Riesling Wine's 590th Anniversary: Toast Purity, Precision, & Passion

Forbes

25-06-2025

Two glasses of Riesling wine with a Mosel river valley vineyard in the background. getty
Riesling is Germany's most iconic grape, celebrated worldwide for producing some of the most nuanced, age-worthy white wines on the planet. It's deeply tied to Germany's wine identity and has been cultivated there for centuries. This year marks the 590th anniversary of Riesling's documented cultivation in Germany, although it was likely cultivated much earlier. Below is a brief overview of the history of the Riesling grape and tasting notes on a representative sample of Riesling wines.
Origins
Riesling's birthplace is likely the Rhine region of Germany. The first documented mention of Riesling dates to March 13, 1435, in a cellar inventory from Rüsselsheim, near the Rheingau. By the 15th and 16th centuries, Riesling had spread through the Rhine and Mosel valleys, prized for its ability to thrive in steep, slate-rich vineyards and its capacity to express terroir with remarkable precision.
Over the centuries, Riesling became the backbone of Germany's top vineyard sites along the Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, and Nahe. It was so highly regarded that, during the 18th and 19th centuries, great German Rieslings often commanded higher prices than First Growth Bordeaux and Burgundy Grand Crus. Today, it represents about 25% of Germany's vineyard capacity.
Riesling is highly expressive of terroir. Vineyards on slate, limestone, or sandstone impart distinct mineral notes, aroma, and taste profiles. Its naturally high acidity keeps wines vibrant and age-worthy. Riesling also offers a wide range of styles from bone dry to ultra-sweet. Additionally, it is among the longest-lived white wines. Top Rieslings can evolve in the bottle for decades, producing honeyed, petrol, and dried fruit nuances.
The varietal's resilience in cool climates, its naturally high acidity, and its ability to ripen slowly while retaining aromatic complexity made it perfect for Germany's challenging northern vineyards. It can excel in styles ranging from bone-dry Trocken to progressively sweeter Kabinett, Auslese, Spatlese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein — often from the same vineyard. Riesling is also widely used in Germany to craft sparkling wines.
Aroma and Taste Profile
Riesling is intensely aromatic. Young dry examples show lively notes of green apple, lime, lemon zest, pear, and white peach along with floral hints of jasmine and honeysuckle. Aged Riesling develops its signature kerosene/diesel note — a prized trait for serious fans, often emerging naturally from the grape's high concentration of specific aroma precursors.
Riesling is defined by its marked acidity, a perfect counterpoint to its natural sweetness and fruitiness, lending even the ripest, sweetest examples a fresh, acidic backbone. Dry versions are crisp and mineral-driven, with flavors of fresh orchard fruit and citrus, often accompanied by herbal notes and a distinct wet stone minerality. Sweeter styles feature flavors of ripe apricot, honey, candied citrus peel, and exotic spices, balanced by that signature acid snap. The finish is usually long, clean, and mouthwatering with lingering fruity notes.
View over the Riesling vineyards near Bingen with the sights Mäuseturm, Rheinknie and Burg Ehrenfels getty
Below is a brief description and tasting notes on a selection of German Riesling wines that illustrate the range of their aroma and taste profile.
Karl Haidle, Ritzling, 2021 Riesling Trocken, 12% ABV, 750 ml.
Karl Haidle is a standout Swabian estate in Württemberg, renowned for its elegant dry Rieslings and expressive terroir-driven wines. 'Ritzling' is their fresh, youthful, bone-dry style, perfect for everyday sipping. It makes an excellent aperitif.
The wine is pale straw, featuring crisp aromas of green apple, lime zest, and a hint of crushed slate minerality. The palate is tangy and mineral-driven, with notes of tart pear, citrus peel, and a bracing, clean finish. A classic Trocken style Riesling with mouthwatering acidity, a refreshing edge, and lingering orchard fruit notes.
Dönnhoff, Oberhäuser Leistenberg, Riesling Kabinett, 2021, 8.5% ABV, 750 ml.
Dönnhoff is a legendary Nahe estate renowned for its precise and expressive Rieslings. Oberhäuser Leistenberg is a steep, sheltered vineyard that produces refined Kabinett wines, characterized by delicate sweetness balanced with vibrant acidity.
The wine is light gold, featuring aromas of white peach, lemon blossom, and wet stone. The palate showcases crisp green apple and ripe pear, with a hint of sweetness, typical of Kabinett-style Rieslings, balanced by pronounced acidity. It's elegant and flavorful, with a subtle finish and lingering minerality.
Monchhof, Mosel Slate, Riesling Spätlese, 8% ABV, 750 ml.
One of the Mosel's oldest estates, dating back to 1177, Monchhof crafts classic Mosel Spätlese: a lightly sweet, delicate, and intensely mineral wine from the region's signature slate soils.
The wine is a pale yellow, featuring notes of peach, apricot, and honeysuckle. The palate showcases ripe stone fruit, hints of tangerine, and a touch of floral honey, offset by crisp acidity. The finish is subtly sweet, balanced by vibrant freshness and a clean, lingering slatey note.
Selbach-Oster, Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese, Schmitt, 2019, 8% ABV, 750 ml.
Selbach-Oster's Auslese from the steep Schlossberg vineyard highlights the Mosel's ability to make lusciously sweet wines with great finesse. The 'Schmitt' parcel often produces tiny yields of botrytized berries.
The wine is golden yellow, featuring aromas of canned peaches, honeycomb, and orange marmalade. It's lush and viscous on the palate, showcasing apricot, mango, and spicy ginger. The rich sweetness is balanced by lively acidity, resulting in a silky, lingering, and luxurious finish.
A glass and bottle of a late harvest Riesling white wine on a barrel with a vineyard in the background getty
Dr. Loosen, Riesling Beerenauslese, 2017, 7% ABV, 375 ml.
Dr Loosen is one of the Mosel's most respected producers. This Beerenauslese is made from individually hand-selected, botrytized berries — a rare, luscious dessert wine.
The wine is a rich, deep gold featuring intense aromas of dried apricot, honeyed figs, and caramelized orange peel. The palate is ultra-rich and syrupy, with layers of honey, spiced tropical fruit, and candied ginger. A racy acidity balances the sweetness, resulting in a luscious, age-worthy wine with a lingering, honeyed finish.
Dr. Loosen Bros, Riesling Sparkling, 12% ABV, 750 ml.
Dr. Loosen Bros crafts this fresh, lightly off-dry sparkling Riesling using the Charmat method. It's a crisp, easy-drinking sparkling wine that showcases bright Mosel fruit.
The wine is a pale straw with a lively mousse, featuring aromas of green apple, lemon-lime, and white flowers. It's crisp and fruity on the palate with citrus and ripe pear notes, and a touch of sweetness balanced by zesty acidity. It's light-bodied, refreshing, and excellent as an aperitif.
Riesling is one of the world's most iconic wines. Although produced all over the world, whether your preference is for lusciously sweet or bone-dry wines, still or sparkling, there is a Riesling wine tailor-made for your palate. What better way to celebrate the 590th anniversary of Riesling's cultivation than to explore the diversity of Germany's Riesling wines?
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