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The best German riesling to buy, from £5.29
These are the bottles our experts rate
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
German wines are known for their elegance, depth of flavour and refreshing zesty appeal. Ranging from bone dry to super sweet, riesling is probably the country’s best known (yet often misunderstood) grape varietal. The small, white aromatic grapes hold their acidity beautifully and are naturally lower in alcohol than most, typically coming in at around 8-11% ABV.
And with recent changes to duty rates (which are now much more closely linked to ABV), this means you can now find many great value wines at 11% ABV and lower. Fortunately, this is where German wine, especially German riesling, sings.
Thanks to German riesling’s structure, there are highly enjoyable styles at those lower ABV levels – meaning you get the double benefit of a lovely wine to sip on and a relative saving on duty.
Read on for our favourite budget-friendly examples, which are brimming with flavour.
Best German Riesling
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Riesling food pairing
The combination of riesling’s sweetness and acidity means it works a treat with spice. Indian and Asian flavours should be your go-to here, whether that’s spicy stir-fries or sushi. Surprisingly versatile, you’ll find these wines complement everything from seafood and fish through to chicken, pork and duck. Sweeter styles can also be paired with a cheeseboard.
How we test German wine
As part of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s annual Wine Awards, our panel of 10 WSET-accredited experts and consumers sampled 10 bottles of German riesling.
They considered a range of styles, looking for wines that were a good representation of their grape variety. Each was assessed on its complexity, flavour and finish. Here’s our pick of the best German wines for 2023.
Score: 83/100
While fizz is often the go-to pairing for canapés, a bone-dry German riesling, such as this opulent example from one of the best wineries in the region, can be an exhilarating alternative for guests.
Packed with flavour, you can expect fresh green bell pepper and citrus zest that will cut through party food and pair perfectly with Thai cuisine.
Score: 82/100
If you’re still not sure riesling is for you, Waitrose’s own-brand bottle will surely convince you otherwise. It’s made with grapes taken from the steepest slopes of the Mosel valley, which imparts an underlying minerality.
Light, refreshing and aromatic, it’s a great value option for mid-week, teaming well with fish and spicy chicken stir-fries.
Score: 79/100
Kabinett is the lightest style of riesling, and this one weighs in at just 8.5% ABV. It’s brimming over with zesty lemon and lime, with a mineral texture underscoring each sip.
The easy drinking style would be a top choice with a variety of Asian cuisine, or simply serve as an aperitif alongside our expert rated canapés.
Score: 78/100
Part of the Tesco Finest range, this deliciously dry Mosel riesling is exceptionally good value. It has a generous honeyed nose, complementing notes of stone fruit; however, that thirst-quenching, bright acidity comes through on the palate loud and clear, like a burst of lemon sherbet. Try it with sushi, crab or fresh salads.
Score: 75/100
Spatlese translates as “late harvest”, meaning the grapes for this wine are very ripe when picked, making the riesling rich and sweet (as opposed to “trocken”, which means dry).
This is another wine with a naturally low ABV, and although not quite as sweet as dessert wine, the hints of apricot and campfire smoke would work well with cheese and spicy food.
Score: 75/100
Another riesling from Germany’s famous Mosel region, and while it is a little pricier, the quality shines. We love the nose on this one — floral and peachy with hints of beeswax — while on the palate it delivers the perfect balance of tart citrus and mineral freshness. For us, it makes the perfect aperitif, whatever the occasion.
Score: 72/100
Naturally low in alcohol (and calories) at 10.5% ABV, this is a steal from Lidl. Of course, you won’t get quite the same complexity as our winning bottle, but if you’re looking for something to team with a spicy takeaway, the sweet peach and fresh acidity mean it doesn’t get much better than this.
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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