Joshua Wesson, owner of Best Cellars says German wines are often confusing because the label is so packed with information. Here's his simplified version to help decode the label.
Look for words that relate to the grape, keeping in mind that Riesling is the king of German grapes. For an off-dry wine, look for kabinett. If it's a light wine you want, look for Mosel from the northernmost region it will be light, crisp and clean, with a bit of sweetness. For something richer, look further south to the Rhine for a Sichel. And remember the longer the name, the sweeter the wine.
One of Joshua's favorites is a Selbach-Oster, 1996 or 1997 Riesling kabinett.
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