Saar Valley

Racy, vivid, mouthwateringly fresh whites with moderate alcohol – dry German wines can make ideal summer garden quaffing whites.

Our tasting of 20 German dry white wines on the UK market varied from delicate snappilydry riesling trockens from Mosel Saar Ruwer, richer, succulent rieslings from Pfalz and Rheingau, sleek, fruity scheurebe from Franconia to riper full-flavoured pinot gris from warmer southerly Baden. We picked out our favourite ten:

The Society’s Saar Riesling 2017 Von Kesselstatt

Delicious light unoaked aperitif from the Reh family of historic Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt estate who own 36 hectares in the Saar, a tributary of the Mosel, which produces racy, dry, lemony, but very grapey rieslings with a delicate tightrope between floral sweetness and crisp acidity.

Maximin Riesling 2017 Maximin Grunhaus

If you are looking for a lighter dry riesling, this blend from a mix of Mosel-saar-ruwer vineyards has a light appley character with zippy fresh acidity. Don’t be put off by the screwcap, the von Schubert family believe this protects the floral aromas in the wine.

Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) Sonett Dry 2017 Dr Heger

Vibrant light pinot gris, but juicy, zippy and very attractive. Dr Heger is one of Baden’s leading wineries with vineyards on Kaiserstuhl’s volcanic soils, which gives the wine a minerally character.