Germany’s top Rieslings at the VDP tasting: Mittelrhein, Franken, Sachsen, Nahe and Rheinhessen
Continuing on my write ups from the VDP tastings in Wiesbaden, August 2026, here are the notes of Rieslings from Mittelrhein (just two), Sachsen (just one) and the more significant areas of Franken, Nahe and Rheinhessen. Some lovely wines here.
Mittelrhein
Ratzenberger Riesling Bacharach ST. JOST 2025 Mittelrhein
Nice core of sweet citrus fruit here with good balance and some riper pear and peach notes. 93/100
Ratzenberger Riesling Bacharach WOLFSHÖHLE 2025 Mittelrhein
Crisp, focused citrus fruit with nice acidity and freshness. Pure and primary. 93/100
Franken
Rudolf Fürst Riesling Bürgstadt CENTGRAFENBERG 2025 Franken
Honeyed, juicy and appealing with nice brightness to the lemony fruit. Zippy and quite mineral on the finish. Wide dynamic range. 94/100
Bürgerspital zum Hl. Geist Riesling Würzburg STEIN-BERG 2025 Franken
Juicy, bright and linear with nice acidity under the lively citrus fruit, with some chalky minerality. 94/100
Bürgerspital zum Hl. Geist Riesling Randersacker PFÜLBEN 2025 Franken
Compact and concentrated with a lovely mineral undertow to the bold citrus fruit. This is very stylish and intense. 95/100
Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg Riesling Randersacker PFÜLBEN 2025 Franken
Crisp, concentrated and layered, with bold lemony fruit and some nice mineral notes. Shows real intensity and depth with power and precision. Serious stuff. 95/100
Zehnthof Theo Luckert Riesling Sulzfeld MAUSTAL 2025 Franken
Intriguing nose with some smoky, herbal notes, leading to a midweight lemony palate that also has a lively finish. Such precision to this wine. 94/100
Rainer Sauer Riesling Escherndorf AM LUMPEN 1655® 2025 Franken
Beautifully focused, crystalline citrus fruit. Lemony and nicely taut with lovely detail on the finish. A lovely wine. 95/100
Horst Sauer Riesling Escherndorf AM LUMPEN 1655® 2025 Franken
Pristine and beautifull expressive with real precision to the bright lemony fruit. Zippy and detailed with nice intensity. Very stylish. 95/100
Max Müller I Riesling Escherndorf AM LUMPEN 1655® 2025 Franken
A rich, ripe, dense fruity style with lemon and pear as well as some peach, but it still has good acidity. 93/100
Max Müller I Riesling Volkach RATSHERR 2025 Franken
Chalky, lemony nose leads to a bright, focused palate showing keen acidity and nice weight. Stylish. 93/100
Höfler Riesling Michelbach APOSTELGARTEN 2024 Franken
This is compact and slightly salty with bold citrus fruit and a slightly pithy edge. 92/100Am Stein-Ludwig Knoll Riesling Stetten STEIN 2024 Franken
Juicy and slightly pithy with compact lemony fruit. Nice brightness to this wine. 93/100
Sachsen
Martin Schwarz Riesling Radebeul FRIEDSTEIN 2024 Sachsen
There’s a slightly smoky undertow to this layered, textural Riesling with bright citrus fruit dominating. 92/100
Nahe
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Monzingen FRÜHLINGSPLÄTZCHEN 2025 Nahe
Smoky, mineral, crystalline nose. The palate is concentrated and energetic with bright lemony fruit. Pretty and expressive. 94/100
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Monzingen FRÜHLINGSPLÄTZCHEN 2025 Nahe
Juicy and linear with expressive lemony fruit. Zesty and refreshing. Midweight in style. 93/100
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Monzingen HALENBERG 2025 Nahe
Nice focus and precision here with delicate lemony fruit and lovely aromatics. Midweight in style. 93/100
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Monzingen HALENBERG 2025 Nahe
Nice tension and balance with crystalline citrus fruit, a touch of fruit sweetness, and really expressive character. Balanced. 94/100
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Bockenau FELSENECK 2025 Nahe
Zippy and slightly stony. Midweight citrus fruit, with an expressive personality. Some delicacy and poise here. 93/100
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Bockenau STROMBERG 2025 Nahe
Compact, pithy and slightly smoky with a nice delicacy on the mid-palate, showing pure lemony fruit. 93/100
Dr. Crusius Riesling Schlossböckelheim FELSENBERG 2025 Nahe
Delicate and fine with lovely focused citrus fruit. A lighter style but with nice tension. 93/100
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Schlossböckelheim FELSENBERG 2025 Nahe
There’s a touch of richness with ripe citrus fruit, but also nice delicacy and balance. Midweight but with nice finesse. 94/100
H. Dönnhoff Riesling Schlossböckelheim FELSENBERG 2025 Nahe
Chiselled, crystalline and focused with a core of sweet citrus fruit. Nice energy and brightness here with freshness and tension. So stylish. 95/100
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Schlossböckelheim FELSENBERG 2025 Nahe
