German Riesling Styles
Explore the diverse world of German Rieslings, from crisp and dry to lusciously sweet. Each style offers a unique expression of terroir and craftsmanship.
Kabinett
The most delicate Prädikat level, representing the essence of German Riesling finesse. Typically 7-10% alcohol with ethereal lightness.
Characteristics:
- Delicate structure
- Green apple and citrus
- Electric acidity
- 7-10% alcohol
- Minimum 70° Oechsle
Food Pairings:
- Sushi and sashimi
- Vietnamese pho
- Fresh goat cheese
- Summer salads
- Mild Indian curries
Spätlese
Late harvest wines with enhanced concentration and complexity. The 1775 discovery at Schloss Johannisberg revolutionized winemaking.
Characteristics:
- Richer texture
- Stone fruit and honey
- Perfect sweet-acid balance
- 10-13% alcohol
- Minimum 80° Oechsle
Food Pairings:
- Thai green curry
- Peking duck
- Aged Gouda
- Apple strudel
- Moroccan tagines
Auslese
Selected harvest from individually chosen bunches. Often touched by noble rot, creating wines of exceptional depth and complexity.
Characteristics:
- Luscious concentration
- Honeyed complexity
- Tropical fruits and botrytis
- Endless finish
- Minimum 88° Oechsle
Food Pairings:
- Seared foie gras
- Roquefort cheese
- Tarte Tatin
- Crème brûlée
- Lobster with butter sauce
Beerenauslese (BA)
Berry selection of botrytized grapes creates nectar-like wines. Production requires perfect autumn conditions and extreme patience.
Characteristics:
- Unctuous sweetness
- Noble rot complexity
- Apricot and honey
- Vibrant acidity balance
- Minimum 110° Oechsle
Food Pairings:
- Stilton cheese
- Almond tart
- Foie gras terrine
- Saffron poached pears
- Meditation wine
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
The ultimate expression of German winemaking art. Individual selection of shriveled, botrytized berries creates liquid gold of unparalleled complexity.
Characteristics:
- Ethereal sweetness
- Explosive concentration
- Dried fruits and caramel
- Immortal aging potential
- Minimum 150° Oechsle
Food Pairings:
- Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Dark chocolate truffles
- Candied orange peel
- Best enjoyed alone
- Investment wine
Eiswein
Nature's cryoextraction creates wines of crystalline purity. Grapes must be harvested and pressed at -7°C or below, often requiring night harvests.
Characteristics:
- Laser-like acidity
- Pure fruit essence
- No botrytis influence
- Incredible freshness
- Minimum 110° Oechsle
Food Pairings:
- Lemon tart
- Fresh tropical fruits
- Époisses cheese
- Mango sorbet
- Celebration wine
Why German Riesling?
German Riesling represents the pinnacle of white winemaking precision, achieving what no other wine can: ethereal delicacy with profound complexity, sweetness that tastes dry, and wines that improve for a century. This mastery stems from Germany's unique position at the northernmost edge of quality viticulture, where extended growing seasons and dramatic terroir variations create unparalleled expressions.
The Prädikat system, based on grape ripeness at harvest, creates a quality ladder unmatched globally. From delicate Kabinett (70° Oechsle) to the nectar-like Trockenbeerenauslese (150°+ Oechsle), each level represents exponentially increasing concentration and rarity. A single TBA berry might yield just one drop of juice - liquid gold worth more per ounce than many precious metals.
What truly distinguishes German Riesling is its ability to express terroir with laser precision. Taste a Wehlener Sonnenuhr next to an Ürziger Würzgarten - both from the Mosel, separated by just kilometers - and experience completely different wines. The blue slate speaks of smoke and steel; the red slate whispers of spice and earth. This transparency exists nowhere else in the wine world with such clarity. resulting in a fascinating spectrum of wines that cater to every palate and occasion.
Explore German Rieslings
Discover the diverse world of German Rieslings by region, winery, or style.