Riesling wine: reviews & trends in 2025

10 Best Riesling white wine bottles to buy online

These best Riesling white wine bottles cover a wide range of vintage years and aging potentials, yet they are all united by the grape’s signature character. We have curated this list considering the individual tasting notes of each bottle, as well as important factors like customer reviews and critics’ accolades to ensure that we are bringing you only premium wines. 

Riesling wine taste at a glance

Riesling Wine	Details
Grape Variety	100% Riesling
Origin	Germany (Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz), Alsace (France), Austria, USA (Washington, Oregon), Italy
Serving Temperature	45 to 55°F (7.2 to 13°C) according to sweetness level
Decanting	Optional: young Rieslings usually do not require decanting. Older vintages may benefit from gentle aeration
Aging Potential	Depending on quality and style, it can age from 5 up to 30+ years
Flavor Profile	Aromas of citrus, green apple, stone fruits, floral notes, honey, petrol (in aged Rieslings) and pronounced minerality
Structure	Medium bodied to full bodied, vibrant acidity, often with varying levels of sweetness
Alcohol Content	Typically 7% to 13%, depending on style and ripeness
Ideal Glass	Narrow tulip shaped glass or a classic white wine glass
Food Pairing	Excellent with seafood, shellfish, spicy Asian dishes, pork, poultry, creamy cheeses, and dishes with a touch of sweetness or spice
Top Regions	Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz (Germany); Alsace (France); Wachau, Kamptal (Austria); Columbia Valley (USA); Südtirol, Piedmont (Italy)
Notable Producers	Egon Müller, Joh. Jos. Prüm, Dr. Loosen, Robert Weil, Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Fritz Haag, Gunderloch

One aroma defines all great Riesling wines is vibrant lime zest. This signature note, usually present in bone dry and  sweet styles, acts as the grape’s calling card, delivering that instantly recognizable burst of freshness. However, there is more to the Riesling wine taste than its crispness, other flavors you can expect are vibrant citrus aromas of grapefruit complemented by ripe peach (especially for late harvested grapes and warmer areas). The fruity aromas are layered by floral notes of honeysuckle, jasmine and orange blossom, and in exceptional vintages, also by smoky and honey nuances.  

Did you know? Riesling white wine is renowned for its exceptional aging potential due to high natural acidity levels with some bottlings remaining drinkable well past 50 years! Aged German Rieslings tend to develop a “petrol” taste quality due to the development of TDN.  

Spotlight on German Riesling wine

Germany is widely regarded as the global benchmark for Riesling wines because it is the grape’s historic home and the place where it achieves unparalleled balance between vibrant acidity and delicate aromatics. German Riesling wines benefit from the country’s cool northern climate and diverse soils allowing the grape to ripen slowly while preserving its hallmark freshness. This long ripening season yields wines with intense citrus, green apple and often a subtle mineral smokiness, combined with naturally low alcohol and a remarkable ability to age. Here are three of our recommended bottles:

Classification system for German Riesling wines

German Rieslings were grouped under the “Qualitätswein mit Prädikat” or QmP designation before it was renamed; you may still find the old name on wine labels bottled before 2007.  In this system of classification, quality levels are determined based on the levels of sweetness of the wine, and there are 5 tiers from driest to sweetest:

A sixth category may be included to describe Eiswein, which is crafted from Riesling grapes frozen on the vine and picked at 260+ g/L. This classification system for Riesling is unique to Germany, though Austria follows a similar model. 

German Prädikatswein Riesling classification

Category	Sugar Level at Harvest	Style / Sweetness	Notes
Kabinett Early ripening grapes	148-188 g/L	Light bodied, from dry to off dry	Fresh, delicate, often lower alcohol
Spätlese Late harvest	172-209 g/L	Medium sweet to rich Spätlese Trocken:  dry, higher alcohol	Picked later for more ripeness and concentration
Auslese Select harvest	191-260 g/L	Sweet to luscious	Hand selected ripe berries, sometimes include botrytised grapes
Beerenauslese (BA) Berry select harvest	> 260 g/L	Very sweet, dessert style	Rare, made from botrytised, raisin like berries
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) Dry berry select harvest	375-400 g/L	Extremely sweet, nectar like	Rarest and most concentrated from fully raisinated botrytised berries

What are the top Riesling wine brands worldwide?

While the most celebrated Riesling wine brands are German, renowned estates from France and California have also risen to global acclaim. Here are the top 3 Riesling wine producers making waves in the industry,  selected by our team, from historic German vineyards to California’s new frontiers.

