Riesling has long been the wine world’s ultimate cult classic—beloved by devoted insiders, misunderstood by the mainstream.
It is a grape capable of breathtaking versatility: razor-sharp and mineral-driven on one end, sumptuously sweet and honeyed on the other. Few varieties offer such purity, longevity, and expressiveness of terroir.
Despite all this, Riesling rarely reaches the commercial spotlight enjoyed by varieties like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Yet for those who understand its complexity, Riesling stands among the world’s greatest wine grapes.
Wine-Searcher’s World’s Best Rieslings of 2025 ranking proves exactly that, showcasing the producers who craft some of the most exceptional and prestigious Rieslings on the planet. The list combines aggregated critic scores—weighted by each critic’s reputation—and global average retail prices (GARP) in USD.
While Germany dominates the ranking, Austria also shines, highlighting Central Europe’s unquestioned mastery of this noble grape.
1. Markus Molitor – Bernkasteler Doctor Weisse Kapsel Riesling Auslese Trocken (Mosel, Germany)
Score: 99
Price: USD 1,730
Sitting at the very top is Markus Molitor’s dry Bernkasteler Doctor Weisse Kapsel Riesling Auslese Trocken—an extraordinary expression from the steep, slate-rich slopes of the Mosel.
Molitor, who took over his family estate in 1984, is today recognized as one of Germany’s greatest Riesling producers. His precision in the cellar and uncompromising focus on terroir catapulted him to global fame, including several 100-point scores from Robert Parker in 2015.
This wine combines elegance, minerality, and power in a way only the Doctor vineyard can deliver.
2. Egon Müller – Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (Mosel, Germany)
Score: 98
Price: USD 13,983
Egon Müller IV produces some of the world’s most legendary Rieslings—often the most expensive white wines on the market. The Trockenbeerenauslese from the majestic Scharzhofberg vineyard is an icon among sweet wines.
Lusciously sweet yet incredibly refined, this TBA is built to age for decades. Despite the impressive score, the price reflects not only rarity but global demand for Riesling royalty.
3. Weingut Robert Weil – Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese (Rheingau, Germany)
Score: 97
Price: USD 928
Robert Weil is synonymous with Rheingau excellence, and the Gräfenberg is their crown jewel vineyard. This TBA offers intense sweetness, crystalline purity, and vibrant acidity, showcasing a style that has defined Germany’s finest noble-sweet wines for more than a century.
4. Dr. Bürklin-Wolf – Forster Kirchenstück GC Riesling Trocken (Pfalz, Germany)
Score: 97
Price: USD 346
Founded in 1597, Dr. Bürklin-Wolf is one of Germany’s historic estates. Today it follows a Burgundian-style classification of vineyards—Grand Cru and Premier Cru.
The Forster Kirchenstück is their most revered site, offering a dry Riesling of elegance, depth, and structure. It is one of the great dry wines of the Pfalz and a benchmark for the region.
5. Weingut Robert Weil – Kiedricher Monte Vacano Riesling (Rheingau, Germany)
Score: 97
Price: USD 376
Described by James Suckling as “one of the dry masterpieces of the Rheingau,” Monte Vacano is a micro-cuvee that fans eagerly chase each year. Precise, mineral, and deeply expressive, it represents Weil’s mastery of dry Riesling.
6. FX Pichler – Dürnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd (Wachau, Austria)
Score: 96
Price: USD 109
The first Austrian entry, Weingut FX Pichler, is a Wachau legend. The Kellerberg vineyard is a stony, sun-drenched amphitheatre producing structured, concentrated Smaragd wines.
This dry Riesling delivers layers of stone fruit, spice, and striking minerality—one of the best value high-scorers on the list.
7. FX Pichler – Unendlich Riesling (Wachau, Austria)
Score: 96
Price: USD 348
“Unendlich,” meaning endless, is named for its profound depth. Its starry label references Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s set design for Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Dry, powerful, and incredibly long, it remains one of Austria’s most iconic Rieslings.
8. Weingut Keller – Niersteiner Pettenthal Riesling Grosses Gewächs (Rheinhessen, Germany)
Score: 96
Price: USD 1,262
Since Klaus Peter Keller took over in 2001, the estate has risen to global superstardom. Pettenthal GG is a dry Riesling of immense finesse and precision, sourced from the steep red-slate slopes of the Roter Hang.
9. Weingut Keller – Westhofener Brunnenhäuschen Abtserde Riesling GG (Rheinhessen, Germany)
Score: 96
Price: USD 391
Abtserde is among Keller’s most celebrated vineyards—cool, chalky, and perfect for dry, age-worthy Riesling. The wine shows tension, purity, and great cellar potential.
10. Weingut Keller – G-Max Riesling Trocken (Rheinhessen, Germany)
Score: 96
Price: USD 2,163
G-Max is shrouded in mystery—Keller does not disclose the vineyard source. But collectors know one thing: it is consistently one of the greatest dry Rieslings made anywhere.
The wine is powerful, smoky, mineral, and extremely limited, making it one of the most sought-after Rieslings globally.
Dry Rieslings Dominate—With Sweet Wines Adding Brilliance
Looking at the ranking, a clear trend emerges: dry Rieslings dominate the world stage in 2025. Yet the inclusion of rare Trockenbeerenauslesen from Egon Müller and Robert Weil shows that sweet Rieslings—when made at the highest level—remain among the most impressive and age-worthy wines in existence.
This top-10 list celebrates not only the producers but also the remarkable diversity of Riesling itself, affirming its place as one of the world’s greatest and most expressive wine grapes.
Source: Wine-Searcher