Level 2 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
Riesling
Germany's noble grape in dry, off-dry, and sweet expressions.
Topics covered
- German Riesling styles
- Alsace Riesling
- Australian Riesling
- Residual sugar levels
Level 2 Study Guide
Viticulture — Climate and Soil
Quick Revision
- Very high acidity — can be dry to very sweet
- Germany: Mosel (light, racy); Rhine (fuller)
- Alsace: dry, full-flavoured
- Australia: lime, petrol notes
- German levels: Kabinett → TBA (sweetest)
- Never oaked; ages very well
Key Facts for the Exam
- High-acid grape capable of making dry, off-dry, medium, and very sweet wines
- Germany: Mosel (slate soils, very light, racy acidity, off-dry styles), Rhine regions (fuller)
- Alsace (France): typically dry, full-flavoured, higher alcohol Rieslings
- Australia (Eden Valley, Clare Valley): dry, lime-driven, develops petrol (kerosene) notes with age
- German quality levels: Kabinett → Spätlese → Auslese → Beerenauslese (BA) → Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
- High acidity preserves Riesling for long ageing — it develops complex petrol and honey notes over decades
Level 2 Exam Tips
- 1.The German Prädikat system (Kabinett through TBA) is a very common exam topic — memorise the order.
- 2.Petrol/kerosene note in aged Riesling is a distinctive quality marker, not a fault — be positive about it.
- 3.Alsace Riesling is almost always dry; German Riesling can range from bone dry to very sweet.
- 4.Riesling never sees oak — its delicate aromatics would be overwhelmed. Always stainless steel.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Assuming all German Riesling is sweet — Trocken (dry) styles are widely made
- ✗Treating the petrol/kerosene note as a fault — it is a desirable tertiary characteristic of aged Riesling
- ✗Confusing Mosel (light, delicate, low alcohol) with Alsace (full, dry, higher alcohol) Riesling
Key Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is Riesling considered one of the world's greatest grape varieties?
- Riesling's combination of high acidity, intense aromatics, and versatility makes it unique. It can produce everything from bone-dry mineral wines to lusciously sweet TBAs. Its high acidity means it ages for decades, developing complex petrol, honey, and toast notes. It is also a precise mirror of terroir — soils and climate imprint clearly on the wine.
- What do the German wine quality levels mean?
- German wine quality is classified by must weight (grape sugar at harvest). From least to most ripe: Kabinett (lightest, often off-dry), Spätlese (late harvest), Auslese (selected bunches), Beerenauslese (individual berries, botrytis affected), and Trockenbeerenauslese (shrivelled berries, intensely sweet). Eiswein (ice wine) is a separate category made from frozen grapes.