I like a dry Riesling but unless the bottle states "sweet" or "dry" on the label I have no clue as to its contents. Is there a way to determine the sugar level of Rieslings.
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Riesling is indeed extremely confusing as to degree of sweetness you can expect, so you are certainly not alone in finding this a difficult and often frustrating issue. We first have to recognize that perceptions of sweetness vary with each individual as they do with salty, bitter and sour tastes. To address the perceived sweetness of Riesling, a simple scale has been developed by the International Riesling Foundation (IRF) and is being displayed by some vintners on back labels. This visual device is called the Riesling Taste Profile Scale and employs four terms, from left to right: dry, medium dry, medium sweet and sweet. An "indicator triangle" is placed above the scale for the specific wine. This is certainly very helpful if not always a perfect depiction for every taster given how perceptions differ. On the most basic level, how sweet a wine tastes is a function of the ratio of sugar to acidity. However, to give a truer picture, pH - a reading of the strength of the acid - has to be brought into the formula. The wine's pH could make it seem drier or sweeter irrespective of the sugar-acid ratio. Where a wine ultimately falls along the horizontal scale takes all three parameters into consideration. Hopefully, more Riesling wines will include this scale on their labels to help consumers anticipate the sweetness, which of course is only one aspect of the taste profile of this fantastic grape variety! If you want to learn more about the IRF scale, you will find details at drinkriesling.com.