What are the types of Riesling white wine?

Riesling white wines are primarily categorized by ripeness and residual sugar levels. While in Germany they’re classified according to ripeness at harvest under the Prädikatswein system, in most other Riesling producing countries the classification focuses mainly on the wine’s residual sugar (RS) level. 

Dry Riesling: Rieslings crafted in France, Austria and America are often drier than expressions from other countries. Grapes meant for dry Riesling are picked at full ripeness and they undergo complete fermentation in stainless steel tanks, leaving little to no residual sugar (typically less than 9g/L). The palate is clean and lean, making them ideal pairings with seafood and light appetizers. Their optimal aging is between five and 15 years.

Sparkling Riesling originated in Germany in the late 1800s, where it is called “sket” and it remains popular till this day. Usually in the Brut to Extra Dry category range (between 6 and 17 g/L RS), it pairs well with a variety of foods, including savory smoked salmon, cured meats and spicy cuisine.

Semi sweet Riesling can also be referred to as off dry Riesling. They have subtle hints of sweetness balanced by bright acidity, as well as notes of fresh citrus and stone fruit. Semi sweet Riesling (often between 18 and 45 g/L RS) can be paired with spicy dishes like Szechuan pork and they are best enjoyed between 10 and 20 years.

Sweet Riesling wine: most German Rieslings tend to be sweet because of the cooler climate and terroir. These wines are produced from late harvest or after noble rot affected grapes. They exhibit strong aromas of honey, marmalade and dried apricot. Sweet Rieslings retain higher levels of residual sugar, commonly above 45g/L,  and are best enjoyed between 10 to 30 years of age shining alongside fruit based desserts.

Inside the Riesling wine price range

Riesling presents one of the most fascinating price ranges in the wine world, ranging from exceptional value bottles to rare collector’s items commanding thousands. There are several factors that most influence the Riesling wine cost, one of which is the sweetness level. Producing sweeter Riesling styles is more expensive due to the grapes needing more time to mature or develop noble rot, with lower amounts of wine being yielded from the same grapes. The prestige of the winemaker also plays a key role: wineries with vineyards classified as German Grand Cru “Grosse Lage” sites, are more sought after. A final factor influencing prices is also aging: aged and mature Rieslings come with a higher cost as they’re not released on the market right away and need cellaring time to develop the much appreciated secondary flavors of honey, petrol and toast.

Below is a table of top Riesling wines, their producers, and a price range from affordable to prestigious.

1. 1. Entry Level Riesling: Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese 2023 - Donnhoff

   

   Aroma of juicy nectarine, macerated apricot and tangerine.

   5.0/5

   From: $40.00

   Buy now
2. 2. Mid Tier Riesling: Smaragd Klaus Riesling 2022 - Prager

   

   Highly acidic and full bodied with robust aromas of honeysuckle, apricot, thyme and grapefruit.

   4.9/5

   From: $90.00

   Buy now
3. 3. Single Vineyard Riesling: Wiltinger Braune Kupp Riesling Spatlese 2023 - Egon Müller

   

   Fragrant and charming with a spicy nose and refreshing finish.

   5.0/5

   From: $200.00

   Buy now
4. 4. Collector / Premium Riesling: Les Ecaillers Riesling 2008 - Leon Beyer

   

   Les Ecaillers shows the rewarding complexity that comes with age. Offers mature aromas of honey, chalk, lemon and lime peel with a stony mineral streak.

   5.0/5

   From: $2,000.00

   Buy now

What wines are similar to Riesling? 

For Riesling lovers wanting to explore new wines with similar freshness and aromatic depth, Pinot Gris is one of the closest alternatives. Much like Riesling, it offers a wide spectrum of styles (from bone dry to sweet) while keeping its vibrant acidity.

In the table below we’ve gathered a selection of wines similar to Riesling and other exciting options.

Wine / Grape	Top Wine	Comparison
Riesling vs Moscato	Bricco Quaglia Moscato d’Asti 2024 – La Spinetta – Piedmont, Italy	Moscato is more floral, fruity and sweeter than Riesling. It often has lower alcohol levels, with predominant notes of peach and orange blossom.
Riesling vs Pinot Grigio	Dessimis Pinot Grigio 2023 – Vie di Romans – Fruili-Veneza Giulia, Italy	Pinot Grigio is typically drier and lighter bodied than Riesling with clear flavors of green apple, pear and citrus.
Riesling vs Chardonnay	Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2023 – Flowers – Sonoma County, California	Chardonnay is a more versatile grape when compared to Riesling, that can yield lean and citrusy wines as well as full bodied and creamy oak aged expressions.

