Riesling Kabinett Trocken (Germany)
(Dry Riesling Kabinett)
Riesling is the most planted wine grape in Germany. It is used to produce dry, sweet, sparkling wines, and dessert wines.
Riesling Flavors
 Lemon |
 Lime |
 Apple |
 Pear |
 Peach |
 Nectarine |
 Apricot |
 Flowers |
 Herbs |
 Steel |
 Minerals |
 Petroleum |
The Riesling grape is super aromatic.
Citrus, apple, and white fruit flavors are typical for Riesling. Hints of flowers, herbs, and steely minerals.
Warmer climates can add more peach and apricot notes.
Riesling Profile
Dry Riesling is fresh and fruity, almost perfumed.
The high acidity balances the sweetness (residual sugar).
| SUGAR: | Dry 3g/l |
| BODY: | Light |
| FRUIT: | Medium |
| ACIDITY: | High |
| ACCOHOL: | 11-13% ABV |
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Serving temperature: 8-10°C (46-50°F) |
Riesling Food Pairing
Riesling is very food friendly. It pairs best with Seafood, Chicken, and Vegetables:
 Fish |
 Seafood |
 Shrimps |
 Sushi |
 Salmon |
 Chicken |
 Turkey |
 Pork |
 Salads |
 Vegetables |
 Asparagus |
 Soft Cheese |
Excellent Pairings
Seafood. Shellfish. Shrimps. Clams.
Fried Fish. Lemon based Sauces.
Sashimi. Sushi. Nori Rolls. Gravlax.
Roasted Chicken. Chicken Wings.
Lightly Smoked Meat. Pork. Ham. Turkey.
Alsatian Specialities
Flammkuchen (White Pizza).
Roast Pork with Mustard Sauce.
The Ideal Glass for Riesling
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A Riesling Glass has a tall and narrow bowl to emphasize the aromas of the wine. The shape also helps balance the high acidity often found in Rieslings. The glass is also perfect for any other bone dry wines with high acidity like Chablis, Chenin Blanc, Picpoul and Vinho Verde. |
Riesling Cheese Pairing
Pairing Tips
Opt for cheeses with moderate saltiness and creaminess to balance the wine's acidity.
Add accompaniments like fresh fruits (grapes, apples, pears), nuts (almonds, walnuts), or a light drizzle of honey to enhance the pairing.
Fresh and Mild Cheeses
Goat Cheese (Chèvre): The tanginess complements the subtle fruit notes in Riesling.
Mozzarella: Its delicate flavor pairs well with the wine's lightness.
Ricotta: Especially good if served with a drizzle of honey or fresh fruits.
Semi-Soft Cheeses
Brie: The creamy texture and mild flavor work beautifully with Riesling.
Camembert: Similar to Brie but with slightly more earthiness.
Fontina: Its nutty, buttery qualities make a good match.
Hard Cheeses
Gruyère: Mildly nutty and sweet, enhancing the wine's subtlety.
Manchego: A classic Spanish pairing, especially younger Manchego, which is less intense.
Asiago: Lightly aged Asiago adds a complementary tang.
Blue Cheeses (for contrast)
Robiola: Its mild creaminess contrasts nicely without overpowering the wine.
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About Riesling
Riesling thrives best in cool climates, where it can ripe into the late fall. In hot climates, Riesling generally loses its fine, delicate flavors.
Riesling is in many ways opposite to Chardonnay. Good Riesling is fresh and sour with medium fullness, moderate alcohol, delicate aromas, and no oak.
To appreciate Riesling, a certain tolerance for acid should be worked up. Riesling has a much more exciting aroma profile than Chadonnay, and it also possesses great elegance and finesse.
Dry Riesling is primarily a food wine. Alone, the wines may seem a little sour.
The best Rieslinges come from Germany, Alsace in France, Austria, Northern Italy, Australia, and New Zealand.
You can read more about Riesling world wide at Riesling Regions.
Riesling Quality Hierarchy
Germany defines these quality Riesling wines (Qualitätswein mit Prädikat or QmP):
Riesling Kabinett
Riesling Kabinett is the lightest Riesling style.
Kabinett wines range from dry (Trocken 4-9 g/l sugar) to off-dry (Halb trocken 12-18 g/l sugar).
More mineral than fruity it pairs Sushi, Seafood, Veggies and Asian Cuisine.
Riesling Spätlese
Spätlese means "Late Selected". This Riesling is more concentrated and therefore has medium body.
Riesling Spätlese wines are richer than Kabinett wines because the grapes contain more sugar at late harvest. Spätlese wines can be off-dry (Halb trocken 12-18 g/l sugar) or dry (Trocken 4-9 g/l sugar).
Riesling Spätlese pairs Seafood, Shellfish, White Meat (Pork), Smoked Meat and Fish.
Riesling Auslese
Auslese means "Selected". Auslese Riesling grapes are hand selected from the most ripe bunches in late autumn.
Auslese wines are sweeter than Spätlese wines (50 g/l sugar). These wines are produced from hand-picked very ripe grapes that have more sugar than Spätlese.
Riesling Auslese wines pair rich food, foie gras and strong cheeses.
The high sugar ratio makes them great aging wines.
Riesling Beerenauslese
Beerenauslese means "Berry (Grape) Selected".
Theese wines are basically produced from hand picked grapes that have been infected by the Botrytis bacteria (Noble Rot) that dries out the grapes and concentrates the sugar.
Beerenauslese wines are dessert wines (100 g/l sugar).
The high sugar ratio makes them great aging wines.
Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese means "Dry Berry (Grape) Selected".
Trockenbeerenauslese wines are produced from individual selected Beerenauslese grapes.
Trockenbeerenausleses are some of the greatest sweet wines in the world (200 g/l sugar).
The high sugar ratio makes them great aging wines.
Riesling Eiswein
Eiswein means "Ice wine".
Eiswein is a sweet dessert wine made from grapes that have been picked when frozen and pressed when frozen. True Eiswein must be picked in the middle of the night, after two days of frost.
The high sugar ratio makes them great aging wines.
Riesling vs Chardonnay
Riesling will never be as popular as Chardonnay. For that, the grape is too acidic. It is in many ways the opposite of Chardonnay.
To appreciate Riesling, one must build up some tolerance for acid.
Riesling has a more exciting aroma profile than Chardonnay, and it also has greater elegance and finesse.
It displays strong flowers, citrus and tree-fruit notes (green to yellow apples) and high acidity. The best Rieslings takes the taste of the soil and exciting flavor combinations are often the result.
Good Riesling is a fresh and acidic wine with medium body, moderate alcohol content, and delicate aromas from the grape. Oak barrels are NOT needed here.
Fake Riesling
The most common abusers of the Riesling name are:
- Italico Riesling
- Welshriesling
- Laski Riesling
- Emerald Riesling.
These have nothing to do with the great German Riesling. All of these grapes make significantly simpler wines than real Riesling.