German Riesling: A buying guide for beginners

Synopsis: Germany is celebrated as the birthplace of Riesling, where the grape thrives in a range of styles, from dry (trocken) to sweet. This versatile wine is produced across Germany’s 13 wine regions, each with its own unique terroir. Notable regions like the Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, and Nahe each bring distinct qualities to their Rieslings, influenced by factors like soil, sun exposure, and topography. German Riesling is classified by the Prädikat system, which indicates grape ripeness at harvest, and the VDP system, which categorizes wine quality based on origin. Though many assume German Riesling is sweet, the majority produced today is actually dry. German Rieslings range from affordable, terroir-expressive village wines (Ortswein) to premium, complex bottlings (Grosses Gewächs or GG), appealing to a wide array of wine enthusiasts.

Written By: Anna Lee Iijima
Photo Credit: Sylvia Wu
Published: March 13, 2024