Riesling Sweetness and Acidity Scale
Riesling can contain measurable residual sugar yet taste dry because acidity changes the perception of sweetness. The Terry Theise scale describes that balance.
Terry Theise sensory scale
This scale describes perceived balance between sweetness and acidity. It is a sensory guide, not a legal residual-sugar classification.
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| -2 | Austere; for lovers of austere wines. |
| -1 | Sugar is discernibly absent, but the wine is balanced. |
| 0 | No discernible sweetness. |
| +1 | Barely discernible sweetness. |
| +2 | Discernible but unobtrusive sweetness. |
| +3 | Sweetness is important in itself. |
| +4 | Bona-fide dessert wine. |
Open the interactive sweetness and vintage guide
How to choose
- Read sweetness together with acidity.
- Use the scale as a sensory guide, not a laboratory classification.
- Expect producer style and serving temperature to influence perception.
Current bottles
- Catalog
- #901-23
- Vintage
- 2023
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Trocken
- Sweetness
- -1. Very Dry
- Tier
- Pinot Blanc
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 95 ₪
- Availability
- Available
This dry Pinot Blanc combines fresh apple, pear and light citrus aromas with the cool, precise character associated with the Mosel. Its restrained fruit makes it subtle and…
- Catalog
- #903-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Feinherb
- Sweetness
- 1
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 95 ₪
- Availability
- Available
12% ABV, 2023 Trocken-Fineherb rz 13.6, ac 8.2
- Catalog
- #902-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Trocken
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 95 ₪
- Availability
- Available
The 2024 Trocken is a youthful, dry Mosel Riesling with a crisp core of citrus, apple and white-peach fruit. Subtle floral and slate-like notes add interest without compromising…
- Catalog
- #1016-25
- Vintage
- 2025
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Trocken
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 95 ₪
- Availability
- Available
10.5% abv dry mineral, daily drinking wine
- Catalog
- #1019-25
- Vintage
- 2025
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Feinherb
- Sweetness
- 1
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 100 ₪
- Availability
- Available
tangy, fruity, and invigorating, Fisch & Rayer: 89 10.5% abv, rz 15.9, ac 7.8 Feinherb
- Catalog
- #1201-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Trocken
- Sweetness
- -1
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 115 ₪
- Availability
- Available
Due to frost, the 2024 Riesling Trocken Rotschiefer is not from Kinheim but predominantly from the upper part of the Erdener Treppchen as well as from vineyards in…
- Catalog
- #922-21
- Vintage
- 2021
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Spatlese
- Sweetness
- 3
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 120 ₪
- Availability
- Available
This Spätlese comes from Erdener Treppchen and carries the “GL” designation, indicating a more selective estate bottling. Ripe peach, citrus and floral aromas are complemented by…
- Catalog
- #1001-23
- Vintage
- 2023
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Feinherb
- Sweetness
- 1
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 120 ₪
- Availability
- Available
betwen trocken and finherb - 11.4% abv 11-29 years old vines
- Catalog
- #1002-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Trocken
- Sweetness
- -1
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 120 ₪
- Availability
- Available
N2 Ayler - great balance, 12% ab, 90 FW 23 years old vines Trocken rz 3.9, ac 5
- Catalog
- #915-19
- Vintage
- 2019
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Feinherb
- Sweetness
- 1
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 130 ₪
- Availability
- Available
2018, Alte Reben (75 years vines) Auslese, FW 92 Brown slate, 11% ABV, rz 32.5, ac 6.9
- Catalog
- #1231-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Kabinett
- Sweetness
- 2
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 135 ₪
- Availability
- Available
This Kabinett comes from the steep slate slopes of Erdener Treppchen. It offers a delicate expression of Mosel Riesling, with citrus, green apple and white-peach fruit accompanied…
- Catalog
- #922-23
- Vintage
- 2023
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Spatlese
- Sweetness
- 3
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 135 ₪
- Availability
- Available
This 2023 GL Spätlese expresses Erdener Treppchen through ripe peach, citrus, flowers and a clear slate-influenced mineral character. Despite its concentration, the wine should…
- Catalog
- #909-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- 1G
- Sweetness
- -1
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 135 ₪
- Availability
- Available
11.5% ABV, 2021, EL (1er Cru), 75 years vines Gray slate, battonage Trocken rz 3,7, ac 8.8
- Catalog
- #919i-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Kabinett
- Sweetness
- 2
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 135 ₪
- Availability
- Available
GL Kabinett 7,85% alc/vol. very ineral & drier 45.2 g/l sugar 9 g/l acidity
- Catalog
- #910-23
- Vintage
- 2023
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- 1G
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 140 ₪
- Availability
- Available
11.5% ABV, 2021, 75 years vines, GL (Grand Cru), Lobenberg: 93+, 92 FW Devonian (blue & gray) slate, battonage Trocken rz 6,1 g/l, ac 8,8 g/l
- Catalog
- #910-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- 1G
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 140 ₪
- Availability
- Available
11.5% ABV, 2021, 75 years vines, GL (Grand Cru), Lobenberg: 93+, 92 FW Devonian (blue & gray) slate, battonage Trocken rz 6,1 g/l, ac 8,8 g/l
- Catalog
- #1050-23
- Vintage
- 2023
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- Sparkling
- Subtype
- Sekt
- Sweetness
- 0. Brut Nature - 0 g/l
- Tier
- Sekt
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 140 ₪
- Availability
- Available
Since 1984, we have been producing our Riesling sparkling wine in the cellar of the historic Joh. Förster winery in Trier-Süd. Below this Art Nouveau building, there is…
- Catalog
- #1242-20
- Vintage
- 2020
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- Dessert
- Subtype
- Spatlese
- Sweetness
- 4
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 145 ₪
- Availability
- Available
Ürziger Würzgarten is famed for its red volcanic soil and for Rieslings with a distinctly spicy personality. This 2020 Spätlese brings together ripe peach, citrus and floral fruit…
- Catalog
- #945-21
- Vintage
- 2021
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- Sparkling
- Subtype
- Sekt
- Sweetness
- 1. Extra-Brut
- Tier
- Sekt
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 145 ₪
- Availability
- Available
12% ABV, 42 months on lees, extra-brut 5,6 g/l sugar 7,7 g/l acidity
- Catalog
- #1008-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- White
- Subtype
- Kabinett
- Sweetness
- 2
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.75
- Price
- 145 ₪
- Availability
- Available
KABINETT Kupp - fine, elegant, stiulating, 7.8% ABV, FW 91 Kabinett rz 44, ac 10
- Catalog
- #1272h-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- Dessert
- Subtype
- Auslese
- Sweetness
- 3
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.375
- Price
- 149 ₪
- Availability
- Available
From the plot above the Pralat (like the Kabinett) and based on concentrated yet not very sweet berries that were picked together with the grapes for the neighboring…
- Catalog
- #1271h-24
- Vintage
- 2024
- Region
- Germany
- Type
- Dessert
- Subtype
- Auslese
- Sweetness
- 3
- Tier
- Riesling
- Bottle size
- 0.375
- Price
- 149 ₪
- Availability
- Available
The botrytis-free 2024 Orziger Wurzgarten In der Kranklei Riesling Auslese Alte Reben from red slate opens with a concentrated yet elegant, refined and herbal-scented nose with…
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FAQ
Can Champagne Fairy help choose riesling sweetness and acidity scale?
Yes. Contact Champagne Fairy by WhatsApp for current availability, delivery coordination, and a recommendation matched to budget, style, format, and occasion.
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The page is generated from the current catalog. Availability can still change quickly, especially for grower Champagne, magnums, older vintages, and rare allocations.
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