🏷️ Auslese
Prädikat level of German and Austrian wine above Spätlese: from fully ripe or noble-rotted grapes; in Austria, from carefully selected grapes with at least 21° KMW.
Auslese (German for selection) is a Prädikatswein level in German and Austrian wine law, above Spätlese.
Germany (Weingesetz, §§ 17 and 20): only fully ripe or noble-rotted grapes may be used, and the wine may not be enriched. A Prädikat is awarded on application together with an official test number, and the wine must have at least 7% vol of actual alcohol. The federal states may require hand harvesting for Auslese.
Austria (Weingesetz 2009, § 11): Auslese is a Spätlese made exclusively from carefully selected grapes, with all berries that are not fully ripe, faulty or diseased removed, and with a must weight of at least 21° KMW. It may not be enriched or sweetened. It may be submitted for the state test number from 1 January of the year after the harvest.
How it connects to Wine
🏷️ Auslese → applies in → 🗺️ German wine → kind of → 🗺️ Wines of Europe → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🏷️ Prädikatswein
- Where it applies
- 🗺️ German wine, 🗺️ Austrian wine
- Similar and different
- 🏷️ Prädikatswein, 🏷️ Spätlese, 🏷️ Beerenauslese
Frequently asked questions
What is Auslese?
A Prädikatswein level above Spätlese: wine from fully ripe or noble-rotted grapes (Germany) or from carefully selected grapes with at least 21° KMW (Austria).
How does Auslese differ from Spätlese in Austria?
It must be made exclusively from carefully selected grapes, and the must weight must be at least 21° KMW, against 19° KMW for Spätlese.
Must Auslese be picked by hand?
In Germany the federal states may require hand harvesting for Auslese (Weingesetz, § 20); under federal law it is compulsory only for Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.
Guides
What to read next
- 🗺️ German wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 🏷️ Beerenauslese — Prädikat level of German and Austrian wine from noble-rotted or overripe berries; hand-picked in Germany, at least 25° KMW in Austria.
Similar
🏷️ Trockenbeerenauslese · 🏷️ Eiswein · 🏷️ Kabinett · 🏷️ Spätlese · 🏷️ Beerenauslese · 🏷️ Qualitätswein
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- Weingesetz (WeinG 1994), §§ 17 und 20 — Bundesministerium der Justiz, gesetze-im-internet.de
- Weingesetz 2009 (Österreich), §§ 10–11, konsolidierte Fassung vom 23.10.2023 — BMLUK