Rieslaner
How to Say It
A rare Franconian cross of Silvaner and Riesling, bred for botrytis brilliance and electric acidity in late-harvest wines.
Rieslaner is a Silvaner x Riesling cross bred in 1921 for botrytized sweet wines with vivid acidity. Created at the Bavarian State Institute in Veitshöcheim, it thrives in Franconia and the Palatinate. Best expressed at Auslese level and above, it delivers concentrated fruit, minerality, and exceptional balance.
- Cross between Silvaner and Riesling, bred in 1921 by August Ziegler at Veitshöcheim
- Deliberately created to combine Silvaner's thick skin with Riesling's acidity and botrytis affinity
- Late-ripening variety requiring the best vineyard sites; notoriously reluctant to ripen fully
- Primarily grown in Franconia (Franken) and the Palatinate (Pfalz)
- Best at Auslese level and higher prädikat classifications
- Yellow-green berries turn golden yellow when fully ripe; produces low yields
- Population in German vineyards is in decline despite its quality reputation
Origins and Breeding
Rieslaner was first bred in 1921 by grape breeder August Ziegler at the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture in Veitshöcheim, Franconia. The crossing was deliberate: Silvaner's thick skin was combined with Riesling's vivid acidity and natural affinity for botrytis, creating a variety purpose-built for producing sweet, concentrated late-harvest wines. It is also known by the alternate names Mainriesling and Wuezburg.
- Bred in 1921 by August Ziegler at the Veitshöcheim institute in Franconia
- Crossing of Silvaner (thick skin) and Riesling (acidity and botrytis affinity)
- Known alternatively as Mainriesling or Wuezburg
- Classified as a white interspecific grape cross
Where It Grows
Rieslaner is primarily grown in Franconia (Franken) and the Palatinate (Pfalz) in Germany. Smaller plantings exist in Rheinhessen, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The variety demands the best vineyard sites due to its late-ripening nature and tendency for low yields. Exposed sites can lead to berry growth issues, so careful site selection is essential to achieving full ripeness.
- Heartland in Franconia and the Palatinate regions of Germany
- Minor plantings in Rheinhessen, Austria, Hungary, and Czech Republic
- Requires premium vineyard sites to ripen fully
- Low yields and potential berry issues on exposed sites
Climate and Viticulture
Rieslaner thrives in the cool continental climate of Franconia, where the tendency for noble rot (botrytis) is a defining feature of the growing season. The variety ripens late, carrying high natural acidity into harvest. Its thick-skinned Silvaner heritage provides resilience, but full ripeness is never guaranteed, making it a high-risk, high-reward grape for growers. The vineyard population in Germany is declining despite the variety's respected quality potential.
- Cool continental climate with botrytis tendency favors late-harvest styles
- Late-ripening with high natural acidity at harvest
- Thick skin from Silvaner parentage aids botrytis selectivity
- German plantings are declining even as quality recognition grows
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Train your palate →Wine Styles and Character
Rieslaner is best known for sweet botrytized wines across the German prädikat spectrum, from Spätlese through to Trockenbeerenauslese. The grape performs best at Auslese level and above, where its combination of pronounced fruit, elevated acidity, and minerality delivers wines of genuine complexity. Aromas include ripe apples, citrus, apricots, peach, honey, and floral notes. The wines are defined by a balance of sweetness and acidity that gives them structure and aging potential.
- Classic styles include Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, and Trockenbeerenauslese
- Aromas of ripe apple, citrus, apricot, peach, honey, and florals
- High acidity balances sweetness at all prädikat levels
- Best expressed at Auslese or higher; minerality is a hallmark
Rieslaner wines are aromatic and fruit-forward, with ripe apple, apricot, peach, citrus, and honey at the core. High acidity cuts through the sweetness at every level, giving the wines definition and length. Minerality is a consistent thread, and botrytized examples add layers of concentration and complexity.
- Ellermann-Spiegel Rieslaner Spätlese$25-40Classic Pfalz example showing ripe stone fruit and balancing acidity at an accessible prädikat level.Find →
- Weingut Keller Rieslaner Auslese$60-90Benchmark Auslese from a top German estate, delivering concentrated botrytis character with electric acidity.Find →
- Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Rieslaner$30-50Pfalz producer known for precision; shows the variety's aromatic complexity and structured sweetness.Find →
- Rieslaner is a crossing of Silvaner x Riesling, bred in 1921 by August Ziegler at Veitshöcheim, Franconia
- Classified as a white interspecific grape cross; also known as Mainriesling or Wuezburg
- Grown primarily in Franconia and Pfalz; minor plantings in Rheinhessen, Austria, Hungary, and Czech Republic
- Late-ripening with high acidity; requires best vineyard sites and produces low yields
- Best at Auslese level and above; key styles include Auslese, BA, and TBA