Germany’s wine classification system is complex and challenging to understand, but we hope this post can remove some of the confusion for you.

Let’s start with something many people don’t know… Not all Riesling is sweet! In fact, German Rieslings can range from bone dry to intensely sweet, but then the question is: how do you know from looking at a label what’s dry and what’s sweet?

Luckily, German wines often include a scale on the back of the label to help you determine the sweetness level. But, if it’s not written on the label, you’ll find clues to help you.

The German word “Trocken” anywhere on the wine label tells you it’s a dry wine, but you can also look at the ABV (Alcohol By Volume) percentage to get a good sense of the sweetness.

When wine goes through the fermentation process, sugars are converted to alcohol, so a higher the alcohol means the lower the residual sugars and the drier the wine will be. And vice versa, with lower alcohol, more sugars remain, and the wine will be sweeter. That’s not too hard, right?

The Riesling grape is known for its high acidity, so many times, even a lower alcohol wine which would generally tell you that it’s on the sweeter side, is balanced by the high acidity, and the Riesling will taste drier on your palate.

Get to Know German Wine

One of the best ways to get to know German wines is to drink them! Purchase several with different sweetness levels and taste them side-by-side to get a better feel for your preferences. An even better way for learning is to visit the German wine regions for first-hand experiences. 

And if you’re looking for wine pairings, a semi-sweet or sweet Riesling will pair wonderfully with spicy foods — try spicy chicken wings, Szechuan pepper dishes, or Korean kimchi. 

A Guide to Understanding the German Wine Classification System

Even wine pros will sometimes have difficulty wrapping their heads around the German wine classification system. The classification system can seem complicated and overwhelming at first glance, but once you understand the basics, it’s an excellent way to navigate the world of German wine.

The wine classification system is based on the ripeness level of the grapes at the time of harvest and the wine’s sugar content, and it’s divided into two main categories: Quality Wines and Table Wines. Quality Wines are further divided into Prädikatswein and Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA), each with their own set of classifications.

While it may take some time to become familiar with the categories, the German wine classification system is ultimately a helpful tool for finding and enjoying the perfect German wine.

Use our handy pyramid graphic below to help get a visual of the quality levels, and we’ll start explaining the categories from the bottom to the top.

Landwein

Deutscher Landwein is Germany’s table wine category made from ripe and slightly under-ripe grapes. Primarily consumed in Germany, very little is exported, so you’ll likely only find this category of wine if you visit Germany. 

Qualitätswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA)

Wines in the Qualitätswein category must be produced within one of the 13 wine-growing regions of Germany, and they have to meet certain requirements regarding grape variety, ripeness, and alcohol content.

The grapes are at a fairly low level of ripeness (which, remember, less ripe means less sugar content) and range from dry to semi-sweet. The style is often indicated on the label, along with the designation Qualitätswein and the region.

Prädikatswein

These are the highest-quality wines in Germany. They are classified according to the ripeness of the grapes at harvest and include the following six categories in ascending order of ripeness:

If you’ve been hesitant to try German wines in the past, now is the perfect time to give them a chance. With the German wine classification system demystified, you can confidently explore the variety of wines available from different regions. Don’t be afraid to take a leap and experience the richness and complexity that German wines have to offer.