Off-Dry Wines · Subtle Sweetness

Character and Style of Off-Dry Wines

Off-dry wines show a very subtle hint of sweetness on the palate. This sweetness is unobtrusive and gently supports the wine’s flavours without dominating the overall impression.

They are excellent food companions for those who find completely dry wines too dry.

White, rosé and red wines can all be produced in an off-dry style.

Off-Dry, Semi-Dry or Dry – What’s the Difference?

The term “off-dry” has become established only over the past two decades. It describes a broader stylistic spectrum and refers to wines that are neither dry nor truly sweet.

By contrast, “semi-dry” (more than 9 up to 18 g/l residual sugar) and “dry” (up to 9 g/l residual sugar) are clearly defined by German wine law. Both typically taste less sweet than off-dry wines.

If you prefer wines with no perceptible residual sweetness, you can find our dry wines here.

Grape Varieties for Off-Dry Wines

In principle, off-dry wines can be produced from all grape varieties. Some wines naturally stop fermenting towards the end of the process and therefore retain part of their own residual sugar. Others are blended back with previously stored sweet reserve (unfermented grape must) to achieve their subtle sweetness.

We consider the following grape varieties particularly well suited for off-dry wines, as the gentle sweetness beautifully enhances their aromatics:

• Riesling: The delicate sweetness harmoniously complements the wine’s vibrant acidity.
• Goldmuskateller: The light sweetness highlights the fine muscat aromatics.
• Sauvignon Blanc: Subtle sweetness brings out the wine’s spicy notes.
• Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris): The fine fruit becomes even more expressive with a hint of sweetness.
• Merlot: Fine fruit and gentle sweetness complement each other harmoniously.
• Schwarzriesling: Light sweetness accentuates fruitiness and soft tannins.

Discover Off-Dry Fuchs Wines

For those new to Fuchs wines, we recommend the “Off-Dry Wines” tasting package. It contains six different wines and is ideal for a personal wine tasting experience – with free shipping within Germany.

Our Customers’ Favourite Off-Dry Wines

• Grauburgunder off-dry, a classic with fine, ripe fruit and mild acidity
• Sauvignon Blanc off-dry, powerful, vibrant and spicy
• Merlot off-dry, fine-fruity, harmonious and smooth
• Rosé off-dry, delicately fruity and elegant with very mild acidity

Off-Dry Wines with Food

The following rule of thumb will rarely lead you astray:

• White wine and rosé with white meats and fish
• Red wine with red meats and venison

Off-dry wines are versatile food companions. There is a well-suited off-dry wine for almost any dish.

Your Personal Taste Matters

Red wine with light meat or fish? Our boss occasionally enjoys such wine-and-food pairings that might make some “experts” shake their heads. White wine with roast goose? An aromatic white wine with a touch of residual sweetness can be a wonderful match.

Feel free to experiment with unconventional food and wine combinations – in the end, only one thing matters: that you enjoy it.

Our sole recommendation is that food and wine should not overpower each other. Robust dishes call for wines with comparable character, while delicate dishes are better accompanied by finer, more restrained wines. The colour of the wine is ultimately not decisive.

Serving Temperature for Off-Dry Wines

• White and rosé wines: well chilled, according to personal preference
• Red wines: approximately 16–18 °C, with some flexibility depending on style