Slightly reductive nose with wet stone minerality. The palate is compact and bright with some grip. Juicy. 92/100
Dr. Crusius Riesling Schlossböckelheim KUPFERGRUBE 2025 Nahe
Fresh and textured with nice weight. Citrus and some pear. There’s a nice fruit focus. 92/100
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Schlossböckelheim KUPFERGRUBE 2025 Nahe
Compact and pithy and quite angular with a savoury twist to the citrus fruit. Unfurled. 91/100
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Niederhausen STEINBERG 2025 Nahe
Nice flesh here with ripe pear and citrus fruit. Still primary, with nice fruit depth and some mineral undertow. 94/100
H. Dönnhoff Riesling Niederhausen HERMANNSHÖHLE 2025 Nahe
Beautiful layered, taut citrus fruit with some floral aromatics, and a nuanced, mid-weight palate with real beauty. 94/100
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Niederhausen IN DER ROSSEL 2025 Nahe
Fleshy with a hint of apricot richness as well as ripe pear and citrus fruit. Nice generosity and poise here. 94/100
H. Dönnhoff Riesling Norheim DELLCHEN 2025 Nahe
Crystalline, delicate and well defined with nice expressive citrus fruit. Not heavy or bold, just delicate and expressive. 95/100
Dr. Crusius Riesling Traisen BASTEI 2025 Nahe
Lovely compact, crystalline citrus fruit with good density and a tapering, elegant finish. 93/100
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Altenbamberg ROTENBERG 2025 Nahe
Lovely fruit purity here. Ripe lemony fruit with good density and focus. This is bright and expressive showing good weight and some delicate fruitiness on the finish. 94/100
H. Dönnhoff Riesling Kreuznach KRÖTENPFUHL 2025 Nahe
Lively, bright, nuanced. Nice crystalline citrus fruit with good acidity. Some tension here. 94/100
H. Dönnhoff Riesling Roxheim IM MÜHLENBERG 2025 Nahe
Delicate, juicy and focused with a core of sweet citrus fruit. Nice purity and energy. Not heavy, more mid-weight. 93/100
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Riesling Dorsheim PITTERMÄNNCHEN 2025 Nahe
Compact citrus fruit. Pretty, stony, linear. 93/100
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Riesling Dorsheim GOLDLOCH 2025 Nahe
Crisp and nicely weighted with nice purity and energy. Shows appealing fruit with good presence. 92/100
Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Dorsheim BURGBERG 2025 Nahe
Nice weight here with good freshness and balance to the crisp citrus fruit. 93/100
Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Münster IM PITTERBERG 2025 Nahe
Nice ripe, sweet citrus fruit with some generosity and good weight. Nicely poised and focused. Pleasurable. 94/100
Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Münster DAUTENPFLÄNZER 2025 Nahe
Bright, crystalline and quite energetic with lovely taut citrus fruit. Nicely dense with good supporting acidity. 93/100
Schlossgut Diel Riesling Dorsheim PITTERMÄNNCHEN 2024 Nahe
Lean, stony and mineral with focused lemony fruit framed by brisk acidity. 93/100
Schlossgut Diel Riesling Dorsheim GOLDLOCH 2024 Nahe
Crisp, juicy and linear with taut, almost lean lemony fruit, finishing long but tight. 94/100
Schlossgut Diel Riesling Dorsheim BURGBERG 2024 Nahe
Chiselled, taut and focused with real purity and restraint, and good acidity. Primary, but with potential. Quite lean. 94/100
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Schlossböckelheim KUPFERGRUBE 2021 Nahe
Bright but fleshy with generous citrus fruit and a touch of peachy richness, finishing long and tapering with good acidity. 94/100
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Niederhausen HERMANNSBERG 2021 Nahe
Stony, juicy and vivid with nice tension to the pear and citrus fruit. Good energy here with some brightness. Nice ripeness to the fruit, showing potential for development. 95/100
Rheinhessen
Bischel Riesling Bingen SCHARLACHBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Lively and bright with nice zippy lemony fruit. Juicy and quite intense with good acidity. Lean style, zippy and racy. 93/100
Kruger-Rumpf Riesling Bingen SCHARLACHBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Zippy, racy and pure with keen acidity and a sort of transparency. Citrus fruit dominated, but not overly fruity. Mineral and brisk. 94/100
Wagner-Stempel Riesling Bingen SCHARLACHBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Juicy and energetic with keen mineral-laced lemony fruit supported by good acidity. Such precision here. 94/100
Bischel Riesling Appenheim HUNDERTGULDEN 2025 Rheinhessen
Juicy, bright and focused. Some smoky minerality, and high acidity. Searing and intense with good depth of flavour. 94/100
Knewitz Riesling Appenheim HUNDERTGULDEN 2025 Rheinhessen
