Understanding the Pradikat system

Kabinett wines are those that have used grapes that are above average in ripeness thus higher in sugar level. The resulting wines tend to be off-dry.

Spatlese wines are those that have used ‘late harvest’ grapes. These wines will be between off-dry and medium dry in sweetness on the palate & will have more complex flavours.

Auslese wines are those that have used grapes that have got a mix of late-harvest characteristics and some noble rot (Botrytis) influence to them. These wines will be medium-sweet and have more dried/candied fruit flavours.

Beerenauslese wines are those that have used exclusively noble rot (botrytis) influenced grapes. The hand-pickers will pick bunches that have got roughly 70-80% noble rot influence. These wines will be sweet and have a more complex aromatic spectrum to them still with more dried/candied fruit flavours. 

Trockenbeerenauslese wines are the sweetest of the lot and will use exclusively noble rot (botrytis) influenced grapes. The pickers will go through the vineyard multiple times to ensure that they are picking individual berries that have been raisined due to noble rot. These wines will be lusciously sweet and have the most complex aromatic spectrum with plenty of tropical and candied fruit flavours.