When you hear the word German wine, what image comes to mind?
When many people think of German wine, the first thing that comes to mind is Riesling.
Riesling is a white grape variety originating from Germany and is one of the two most noble white varieties.
Riesling is a grape variety with a unique flavor and has many enthusiastic fans. By the way, Riesling is also my favorite grape variety! The balance between the sweetness of the fruit and the sharp acidity is very delicious.
Many people may have the impression that German wine is sweet, but in recent years, high-quality dry wines made from Riesling have also become popular.
This time we would like to introduce you to the attractive German Riesling wines that can be enjoyed from dry to extremely sweet.
What kind of variety is Riesling?
Characteristics of Riesling aroma
There are two main types of Riesling aromas.
One is a faint floral aroma reminiscent of ``white flowers,'' and the other is a unique Riesling aroma called ``petrol.'' Other fruit expressions that are often used include citrus fruits and green apples. Riesling, made from fully ripened grapes, also has aromas of honey and tropical fruits such as pineapple.
Characteristics of Riesling taste
Riesling has a sharp, strong acidity, mineral flavor, and an overall elegant impression. Riesling is a grape with extremely high potential, producing high-quality wines not only in dry varieties but also in slightly sweet and extremely sweet varieties. In order to soften the sharp acidity of Riesling with the sweetness of the fruit, in cold regions such as Germany it is often made not only dry but also slightly sweet.
Long-term aging of Riesling
Riesling is a grape variety that is suitable for long-term aging due to its rich acidity.
Furthermore, it is said that high-quality sweet wines such as noble rot wines made in great vineyards in good years can be aged for over 100 years.
german riesling
Riesling is grown in various countries and regions around the world, including the Alsace region of France, Austria, and the United States, but Germany is also the country of origin of Riesling and is one of the most famous Riesling growing regions in the world.
German wine law:
In Germany, wine is graded based on the sugar content of the grapes at the time of harvest. Therefore, you can judge the dryness of a wine from the terms listed below on the label.
- Trockenbeerenauslese
- Eiswein
- Beerenauslese
- Auslese
- Spätlese
- Kabinett
- Halptrocken
- Trocken
In addition, six types of wine, from Trockenbeerenauslese to Kabinett, are ranked as the highest quality German wines, called ``Predekats''.
The problem is that the terminology is long and difficult to remember, but please use it as a reference when choosing wine.
Main production areas of Riesling in Germany
``Rheingau'' and ``Mosel'' are known as the two major German wine producing regions. Pfalz is also mentioned as the main production area for Riesling, but other regions (such as Rheinhesse, Nahe, and Baden) also produce excellent Riesling.
What's interesting about Riesling varieties is that the amount of acidity and residual sugar levels in the grapes change depending on the coldness of the climate where they are grown. In the relatively warm regions of Pfalz, Baden, and Franconia, many dry-style Rieslings are produced, as the acidity is slightly muted and the fruit flavors are rich. On the other hand, in colder regions like the Moselle, wines are often left with a lot of sugar to balance out the strong acids, resulting in a sweeter style.
Germany's leading producer of Riesling
J.J.Prum
This is a prestigious winery located in the village of Bernkastel in the middle of the Mosel River.
We grow only Riesling in our own fields. We also own approximately 4.5 ha of the ``Werehner Sonnenur'' field, which is said to be one of the best fields in the Mosel, and the Prüm family is also the largest owner of this field. We also own fields in Glacher Himmelreich and other areas. We value older vines and use late-harvested grapes for our wines. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks using natural yeast to produce low-yield wine.
Kabinett Johann Joseph Prüm/Graher Himmelreich Riesling [2018]
Himmelreich means "Kingdom of Heaven". The wine produced from the Gracher Himmelreich vineyard is a slightly dry Riesling with crisp acidity, a solid minerality reminiscent of crushed rock, and citrus fruit aromas and flavors.
Kabinett Johann Josef Prüm/Bernkasteller Badstube Riesling [2018]
The Bernkasteller Badstube fields are adjacent to the southern end of Glacher Himmelreich. The grapes from the Badstube vineyard produce wines with floral, delicate and mineral notes. This is a Riesling with a slightly sweet and fruity impression.
Kloster Eberbach
This is a producer who owns one of Germany's best fields called ``Steinberg'', which is called the four Orzteilage (special single fields) in Rheingau. Approximately 85% of the fields owned by Kloster Eber Bach grow Riesling. In addition to Steinberg, we also own several famous fields. Although it is a producer with a long history, it has been working on various reforms since the 2000s, and the quality of its wine has improved. We are also focusing on producing dry style Riesling.
Kloster Eberbach/Riesling Classic (SC) [2017]
"Classic" is a rating for high-quality dry wines introduced in Germany in 2000, and was established to spread the image of a new dry German wine. The classic taste is characterized by a rich aroma and well-balanced dryness. A basic dry Riesling wine that expresses the charm of the Riesling variety.
Robert Weil
Located in the village of Keetrich in Rheingau, this winery improved its quality in 1988 with financial support from the Japanese company Suntory. We grow Riesling on 100% of our own fields, and are highly rated for its dryness, producing consistently high-quality Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein every year. The grapes are harvested in dozens of rounds depending on the style of wine, producing a wide range of wines from dry to extremely sweet.
Robert Weill/Riesling Sekt Extra Brut [2015]
This is a dry sparkling wine with secondary fermentation in the bottle, using grapes from our own vineyard near the special vineyard Gräfenberg. It has aromas of white flowers and white peach, which are characteristic of Riesling varieties. By using fully ripe Riesling, the fruit flavor is complemented by just the right amount of acidity, creating a delicate flavor. The foam is fine and has an elegant taste.
Robert Weill/Kietricher Riesling Trocken [2017]
This is a dry wine made from a blend of Grafenberg grapes from the flagship vineyard and Riesling grapes from the first grade vineyard. The wines from the Gräfenberg vineyard are among the best in the Rheingau. The taste is delicate and elegant, with a very good balance of fruit and acidity.
German Riesling can be enjoyed in a wide range of styles, from dry to extremely sweet. Why not try searching for your favorite Riesling wine?