Pure, bright and linear with nice tension to the fruit. Has an expressive personality. Great balance here. Sp pure and fine. 95/100
Knewitz Riesling Nieder-Hilbersheim HONIGBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Nice texture and weight to this Riesling, which shows lovely balance and purity. Lots of fruit, but also tension and minerality. 94/100
Knewitz Riesling Nieder-Hilbersheim STEINACKER 2025 Rheinhessen
Chiselled, pure and bright but also showing good depth of citrus fruit, with some peachy richness. But it stays linear and focused, and finishes fine and long. 95/100
Bischel Riesling Siefersheim HEERKRETZ 2025 Rheinhessen
Juicy and quite taut, but with some peachy richness as well as the crystalline citrus fruit, as well as some saltiness on the finish. Very fine. 94/100
Wagner-Stempel Riesling Siefersheim HEERKRETZ 2025 Rheinhessen
A great marriage of precision with some depth, showing crystalline citrus fruits backed by nice acidity. So stylish and refined. 95/100
Gunderloch Riesling Nackenheim ROTHENBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Bright, perfumed and refined with juicy lemony fruit and some nice salty minerality. Has some nice spicy character here as well as chiselled fruit. 94/100
Kühling-Gillot Riesling Nackenheim ROTHENBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Some nice ripe citrus fruit here, a touch of melony richness, and then nice layered acidity. Real finesse and purity, with a spicy fringe. 94/100
Gunderloch Riesling Nierstein PETTENTHAL 2025 Rheinhessen
Nice tension here with bright lemony fruit and some mineral undertow. Compact fruit but there’s some generosity as well. 93/100
Kühling-Gillot Riesling Nierstein PETTENTHAL 2025 Rheinhessen
Textured and refined with a fine spicy detail to the generous citrus fruit. This has nice ripe fruit. 94/100
Rappenhof Riesling Nierstein PETTENTHAL 2025 Rheinhessen
Zippy lemony fruit with good acidity, but also some fine spicy structure. Bright and refined. 94/100
Gunderloch Riesling Nierstein HIPPING 2025 Rheinhessen
Chalky and grainy structure here under the ripe but textured lemony fruit. Lovely mineral finish that tapers nicely. Saline twist. 95/100
Kühling-Gillot Riesling Nierstein HIPPING 2025 Rheinhessen
Nice delicacy and tension here with bright lemony fruit showing poise and refinement. 94/100
Kühling-Gillot Riesling Nierstein ÖLBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Juicy, crystalline and linear with nice pure lemony fruit. There’s a sweetness to the fruit that’s really appealing. 93/100
Rappenhof Riesling Nierstein ÖLBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Nice tension and intensity to this wine with keen acidity behind the pure citrus fruit. Crisp and juicy with nice weight in the mouth. 94/100
Rappenhof Riesling Oppenheim HERRENBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
Nice aromatics with layered fruit showing some mid-palate richness but also freshness. Juicy and lemony with good depth. 93/100
Rappenhof Riesling Oppenheim SACKTRÄGER 2025 Rheinhessen
Nice tension here to the lemony fruit. Has some weight and intensity. Stylish. 94/100
Wittmann Riesling Westhofen AULERDE 2025 Rheinhessen
Beautifully balanced with concentrated citrus fruit and an amazing, finely spiced texture. This is really good, with a saline twist on the finish. 96/100
Wittmann Riesling Westhofen KIRCHSPIEL 2025 Rheinhessen
Lovely texture and weight to this wine which has plump citrus fruit countered by good acidity. Stylish. 95/100
Wittmann Riesling Westhofen BRUNNENHÄUSCHEN 2025 Rheinhessen
Juicy and layered with nice tension and balance. There’s a purity to the fruit. Really fine. 94/100
Wittmann Riesling Westhofen MORSTEIN 2025 Rheinhessen
Restrained with lovely balance to the delicately spiced citrus fruit. Nice precision here, showing lovely fruit presence. Not showy, but harmonious. 95/100
Gutzler Riesling Westhofen MORSTEIN 2025 Rheinhessen
Delicate and fruit-driven with nice tension to the fruit. This has really good balance with a sense of harmony. 93/100
Gutzler Riesling Worms LIEBFRAUENSTIFT KIRCHENSTÜCK 2025 Rheinhessen
Nice density of crystalline citrus fruit, showing good energy and bright acidity. Lovely weight here. 94/100
Battenfeld Spanier Riesling Nieder-Flörsheim FRAUENBERG 2025 Rheinhessen
This is beautiful, with a saline twist to the bright citrussy fruit. Good purity and complexity. Superb. 95/100
Battenfeld Spanier Riesling Hohen-Sülzen KIRCHENSTÜCK 2025 Rheinhessen
This is fruity and focused with lovely generous citrus fruit and some saline detail on the finish. Refined. 94/100
Battenfeld Spanier Riesling Mölsheim ZELLERWEG AM SCHWARZEN HERRGOTT 2025 Rheinhessen
Textural and refined with attractive lemon and pear fruit, showing nice density and focus. Crystalline finish. Quite fine. 95/100
