Wilmington Wine Circle

One of the biggest questions people ask about Riesling is simple:

“How do I know if it will be sweet or dry?”

The good news is that the answer is often right on the label—you just need to know what to look for. Here are four clues that can help you more confidently choose a dry Riesling.

The first hint about sweetness is where the wine comes from. Riesling’s style varies dramatically by region.

Clue #1: Consider the Region

• Alsace, France – Rieslings are almost always dry.
• Clare Valley & Eden Valley, Australia – typically bone dry, with intense citrus flavors.
• Mosel, Germany – often off-dry or lightly sweet, delicate and mineral-driven.
• Finger Lakes, New York, USA – versatile, with both dry and off-dry styles common.

If you prefer dry wines, bottles from Alsace or Australia are usually safe bets.

Clue #2: Check the Alcohol Level

Higher alcohol usually means drier Riesling. This is because when fermentation continues longer, more sugar is converted into alcohol.

Typical ranges:

• 7–9% ABV: usually sweeter
• 9–11% ABV: off-dry
• 11.5–13.5% ABV: typically dry

This is one of the easiest tricks as alcohol content is always printed on the label.

Clue #3: Look for German Sweetness Terms

Germany uses specific terms to indicate grape ripeness at harvest, which often correlates with sweetness:

• Kabinett – light, often slightly sweet
• Spätlese – richer, sometimes sweeter
• Auslese – typically sweeter

Important label words to remember:

• Trocken: dry
• Halbtrocken: off-dry

Understanding these words helps you decode German Rieslings quickly.

Clue #4: Look for the Word “Dry”

Many producers, especially in the Finger Lakes and New World regions, label wines explicitly:

• “Dry Riesling”
• “Dry Style”
• “Trocken” (German for dry)

A Fun Experiment

Next time you’re in a wine shop, try this:

1. Pick up two Rieslings.
2. Compare their alcohol levels.
3. Predict which one will taste sweeter.

At our upcoming May Wine Circle focused on Riesling, we’ll taste several different styles and you’ll get to see how accurate your label-reading skills are!

May Wine Circle

So for a delicious discovery of the diversity of Riesling, come join us on Thursday, May 7, from 6:00-7:30 pm at a Wilmington location TBD.

The first Thursday of each month, up to 8 people get together to enjoy each other’s company as we taste wine focused on a particular varietal, wine style or wine region. There’s no fee to participate in these gatherings. Each month is hosted by a different person who is only responsible for providing glasses and a festive tasting atmosphere. Each participant brings a bottle of wine and a paired snack to share that fits the month’s theme.