Europe
Germany
The homeland of Riesling - the world's most thrilling white grape, grown on impossibly steep slate slopes beside the Rhine.
Germany produces some of the most profound white wines on earth and is woefully misunderstood outside its borders. Its north-facing vineyards along the Rhine and its tributaries are among the steepest and coldest in the winemaking world, yet they ripen Riesling to astonishing levels of flavour and minerality.
The 1980s' reputation for cheap, sweet and bland German wine has given way to a golden era: dry Riesling of piercing purity, delicate Silvaner, and the great off-dry Spätlese and Auslese dessert wines that are among the world's finest.
German Riesling has a rightly earned fanatic following among sommeliers - the best are ethereal, energetic and endlessly food-versatile, and even the finest are usually excellent value.
Wine Regions
All regions →Mosel
Southwestern Germany, along the steep banks of the Mosel river and its tributaries (Saar, Ruwer).
Pfalz
Southwestern Germany, the second-largest wine region, stretching along the border with Alsace.
Rheingau
Central Germany, on the north bank of the Rhine below the Taunus mountains, near Wiesbaden.
Notable Wines
All wines →Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling
Mosel · 2024 (representative vintage)
Egon MĂĽller Scharzhofberger Riesling is an white wine from Germany, in the Mosel region (Southwestern Germany, along the steep banks of the Mosel river and its tributaries (Saar, Ruwer).), made principally from Riesling. The most famous and expensive Riesling in the world, from the steep slate of the Saar's Scharzhofberg.
$200–$400 est. retail
Dr. Loosen Bernkasteler Lay
Mosel · 2024 (representative vintage)
Dr. Loosen Bernkasteler Lay is an white wine from Germany, in the Mosel region (Southwestern Germany, along the steep banks of the Mosel river and its tributaries (Saar, Ruwer).), made principally from Riesling. A modern estate's classic Mosel Kabinett — crisp, low-alcohol and delicately sweet.
$25–$40 est. retail
J. J. PrĂĽm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese
Mosel · 2024 (representative vintage)
J. J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese is an white wine from Germany, in the Mosel region (Southwestern Germany, along the steep banks of the Mosel river and its tributaries (Saar, Ruwer).), made principally from Riesling. The great Mosel Auslese from the famous sundial vineyard — luscious, racy and immortal.
$80–$150 est. retail
Weingut Markus Molitor Eiswein
Mosel · 2024 (representative vintage)
Weingut Markus Molitor Eiswein is an dessert wine from Germany, in the Mosel region (Southwestern Germany, along the steep banks of the Mosel river and its tributaries (Saar, Ruwer).), made principally from Riesling. Hand-picked frozen Riesling turned into riveting amber dessert wine — glacial concentration in a glass.
$60–$120 est. retail
Mosel Riesling
Mosel · 2024 (representative vintage)
Mosel Riesling is an white wine from Germany, in the Mosel region (Southwestern Germany, along the steep banks of the Mosel river and its tributaries (Saar, Ruwer).), made principally from Riesling. a house-style Mosel riesling that showcases the grape in this region.
$12–$28 est. retail
Mosel MĂĽller-Thurgau
Mosel · 2024 (representative vintage)
Mosel MĂĽller-Thurgau is an white wine from Germany, in the Mosel region (Southwestern Germany, along the steep banks of the Mosel river and its tributaries (Saar, Ruwer).), made principally from MĂĽller-Thurgau. a house-style Mosel mĂĽller-thurgau that showcases the grape in this region.
$12–$28 est. retail
Buying Germany Wine
- › Learn the Prädikat scale: Kabinett (light, often off-dry), Spätlese (riper), Auslese (sweet, botrytis-tinged), and the rare Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese dessert treasures.
- › For dry wines look for 'Trocken' on the label; German dry Riesling from the Pfalz, Nahe and Rheingau is world-class and food-friendly.
- › Riesling rewards ageing superbly - a bottle of Spätlese from a good vintage can easily improve for 10-20 years.