The quality wines from the 13 German wine-growing regions are made from riper grapes and subject to higher standards. Basic quality wines, Qualitatswein b.A. , and higher quality dry varietals labeled CLASSIC, are great for every day enjoyment and are best consumed while young and fresh. SELECTION is the term reserved for superior dry varietal wines. They are ideal for find dining or festive occasions and benefit from aging.
Whether a wine is dry, off-dry or sweet to the taste is primarily determined in the cellar, by the winemaker. The descriptive terms for style – trocken or halbtrocken – are qualifiers, used in conjunction with the ripeness designations. Both trocken and halbtrocken wines can be made in ripeness categories from QbA through Auslese. In other words, increasing levels of ripeness from QbA through Auslese do not mean increasing levels of sweetness. A QbA trocken or Kabinett Trocken is a dry wine vinified from fully ripened grapes , while a Spatlese trocken is a dry wine vinified from very ripe grapes . If neither trocken nor halbtrocken is indicated on a label or wine list, expect a wine with perceptible sweetness.