Trocken?

[Georgie]

Over the weekend, sisterdear and I made a lightning fast trip to DC to hear our friend perform with the Washington Chorus. Following the performance, we went to the couple's favorite German restaurant, Cafe Berlin. Great restaurant if you're ever in DC. I ordered a glass of Reisling, and though I didn't pay attention to the name, it did say "trocken" as part of it. I expected it to be drier than it was. Am I confused? ( about the wine, I mean..)

[Innkeeper]

Troken means dry, but German dry is sort of like Finger Lakes dry. Not completely. On our world wind trip to the FL recently we encountered one Dry Riesling that had 1.9% RS.

[wondersofwine]

If it said Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) it would be a super sweet dessert wine and very expensive. In this case "trocken" means that the grapes were "dry selected berries" or overripe grapes left on the vine until nearly dried up and probably attacked by "Edelfaule" or "noble rot" or Botrytis Cinerea--names for a beneficial mold which shrivels the grapes and thereby concentrates the sugar. To attain the Trockenbeerenauslese category, the natural sugar must reach a minimum of 150 Oechsle, approximately 35% by weight) depending on the region and the variety.
I think IK's answer is the more relevant one in this case. However, if someone ever offers you a taste of a TBA wine, say "yes."
It's an interesting point that the "dried out grapes" do not produce dry wine but rather a very sweet wine.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 05-11-2005).]