Hey wine lovers,
Do you know that feeling? You're standing in a wine shop, your gaze wandering over the labels, and suddenly you're struck by a thought: "What does wine mean by semi-dry?" This word sounds like a secret, hidden between the rows of dry and sweet wines. Well, let's reveal the secret!
Feinherb (off-dry) is the charming liaison between semi-dry and sweet. It's a typically German term that allows so much flexibility that winemakers can create true masterpieces. 1 . Legally, nothing is set in stone; there's no fixed residual sugar content that a wine must have to be called feinherb (off-dry). This means that an feinherb wine can tickle you with a light sweetness without overwhelming you with sugar. 2 .
I'm telling you, off-dry is for the indecisive among us—those who don't want something too sweet, but not too dry either. You get a wine that has a sweet note on the tongue, but leaves a fresh aftertaste. And although often mentioned in the same breath as medium-dry, off-dry still has its own character. 3 .
It all began on the Moselle, where a group of winemakers decided that semi-dry wines needed a makeover. And voilà, semi-dry was born, and it's not just limited to Riesling. Today, you can find semi-dry red wines, rosé wines, and, of course, white wines, each of which impresses in its own way.
So, at the next wine evening, when someone asks, "What does feinherb mean in wine?", you can shine with your knowledge. And who knows, maybe feinherb will become your new favorite word on the wine label!
Cheers to the sweet secret!