Sweetness scale

Riesling comes in a range of styles from dry to sweet. But when you’re buying a bottle without tasting it, it can be difficult to know exactly what you’ll be getting.

Riesling labels will usually state the “residual sugar” level in grams – and sometimes include the acidity. But it’s the balance between sugar and acidity that determines how “sweet” the wine tastes.

Some producers are making it easier for consumers to know what they’re buying: their labels include the International Riesling Foundation’s “taste profile” scale (see below). This scale ranges from dry to sweet and is an indication of the perceived sweetness (how it tastes) rather than measured sweetness.

This is an excellent innovation – and we’d like to see it more widely used for riesling and other aromatic wines like pinot gris and gewürztraminer. It’s particularly useful when you’re choosing wines to match certain foods. Crisp, dry rieslings pair well with delicate seafood and chicken dishes, while sweeter-styles are a perfect accompaniment to hot or spicy Asian cuisine.