending bottles, use the importer evaluation checklist.

What to prepare before contacting German wine buyers

Make it easy for a buyer to assess commercial fit. Prepare a short presentation with the following information:

• Your winery, region and the wines most relevant to that buyer.
• Export pricing, currency, delivery basis and minimum order.
• Available volume, vintage, lead time and case/pallet configuration.
• Technical sheets, packaging information and supporting certification documents where relevant.
• The target sales channel and your reason for believing the wines fit the portfolio.
• A clear next step: a range review, a short call or an agreed tasting.

Clarify who will handle transport, documentation and the applicable market requirements before shipment. Requirements depend on the product and origin; this guide is a buyer-research resource rather than a compliance checklist.

Keep the first message focused on fit and the next step. Use our wine importer email templates and follow-up guidance to adapt your approach. Send samples after the buyer confirms which wines they want to evaluate.

Explore German buyer profiles in a personalized demo

BestWineImporters helps wineries research importers, distributors and retailers. In a personalized demo, explore buyer profiles, available decision-maker contacts and the filters you can use to build a German export shortlist.

Bring your wine category, origin, price position and target channel so the discussion can focus on your winery’s needs.

Book my Germany importer research demo

Questions wineries ask about German wine importers

Which German wine importer is best for a small winery?

The best fit depends on your wine, available volume, price and preferred sales channel. Start with buyers whose portfolios and account base match those constraints, then confirm their current interest. The largest company is not automatically the most suitable partner.

Can a wine retailer also be an importer?

Yes. Rindchen’s Weinkontor combines importing with retail and online sales. When assessing this type of partner, distinguish purchases for its own retail business from distribution to other accounts. That distinction determines the coverage and growth potential of the relationship.

Are these companies currently accepting new wineries?

New supplier opportunities depend on portfolio gaps, category priorities and the buying cycle. Contact the relevant buyer with a specific proposal to establish current interest before sending samples. Inclusion in this guide does not indicate an open buying requirement.

Where should I start if I have never exported?

Define your export offer and partner requirements first. Our practical guide to finding wine importers explains the wider process from market selection to outreach.

Compare related export markets

For a wider German-speaking market strategy, compare buyer portfolios and territorial coverage with the Austria wine importer guide and the Switzerland wine importer guide. Qualify buyers, territory and commercial terms separately for each market.