Rizla’s Old World Riesling Decoder

Written By Andrew Day

Wine can feel intimidating. It shouldn’t be, but industry jargon and unfamiliar terminology often undermine confidence, even for curious and knowledgeable drinkers.

This guide is designed to decode Old World Riesling, breaking down the key terms, classifications, and regional systems used across European Riesling regions. Whether you’re reading a wine list browsing a shelf, or talking to a sommelier, this is your reference point.

White wine bottle and glass used for tasting and understanding Riesling styles

France: Alsace Riesling Explained

Understanding French Riesling requires a brief introduction to Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) laws and the Cru systems used to classify vineyards, villages, and producers.

In Alsace, the Grand Cru designation refers specifically to individual vineyards, similar to Burgundy (though without a Premier Cru tier). This differs from systems in Bordeaux or Champagne.

Riesling in France is grown almost exclusively in Alsace, a region bordered by the Rhine River to the east (with Germany beyond) and Switzerland to the south. The Vosges Mountains create a rain shadow, making Alsace one of the driest wine-growing regions in France, ideal conditions for Riesling.

Alsace Appellations

Map of Alsace wine region in France showing key Riesling-producing areas

  • Alsace AOC

  • Alsace Grand Cru AOC

There are just over 50 Grand Cru vineyards, widely regarded as the region’s highest-quality sites. To be labelled Grand Cru, wines must be made from a single grape variety, typically one of Alsace’s four noble varieties:

  • Riesling

  • Pinot Gris

  • Gewürztraminer

  • Muscat

Key Alsace Riesling Terms

  • Vendange Tardive (VT)

    Late Harvest. These wines must meet minimum sugar ripeness levels and are distinctly sweet, often dessert-style by Australian standards.

  • Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)

Made from individually selected berries, usually affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). Rare, intensely sweet, and produced only in exceptional vintages.

Germany: The Home of Riesling

Germany is widely regarded as the spiritual home of Riesling, and it remains the country’s most important grape variety.

The VDP Quality System

The Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter (VDP) is an association of approximately 200 top producers. It operates a four-tier vineyard classification system that sits above legal requirements, focusing primarily on vineyard quality.

VDP Vineyard Tiers

  • Grosse Lage: Top-tier vineyard (Grand Cru equivalent)

  • Erste Lage: Second tier (Premier Cru equivalent)

  • Ortswein: Wines from a village’s best sites

  • Gutswein: Estate wines from the producer’s own vineyards

German Riesling Styles: Dry vs Sweet

German Riesling spans a remarkable spectrum from bone-dry to lusciously sweet. For simplicity, it helps to think in two broad categories: Dry and Sweet.

Dry Styles

  • Trocken

    Dry wines with minimal residual sugar (up to 4 g/L, or up to 9 g/L if acidity is sufficiently high).

  • Grosses Gewächs (GG)

    Dry wines made from Grosse Lage vineyards.

Despite common perceptions in Australia, the majority of German wines are produced in a dry style.

Important note:Kabinett and Spätlese wines can also be dry if the word “Trocken” appears on the label (e.g. Kabinett Trocken).

Sweet Styles (Prädikatswein)

Sweet Rieslings are classified by grape ripeness at harvest, measured in degrees Oechsle (°Oe).

Ascending order of ripeness and sweetness:

Kabinett → Spätlese → Auslese → Beerenauslese → Trockenbeerenauslese

Classification Meaning °Oechsle Range Typical Style
Kabinett “Cabinet” 67–82 Light, high acidity, dry to off-dry
Spätlese “Late Harvest” 76–90 Riper, more concentrated
Auslese “Select Harvest” 83–100 Rich, often botrytised
Beerenauslese (BA) “Berry Select” 110–128 Luscious dessert wine
Eiswein “Ice Wine” 110–128 Intensely sweet, high acidity
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) “Dried Berry Select” 150+ Ultra-concentrated, rare

Additional German Sweetness Terms

  • Halbtrocken: Off-dry

  • Feinherb: Informal term for off-dry styles

  • Lieblich: Medium-sweet

  • Süss: Sweet

The 5 Key German Regions to Know

Germany wine regions map showing major Riesling areas including Mosel, Nahe, and Rheinhessen

  • Mosel: Light-bodied, high acidity, slate influence

  • Rheingau: Fuller-bodied, often dry

  • Nahe: Balance of Mosel acidity and riper fruit

  • Rheinhessen: Germany’s largest and most diverse region

  • Pfalz: Warmer climate, riper styles

Austria

Austrian wines operate under a three-tier legal structure:

  • Qualitätswein

  • Landwein

  • Wein

Most Austrian Riesling encountered in Australia is Qualitätswein.

Key Riesling Regions 

  • Wachau

  • Kamptal

  • Kremstal

  • Weinviertel

DAC & ÖTW Classifications

Under DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) regulations:

  • Riedenwein: Single vineyard

  • Ortswein: Village wine

  • Gebietswein: Regional wine

The Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW) further classifies top sites:

  • Grosse Lage (GÖTW): Grand Cru

  • Erste Lage (1ÖTW): Premier Cru

Wachau Style Classifications (All Dry, Unoaked)

  • Steinfeder: Light, up to 11.5% ABV

  • Federspiel: 11.5–12.5% ABV

  • Smaragd: Rich, powerful, 12.5%+ ABV

Bringing It All Together

Diagram illustrating Riesling wine sweetness levels from dry to sweet

The International Riesling Foundation (IRF) was established in 2007 to simplify Riesling labelling globally. It defines four sweetness categories:

  • Dry

  • Medium Dry

  • Medium Sweet

  • Sweet

These are determined by the relationship between residual sugar and acidity, and many producers include the IRF scale on back labels to guide consumers, though its use is voluntary.

When in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask your wine retailer or sommelier. Riesling rewards curiosity.

Andrew Day
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