3 Riesling wine bottles for collectors worth the investment

Riesling wine is considered highly collectible due to its complex tasting notes developing over time and unmatched ability to reflect its terroirs. Some bottles have achieved cult status among connoisseurs, highly sought after for their exceptional aging potential (sometimes decades) and ability to evolve during cellaring time. The most collected high end Rieslings originate from small and limited productions from prestigious vineyards, usually resulting in unique taste characteristics. 

Based on vintage, rarity and winemaker reputation, we have selected three of the most prestigious Riesling wines on the market today:

Best Riesling Wine	Our Rating	Avg. Price
Brand Vendange Tardive Riesling 2006 – Zind-Humbrecht – France	5/5	Over $5000
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Eiswein 1998 – Joh. Jos. Prüm – Germany	5/5	$1000+
Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2006 – Fritz Haag – Germany	4.9/5	$700+

Fun fact: the most expensive Riesling wine is a bottle of Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, currently priced at the whopping sum of $17,506! 

What are the best vintages for Riesling wine?

Riesling is one of the few white wines that improves for decades, making the best Riesling vintages highly sought after by collectors. However, not every year ages equally! Climate conditions during the growing season play a crucial role in determining a wine’s longevity and market value. 

Let’s see together the Riesling wine vintage chart, with the best years and their most sought after bottles.

Riesling Best Vintage	Recommended Riesling Wine	Vintage Characteristics
2022	Kalkofen Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2022 – Von Winning – Germany	A very hot and dry summer followed by rains that yielded balanced wines with supple acidity and full ripeness.
2020	Iphofer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020 – Weingut Hans Wirsching – Germany	Grapes this year achieved ideal ripeness thanks to cool nights that preserved minerality and acidity perfectly.
2019	Abtsberg Riesling Auslese 2019 – Maximin Grunhaus – Germany	July recorded unprecedented heat levels, followed by a cooler August and winemakers selected a smaller crop of refined and precise Rieslings.
2017	Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Trocken Grosses Gewachs 2017 – Bassermann-Jordan – Germany	The warm and dry summer was followed by heavy frost, but producers delivered balanced and ageworthy wines.
2015	Frederic Emile Riesling 2015 – Maison Trimbach – France	Warm and sunny, leading to ripe, lush Rieslings with rich fruit and balanced acidity.

New to Riesling wine? Start with these 4 tips

Riesling is perfect for those who are just starting. Unlike bolder reds, it offers a wide spectrum of sweetness levels, making it easy to find one that suits your palate. If you are unsure where to begin when selecting a Riesling wine, here are some expert tips to guide you:

1. Start with a style that matches your preferred sweetness levels. Read the labels properly and check the alcohol content to identify dry (higher alcohol) and sweet (lower alcohol) styles. 
2. Serve Riesling well chilled, aiming for a temperature between 45°F and 55°F to enhance its nuanced flavors. 
3. Select the right glassware! A tulip shaped white wine glass with a narrow rim and wide bowl is perfect for concentrating its floral and fruity aromas. 
4. Don’t be afraid to experiment with food pairings. Try everything from spicy cuisine to cheese boards and dessert. 

Another great way to explore Riesling wine? Try it in fun, easy mixes like a fruity Riesling sangria or a refreshing cocktail!

Riesling Style	Our Recommendation	Best to Pair with
Young Riesling (under 5 yrs)	Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2022 – Karthauserhof – Germany	Seafood, Thai dishes, soft cheese
Aged Riesling (10+ yrs)	Grossi Laue Riesling 2014 – Hugel – France	Grilled chicken, Asian spicy food, cured meats

How to serve Riesling white wines

The delicate aromatics and vibrant acidity of Riesling whites demand careful serving to showcase their full potential. Here is the perfect way to serve Riesling like a pro:

1. Store bottles horizontally in a cool and dark place.
2. Serve dry Riesling at 50-54°F, off dry and sweet styles at 45-48°F.
3. Use a slender tulip shaped glass to concentrate aromas. Some brands have dedicated Riesling glasses.
4. Decant mature Rieslings for 30 minutes before pouring. 
5. Chill bottles in ice and water (never in the freezer!) during serving.

