German white wines for the crispest of quaffing
German wines are perfect for summertime drinking with their moderate alcohol levels, featherweight lightness, vibrant racy acidity, food friendliness – and sheer drinkability. Check out our picks from across the German regions for the best crisp refreshing whites.
Nahe: Monzinger Riesling Kabinett 2018
Star buy
A superb Nahe estate with slate and quartzite soil vineyards creating mouthwateringly precise long-lived Nahe rieslings with both delicate floral aromas, pithy freshness, gentle sweetness, saline notes and minerally length.
£20, Justerini & Brooks
Mosel: Definition Mosel Riesling 2020
Good introduction to off-dry crisp zesty riesling made by the renowned Loosen family, Ernst and Thomas, from their dizzyingly steel slopes in middle Mosel valley. Serve with cheese or lightly spiced Asian food. £9.99 mixed 6 bts or £11.99 bt Majestic Wine
Saar: Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett 2019 Star buy
Dorothee Zilliken makes thrilling mouthwateringly taut whites in Germany’s coolest region, the Saar valley. This is feather light with blossomy fruits and such delicacy, underpinned with pure herbs and fine citrus flavours.
£20, The Wine Society (2020 vintage); Howard Ripley Wines; Justerinis
Pfalz: Scheu Aber Geil 2020
Made from little-known scheurebe grape in the warm southern Pfalz region around Landau-nussdorf. Grapefruit, mandarin and lime flavours, pithy, dry, light and refreshingly crisp.
£18, Field & Fawcett
Rheinhessen: Nierstein Riesling 2016
Savoury and mineral rather than overt fruitiness is Kuhling-gillot’s philosophy in their northern Rheinhessen vineyards of Pettenthal, Hipping and Olberg with their red slate soils. Mature honeyed notes, smoke and spicy minerality combine in this exquisite rich dry riesling. £23, Justerini & Brooks
Mosel: Maximin Herrenberg 1896 Riesling Trocken Alte Reben White Label 2018
From a legendary south-facing vineyard just north of Trier planted with 124-year-old vines; grapefruit, lemony, hints of salinity with long lingering length. 2018 was a gift vintage with more than 90 sunny days, giving a rich style.
£27.99, Raeburn Fine Wines
Baden: Malterdinger Weiss 2019
Superb blend from Baden’s leading producer, reminiscent of flinty dry white Burgundy with a nervy freshness and elegance – serve blind with a Rully or Chablis for a bit of fun. £24, Justerini & Brooks
Rheingau: The Society's Exhibition Rheingau Riesling 2019
Star buy
A modern take on the classic style with green apple notes, fine spicy fruit, lovely length and minerally finish – made by superstar winemaker Gunter Kunstler from vineyards overlooking the Rhine on its northern banks.
£13.95, The Wine Society
Rheinhessen: Pinot Blanc 2020
Very impressive effort from Weingut Frey in the Ober-florsheim village in southwest Rheinhessen. Hints of apple, honey and bread, refreshingly pure fruits with zippy dry clean finish.
£19, Vino Wines, Edinburgh
Mosel: Goldstuck Riesling Trocken
Star buy
Piquant dry racy riesling from Niederberg Helden vineyard near Piesport. A tightrope act between acid and fruit, it has classy nervy tension, slight prickle on the palate, sappy, grapefruit pith and peel notes, all in a dry linear style.
£18 Justerini & Brooks
Rheinhessen: Weinhaus Pinot Gris Urmeer 2021
Dry pinot gris with lemon, pear and mealy notes, zingy minerally palate and soft rounded lemony flavours. £8.99, Waitrose
Nahe: Riesling Trocken 2019
Juicy lemon freshness, flinty bouquet, smoky, stony – a beautifully sleek slender riesling from Tim Frohlich, one of Nahe’s top riesling winemakers, who has amassed an enviable collection of steep slopes around Bochenau, having sold off his flat land.
£17.68, Howard Ripley Wines
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