Riesling Wine Guide

The Sommeliers’ Favorite

Ask sommeliers about their favorite grape, and many will answer Riesling. This aristocratic variety produces wines across the entire sweetness spectrum while maintaining remarkable acidity and aging potential.

Understanding Riesling Sweetness

Riesling ranges from bone-dry to intensely sweet:

Dry (Trocken)

Crisp, citrus-driven, mineral

Off-Dry (Halbtrocken/Feinherb)

Hint of sweetness balanced by acidity

Medium Sweet (Spatlese, Kabinett)

Fruity with noticeable sweetness

Sweet (Auslese, Beerenauslese, TBA)

Dessert wines with honeyed intensity

Key insight: Riesling’s high acidity balances sweetness, so even sweet versions taste fresh rather than cloying.

Tasting Riesling

Young Wines

Lime, green apple, white flowers, slate/mineral

Aged Wines

The famous “petrol” note develops with age, along with honey, dried apricot, and marmalade.

World Regions

Germany

The heartland. Mosel produces delicate, low-alcohol wines; Rheingau offers richer expressions. Look for quality levels: Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese.

Alsace, France

Typically dry, fuller-bodied Riesling with floral and stone fruit character.

Austria

Dry, mineral styles from Wachau and Kamptal.

Australia

Clare and Eden Valley produce distinctive lime-inflected dry Rieslings.

Food Pairings

Riesling’s acidity makes it extraordinarily food-friendly:

• Spicy Asian cuisine (Thai, Vietnamese)
• Pork schnitzel and sausages
• Shellfish and seafood
• Soft washed-rind cheeses

Discover Riesling with Sommo

Use Sommo to decode German wine labels, understand sweetness levels, and find Rieslings that match your taste.