Recommended serving temperatures for Riesling white wines

Riesling Style	Optimal Temperature (°F and °C )	Notes
Dry Riesling (e.g., Trocken, Alsace, GG)	50 to 54°F 10 to 12°C	Cool enough to stay crisp yet warm enough to release floral and mineral aromatics
Off Dry Riesling (e.g., Kabinett, Spätlese)	45 to 48°F 7 to 9°C	Slightly cooler to balance subtle sweetness with acidity
Dessert Riesling (e.g., BA, TBA, Eiswein)	42 to 45°F 6 to 7°C	Served colder to focus richness and keep the wine lively
Older Vintages (over 10 years)	48 to 52°F 9 to 11°C	A touch warmer than younger Riesling wines to open up complex aged aromas

Given Riesling’s bracing acidity (pH often around 2.9 and 3.1), serving it too cold will mute its complex floral and mineral notes, while too warm exaggerates alcohol perception (the Riesling ABV is typically 8 to 13%).

Riesling food pairing ideas 

There are few wines that pair as flawlessly with food as Riesling. Its vibrant acidity cuts through rich flavors, while its spectrum of styles makes it endlessly adaptable. Below, you’ll find a table with Riesling food pairing suggestions based on a wide range of food types.

Food	Best Riesling Wine Bottle	Aged	Type & Structure
Spicy Asian dishes, Thai curry, Szechuan	Ried Pfaffenberg Riesling 2020 – Lesehof Stagard – Austria	2-3 years	Firm and pure with hints of white raspberry, lavender, jasmine, coriander and tarragon.
Light Seafood, Shellfish, Sushi	Wehlener Klosterberg Riesling Kabinett 2020 – Markus Molitor – Germany	1-2 years	Succulent and balanced notes of lilac, peach, flowers and star fruit.
Roast Pork, Grilled Chicken	Frederic Emile Riesling 2017 – Maison Trimbach – France	3-5 years	Dry and structured, with stone fruit, floral notes and a steely backbone
Soft Cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Goat Cheese)	The Knoll Riesling 2018 – Red Newt Cellars – New York, US	3-5 years	Crisp acidity and luscious sweetness with flavors of white peach, elderflower and lemon
Fruit based Desserts, Apple Tart, Light Pastries	Gold Vidal Icewine 2021 – Inniskillin – Canada	1-3 years	Sweet Riesling white wine, yet balanced with bright acidity, rich apricot, apple and caramel.

Our tip: for an unforgettable pairing, serve a Mosel Kabinett Riesling with spicy Thai green curry. The wine’s delicate touch of sweetness softens the heat of the dish, while its lime zest acidity refreshes the palate in between bites!

How to spot the perfect Riesling wine glass

Unlike fuller bodied whites like Chardonnay that benefit from wider bowls to soften rich flavors, Riesling shines best in a narrower, U or V shaped glass. This shape concentrates its fresh fruit and floral notes while preserving the petrol and honey notes. Here are our top picks for Riesling wine glasses that underscore the elegance of this white wine.

What is Riesling wine and how is it made?

Riesling wine is the white wine crafted from the aromatic white grape variety of the same name. These wines can be dry, semi sweet, sweet or sparkling and they are characterized by pronounced acidity and refreshing notes. Sommeliers consider it one of the top three white wine varieties in the world, alongside Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. 

Riesling is highly influenced by the terroir in which it is produced, yielding a distinctly different taste depending on its place of origin, as well as the winemaking process. 

So, how are Riesling wines made? 

• Viticulture: Riesling grapes are resistant to cold and ripen slowly. They thrive in cooler climates, growing on vineyard sites situated on steep slopes with excellent drainage. The major principle that winemakers stick to during viticulture is to keep it “long & low”. This means that the ideal growing conditions are a climate that allows for long and slow ripening, as well as proper pruning to keep the yields moderate and flavor concentrated. 
• Harvesting typically happens in late fall. It is carried out with great care to keep the delicate grape skins from being crushed or bruised. If there is no proper handling, the broken skins can leak tannins into the juice making it coarse. 
• Grapes are pressed after harvesting to extract their juice (or must), which is then separated from the skins. Some producers prefer to press whole clusters to retain more acidity and have better minerality in the wines, so destemming is not a widespread practice. After pressing, a small amount of sulfur dioxide may be added to the juice to prevent oxidation and reduce microbial activity. 
• Fermentation occurs in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, typically between 50°F and 64°F (10°C and 18°C). Winemakers use yeast strains that can tolerate the lower temperatures. For dry Riesling, fermentation continues until most of the sugar is converted into alcohol. On the other hand, medium sweet and sweet styles involve stopping fermentation halfway to keep some residual sugar. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve the acidic and tart quality of Riesling wines. 
• Most Riesling wines are aged in stainless steel or neutral wood ovals. The use of oak barrels is not encouraged because oak flavors can distract from the refreshing quality of Rieslings. Aging and racking for four to six months is usually enough. 
• Cold stabilization: Riesling is often stored at a temperature just above its freezing point (somewhere between 30°F and 40°F). It is kept at this temperature until almost all the tartaric acid has crystallized and precipitated out of the wine. This process prevents the formation of crystals or wine diamonds in the bottle. 
• Fining, filtering and bottling: fining involves the use of agents like Bentonite to improve heat stability and remove cloudiness from the wine. The filtration process removes any remaining yeast or impurities present in the wine and polishes its appearance. Most Riesling wines are bottled early to preserve their fruity character. 

