Best-of lists · Top 5

Top 5 Rieslings with fish

With its high natural acidity and usually moderate alcohol, dry Riesling brings exactly what fish and seafood call for: a freshness that carries fat and butter without masking delicate flavours. Wines without noticeable oak influence and with a salty, mineral length work particularly well with the iodine and salt of seafood. The Gutswein, Ortswein and Erste Lage levels often offer the best balance of precision, drinkability and price.

Home of Riesling editorial team · researched on 24 September 2026 · prices as of 24 September 2026

Photo: Nicu Cobasnean / Pexels

Wittmann · Rheinhessen · 2024

Westhofener Riesling trocken

dry12 %around €36.24

Why it's on the list: The Westhofener from Erste Lage sites – in 2024, according to Vinous, made exclusively from Morstein grapes surrounding the GG parcels – combines tautness and salty length with a fine texture. Ideal for more refined fish dishes with butter or beurre blanc.

Summarised from the press reviews

A clear, cool nose of lemon, grapefruit and white peach, with herbal spice and a hint of smoke. The palate is taut and linear, with good density, fine acidity and a salty, mineral foundation that lingers for a long time.

Value for money: GG-level ratings (95 points Suckling, 93+ Falstaff) for around €36 in the shops, or €32 from the estate for the following vintage – one of the smartest buys in dry Riesling.

Pair with: Pike-perch or turbot with beurre blanc, scallops

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Dönnhoff · Nahe · 2024

»Tonschiefer« Riesling trocken

dry11,5 %around €14.99

Why it's on the list: Moderate alcohol, taut acidity and slate spice make the Tonschiefer an uncomplicated, precise partner for pan-fried and oven-baked fish.

Summarised from the press reviews

Still reserved in its youth, with slate spice, dried citrus zest and a hint of stone fruit. On the palate the minerality comes to the fore, and the fine acidity runs through the whole wine; medium-bodied, with a dry, stony finish.

Value for money: For around €15–17 you get the signature of one of the Nahe's best estates – value for money at a very high level.

Pair with: Trout meunière, pan-fried sea bream, fishcakes with herbs

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Künstler · Rheingau · 2024

Hochheimer Stielweg Riesling »Alte Reben« trocken VDP.Erste Lage

dry13 %around €21

Why it's on the list: More body and fruit than the lighter contenders – the Stielweg suits more robust fish dishes and sauces, as well as the seafood pasta the estate itself recommends.

Summarised from the press reviews

Lime and lemon on the nose, with exotic hints of passion fruit and melon and a stony, mineral touch. The palate is juicy and concentrated, held in balance by lively acidity, with a long, mineral finish. Aged in stainless steel and large oak.

Value for money: Erste Lage quality from old vines, with 96 Suckling and 93 Falstaff points, for €21 from the estate – fairly calculated for top-level Rheingau.

Pair with: Oven-baked salmon, cod with mustard sauce, linguine with prawns

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Ökonomierat Rebholz · Pfalz · 2023

Siebeldinger Riesling vom Buntsandstein trocken

drylimited12,5 %around €26

Why it's on the list: An uncompromisingly dry Riesling made without chaptalisation or deacidification, whose smoky, salty character goes beautifully with smoked fish and grilled dishes.

Summarised from the press reviews

Green apple, citrus, peach and apricot, with flint and a light smokiness. The palate is bone dry (0.2 g/l residual sugar according to the estate) and lean, with crisp acidity and a long, salty, mineral finish.

Value for money: For a top biodynamic estate and 93 points from both Parker and Suckling (2023 vintage), a reasonable price, even if the competition on this list is somewhat cheaper.

Pair with: Smoked trout with horseradish, grilled mackerel, grilled sardines

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Bründlmayer · Kamptal · 2024

Riesling Kamptal DAC »Kamptaler Terrassen«

dry12 %around €15.95

Why it's on the list: Grown on primary rock and loess, the Terrassen Riesling brings together Austrian fruit and spice with salty length – the estate itself recommends it with seafood and grilled fish.

Summarised from the press reviews

Peach, mandarin zest and a floral touch, lively on the nose. The palate is juicy and densely woven, with a delicate fruit sweetness, nectarine on the finish, mineral notes and balanced acidity – light-footed and easy to drink.

Value for money: Under €16 for a Riesling with 92–93 points, the value for money is excellent.

Pair with: Grilled char, wok-fried prawns (not too spicy), fish soup

Wine profile → · Bründlmayer estate →

Scores and quotes come from the critics and magazines named, each with a link to the source. Prices are approximate at the time of research.