What is Riesling Kabinett? (10 Best Wines, Characteristics, Food Pairing)

Kabinett is the lightest style of Riesling in the German Prädikat system. It’s made using grapes and has a sweetness level of 148–188 g/L sugar. 

This fresh, off-dry to dry white wine hails from colder German wine regions, like Mosel Valley and Rheingau. It usually has intense floral aromas and delicious apple, peach, and pear fruit flavors.

In this article, we’ll tell you all about Riesling Kabinett and the ten best wines to buy. We’ll also show you the different styles of Riesling and some fantastic food pairings.

Riesling Kabinett Characteristics

Originally, Kabinett Riesling referred to wines of superior quality that had been reserved for later sales. 

In 1971, the term Kabinett was officially noted in German wine law. It was defined as wines that are light and non-chaptalized (no additional sugar is added to the grapes before fermentation.)

Since Kabinett wines may not be chaptalized, they usually possess the lowest alcohol content of all German wines, ranging between 7-11%.

Kabinett’s naturally high acidity and minerality are balanced by the wine’s residual sugar content. It can age in your cellar for 1-10 years, depending on the vintage.

10 Best Riesling Kabinett Wines

Here are ten delicious Riesling Kabinett wines:

• Schloss Reinhartshausen Marcobrunn Riesling Kabinett 1928
• JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2017
• Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2019
• Rüdesheim Berg Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Charta 1987
• Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 2015 
• Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen Riesling Kabinett Trocken 1953
• Schloss Johannisberg Rotlack Riesling Kabinett 1937
• Julian Haart Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett 2019
• Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Alte Reben Riesling Kabinett 2020
• JJ Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2017

1. Schloss Reinhartshausen Marcobrunn Riesling Kabinett 1928 ($1,126)

This delectable golden-colored wine exudes apricot and green apple aromas and stone fruit flavor. It’s a refreshing, dry Riesling with crisp acidity and perfectly balanced minerality. 

2. JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2017 ($42)

Here’s a delicious German wine with lemon, apple, and peach aromas with hints of citrus zest. A touch of sweetness balances the subtle mineral notes and vibrant acidity.

3. Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett 2019 ($182)

This exquisite wine is bold, dry, and delightfully acidic with a velvety texture and enticing aromas. The mouth-watering palate is characterized by notes of pear, apple, honey, and cookies.

4. Rüdesheim Berg Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Charta 1987 ($4,859)

This Kabinett is elegant and aromatic with a dominant floral tasting note followed by hints of exotic fruit. It’s a perfect dry white wine with lovely acidity. 

5. Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 2015 ($50)

With a subtle pineapple flavor, this dry, acidic wine entices with underlayers of white peach, green apple, and pear. Wine lovers will appreciate its impressive minerality and delectable golden apple finish. 

6. Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen Riesling Kabinett Trocken 1953 ($3,132)

Here’s a well-balanced Riesling with initial honey, mineral, and stone notes followed by refreshing citrus and lime flavors. The finish is dry, with hints of apricot, green apple, and pear.

7. Schloss Johannisberg Rotlack Riesling Kabinett 1937 ($425)

Here we have an easy-drinking, golden-colored Riesling that’s elegant, dry, and acidic. There’s a delightful apple aroma and grapefruit, honey, mineral, and stone flavors. 

8. Julian Haart Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett 2019 ($60)

This is another elegant, dry, and acidic Riesling Kabinett hailing from the Mosel River region. The initial apricot, peach, and apple notes are followed by pineapple and tropical fruit flavors with hints of slate and a refreshing finish.

9. Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Alte Reben Riesling Kabinett 2020 ($44)

Here we have a Mosel Riesling with a lovely floral nose and a crystal clear palate. The acidity is intense but not overwhelming. You’ll love the balanced sweet fruit flavors, brilliant freshness, and earthy notes imparted by the Devonian slate, typical of the Mosel region. 

10. JJ Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2017 ($28)

This great wine from the Graacher Himmelreich vineyard doesn’t disappoint with its dry, acidic, yet balanced nature. It has a lovely floral nose, tropical fruit tasting note, and a precise wet stone finish.

Riesling Wine Classification

Here are the main Riesling styles besides Kabinett: 

• Trocken: Dry wine with very low residual sweetness (9 g/l residual sugar or less).

• Spätlese wines: A sweet Riesling made from ripe grapes picked later in the harvest season (172–209 g/l residual sugar).

• Auslese: Sweeter than Spatlese wines and made from select grape bunches, left on the vine longer than the general harvest (191–260 g/l residual sugar).

• Beerenauslese: Very sweet wine made from individually picked, late harvest grapes, usually affected by noble rot (260+ g/l residual sugar).

• Trockenbeerenauslese: Very sweet dessert wines made from individually selected dried grapes with high sugar content (1150-1154 g/l residual sugar).

Best Riesling Kabinett Food Pairings

The subtle salinity and mouthwatering acidity of Kabinett Riesling pair well with Asian cuisine, particularly Thai dishes like green curry and seafood dishes, like sushi or fried fish.

You could also pair a bottle of your favorite Kabinett with:

• Roasted chicken
• Chicken wings
• Smoked meats 
• Ham
• Turkey dishes  

Riesling Kabinett: A Legendary German Wine For Any Celebration

Riesling Kabinett is a delicious, light, and acidic wine that can be enjoyed now and the best vintages can be cellared for nearly ten years. 

So whether you’re looking for your next party wine or want to invest in a bottle to keep for the future, you can find a Kabinett to suit your taste and budget. 

The easiest way to buy, store, and sell your bottles of enticing Riesling Kabinett and other fine wines is through a world-class wine investing platform like Vinovest.

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