The Decadent Beerenauslese Wine (10 Stunning Bottles, Food Pairings)

Beerenauslese (pronounced bay-ruhn-ows-lay-zuh) is the German term for a late harvest wine, meaning “selected harvest of berries.” 

As its name suggests, the production of these wines requires a very special berry selection process. 

This is a major reason why Beerenauslese wines are renowned for being luxurious, high in quality, and very expensive.

In this article, we’ll explore more about what Beerenauslese is, the best bottles you can buy, and some terrific food pairing options with this delectable dessert wine.

A Quick Look Into Beerenauslese Wine

Beerenauslese wines are typically made from overripe grapes which have been left on the vine longer than usual. This means the grape is affected by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, due to its late harvest. 

The noble rot is what gives Beerenauslese wine its characteristic richness and sweetness.

Because Botrytis requires very precise weather, soil, and vineyard conditions, these wines are produced in small quantities and are generally very expensive. 

The best Beerenauslese wines are produced using the Riesling grape variety. However, more affordable Beerenauslese wines can be produced using the Chenin Blanc grape. 

Trockenbeerenauslesen vs Beerenauslese

On the German Riesling wine sweetness scale, both Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslesen fall on the sweet end. 

These categories in ascending order of sugar content include:

• Kabinett (dry to off dry wines)
• Spätlese (sweet)
• Auslese (sweeter)
• Beerenauslese (very sweet)
• Trockenbeerenauslesen (sweetest)

Trockenbeerenauslesen are among the rarest, most luxurious dessert wines and are essentially a stronger, richer version of Beerenauslese.  

Let's take a look at some fantastic bottles of Beerenauslese that you should buy.

10 Stunning Beerenauslese

Here’s a list of some of the best bottles of Beerenauslese you can buy in 2023:

• 1959 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 1959 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Grafenberg Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 1921 Schloss Vollrads Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 1935 Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 1971 Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 1945 Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 1999 Peter Jakob Kuhn Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 1993 Weinlaubenhof Alois Kracher Cuvee Beerenauslese 
• 2012 Framingham F-Series Riesling Beerenauslese 
• 2006 Dr. Loosen Riesling Beerenauslese 

1. 1959 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel, Germany ($10,052)

This elegant Beerenauslese has a beautiful yellow color with a medium body. The flavors are intense, with exquisite notes of peach, lemon curd, flint, and honey. This sweet wine is brilliantly balanced with good acidity and lingers on the palate luxuriously. 

2. 1959 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Grafenberg Riesling Beerenauslese, Rheingau, Germany ($5365)

From the Riesling grape variety, here’s a gorgeous sweet wine that showcases wonderful clarity and acidity. This wine is characterized by its delectable tasting notes of white apricot, elderflower, and marigold with a faint hint of meatiness. 

3. 1921 Schloss Vollrads Riesling Beerenauslese, Rheingau, Germany ($3853)

This pleasantly sweet dessert wine is dark gold in color and has a pronounced orange blossom and honey aroma. Its creamy, sweet mouthfeel is beautifully complemented with earthy mineral notes and crisp acidity. 

4. 1935 Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel, Germany ($3331)

A fabulous gold Riesling Beerenauslese, this white wine has a bold aroma of ripe apple, flint, and tobacco. Its high sugar content is perfectly balanced with bright acidity and a seemingly never-ending finish. 

5. 1971 Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Beerenauslese, Rheingau, Germany ($2305)

This is an intense, quality wine that’s dark yellow in appearance and flares with a strong nose of raisins, mango, and vanilla. It balances sweetness and acidity with flavor notes of baked apples, almonds, and ripe peaches. 

6. 1945 Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen Riesling Beerenauslese, Rheingau, Germany ($1553)

Here we have a gorgeous amber-colored dessert wine with a smooth medium body. It boasts exquisite flavor notes of pepper, toffee, and candied apricot. The wine’s fresh citrusy acidity is a fine counterpoint to its stone fruit finish and keeps it all in balance.

7. 1999 Peter Jakob Kuhn Riesling Beerenauslese, Rheingau, Germany ($266)

This bold wine has unmistakable aromas of honey and dried fruit with a hint of smoked ham. On the palate, there are deep flavor notes of figs, marmalade, and honey. Its excellent balance and relatively low alcohol content make it an easy wine to drink and enjoy. 

8. 1993 Weinlaubenhof Alois Kracher Cuvee Beerenauslese, Burgenland, Austria ($124)

This Austrian wine has a pleasant nose of summer flowers and citrus fruit. It showcases lanolin, grapefruit, and a hint of petrol on the palate. It also has crisp acidity and a delightfully sweet, smooth finish. 

9. 2012 Framingham F-Series Riesling Beerenauslese, Marlborough, New Zealand ($90)

This is a vibrant New Zealand wine with an impressive degree of freshness and balance. It has a slightly silky, creamy texture with delicious flavor notes of pineapple, white peach, and citrus fruit. 

10. 2006 Dr. Loosen Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel, Germany ($88)

This Beerenauslese is bright and light gold in color. On the nose, there are clear tropical fruit, guava, and peach notes. It has high acidity, an incredible minerality to it, and a long finish that showcases peach and citrus flavor profiles. 

Now, let’s discover what kinds of dishes pair best with a delicious bottle of Beerenauslese.

Fabulous Food Pairing With Beerenauslese

Beerenauslese is a stellar wine to enjoy on its own because of its complexity and intense flavor. 

However, if you’re looking for a luxurious wine to pair with dessert, Beerenauslese is a fantastic option too. It brilliantly complements desserts like fresh fruit tart, Tarte Tatin, Crème brûlée, or custards. 

For more savory options, the high sugar content of the Beerenauslese goes gorgeously with foie gras or blue cheese. 

Why You Should Invest in Beerenauslese Wine

Beerenauslese wines are rare and expensive wines right out of the gate due to their demanding production process of individually selected grapes and precise climate requirements. 

The greatest Beerenauslese wines are known for their brilliant aging potential and continue to improve after every decade for up to 50 years. 

These wines have also shown promising price appreciation in recent years. 

• The Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Beerenauslese appreciated in value from $7134 in 2020 to $10,100 in December 2021 - a 41% increase.
• The Schloss Vollrads Riesling Beerenauslese appreciated in value from $3028 in 2020 to $4256 in December 2021 - a 40% increase.

Beerenauslese wines also perform excellently at auctions. 

• At a Christie’s auction in 2020, 2 bottles of the 1990 Egon Müller, Scharzhofberger Beerenauslese sold for $5611.
• At a Sotheby’s auction in 2021, the 2019 Lorcher Schlossberg Riesling Beerenauslese sold for $1614. 

If you’re on the lookout for some fine investment-worthy wines, Beerenauslese is a top-tier option. 

Visit the Vinovest website to buy, store, and sell Beerenauslese wine or other authentic investment-grade wines from vineyards all over the world.

Beerenauslese - A Decadent Dessert Wine to Add To Your Cellar

Beerenauslese keeps its promise of a luxurious and elegant drinking experience for all who wish to indulge in this incredible sweet wine. 

A beautiful bottle of Beerenaulese is perfect for enjoying on its own or at dinner and will be the perfect sweet wine for your collection. 

It also makes for a lucrative investment wine thanks to its remarkable aging potential and limited production. 

For more information on investing in Beerenauslese or other brilliant wines from any major wine location in the world,check out the Vinovest Website.