Riesling grapes and juice are often chilled throughout the vinification process to maintain freshness and nuanced aromas. There are some modifications in the times of harvesting depending on the preferred style of Riesling being produced:

• Grapes meant for sweeter styles are harvested later than those meant for dry Rieslings. 
• Lusciously sweet Rieslings (Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese) have their berries left on the vine to be attacked by noble rot. This disease causes the grapes to shrivel up and become raisin like, resulting in a very sweet and concentrated wine with low alcohol. 
• Riesling grapes used to make ice wines are left on the vine for so long that the winter frost comes. They are then harvested around 10°F and pressed to give decadently sweet wines. 

All about the Riesling wine grape 

Authentic Riesling wines come only from white grapes, although a rare red Riesling grape has recently been discovered. It is a somewhat more acidic mutant version of the white Riesling grape that is less susceptible to noble rot.  Riesling white wine grapes thrive in cool climates like  Germany’s Mosel and Alsace’s granite slopes, where Riesling wine grapes develop their signature high acidity and mineral transparency. 

Unlike blended whites, true Riesling remains 100% white varietal, offering a crystalline expression of terroir across styles from bone dry to honeyed sweet.

Curiosity: with its 23.596 hectares, Riesling covers 7.5% of all vineyards in Germany but accounts for over 90% of premium wines exported.

Riesling wine regions from Europe to the New World

Riesling’s story begins in Germany, especially in the Mosel region, the birthplace of this noble grape. Here, steep slate slopes and a cool climate create ideal conditions for producing expressive wines. Traditional German Riesling is rarely blended with other grape varieties and it is typically aged in neutral stainless steel tanks to highlight the pure flavors of the grape. Riesling has expanded well beyond Germany, with acclaimed bottles coming also from France, Italy, US and Australia. Let’s start exploring the regions producing German Rieslings: 

• Mosel: a third of all the Riesling in Germany is produced in the Mosel Valley. This area produces wines with distinctive minerality and delicate floral and fruity notes that can age for decades.
• Rheingau is known for producing some of the country’s most structured and robust Rieslings. This region takes the lead with significant innovations in winemaking and it is home to notable winemakers like Schloss Johannisberg. 
• Pfalz is a warm and productive region that yields highly acidic Rieslings with a characteristic intensity and a persistent fruity finish. Known for growing a large amount of Riesling, Pfalz enjoys a favorable climate that results in a harmonious and elegant wine. 
• Nahe Rieslings are characterized by a notable minerality accompanied by vibrant acidity and fruit notes. They also have an impressive aging potential, improving significantly as they mature.

While Germany remains the spiritual home of Riesling, the grape has also adapted beautifully across the globe. Riesling bottlings from warmer regions such as Alsace, Australia’s Clare Valley or California tend to be riper, rounder and higher in alcohol, often with more tropical or stone fruit notes and less of the razor edged acidity that define the German styles:

• In Alsace (France), over a fifth of vineyards grow Riesling wines. The soils here are calcareous and winemakers favor drier wines with higher alcohol content that age remarkably well.
• Wachau (Austria) grows Riesling in free draining mineral granite and mica soils. The wine style here is mostly dry with a high alcohol content, best enjoyed around 5 years of aging.
• In Clare Valley (Australia), the warm climate allows for the production of special thick skinned grapes that yield wines oily in texture. Australian botrytized Rieslings are immensely flavorful and delicious.
• Winemakers in Finger Lakes, USA, generally produce light bodied and effervescent styles that range from dry to sweet. Producers in the Finger Lakes also notably craft Riesling ice wines.
•  Alto Adige (Italy): this region is noted for its rich and aromatic Rieslings that are crisply acidic with a stony minerality.

Fun fact: Mosel’s vineyards are so steep (up to 70 degrees!) that workers often need ropes to harvest the grapes.