St Christopher Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling Auslese

St Christopher Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling Auslese is a late-harvest German Riesling from the Mosel region, bottled at approximately 8% ABV in a 750ml format. The 2023 vintage earned 88 points from Wine Enthusiast, confirming its standing as a reliable, fruit-driven Auslese at an accessible price point.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~8%  |  Origin: Mosel, Germany  |  Auslese (Late Harvest)  |  Producer: St. Christopher (est. 1992)

Production & Heritage

St. Christopher was established in 1992 and sources its wines from contract growers across five German wine-growing regions. The Piesporter Michelsberg designation refers to a Grosslage — a collective vineyard site composed of multiple individual plots surrounding the village of Piesport along the Mosel River. As an Auslese-level wine, the grapes are selectively harvested at elevated ripeness levels, concentrating natural sugars and flavor intensity well beyond what standard Kabinett or Spätlese picks achieve. The resulting wine retains a lower alcohol level around 8%, a hallmark of Mosel Riesling where residual sweetness is balanced by the region's characteristic slate-driven acidity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: White flowers and juicy melon greet the nose first, followed by layers of citrus candy, nectarine, and ripe pineapple. A subtle honeyed undertone emerges as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is lusciously sweet, with crisp pear and sunny honeydew giving way to candied apricot and tropical fruit at mid-palate. Prominent acidity — bright lemon and lime — cuts through the sweetness and keeps the wine from turning cloying, though there is a faintly treacly richness that adds body.

Finish: Light and sweet, trailing off with lingering citrus zest and a whisper of honey. The finish is clean rather than heavy, inviting another sip almost immediately.

How to Drink Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese

Serve well chilled, between 45–50°F (7–10°C), in a standard white wine glass that concentrates the aromatics. This wine is best enjoyed on its own as a dessert wine or alongside food, rather than in cocktails. That said, it performs beautifully in a Riesling Spritz — topped with chilled sparkling water and a lemon twist for a low-ABV refresher. It also works in a White Sangria, where its honeyed tropical notes amplify stone fruit and citrus additions. For an unconventional pairing, use it in a Hugo Spritz variation, substituting it for Prosecco to add deeper sweetness alongside elderflower and mint.

Best For

• Introducing someone to German Riesling and the Auslese sweetness category
• Pairing with spicy Asian cuisine where off-dry wine tempers heat
• Serving as a lighter dessert wine after a summer dinner
• Building a comparative tasting of Mosel Grosslage wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese taste like? It is a noticeably sweet Riesling dominated by ripe apricot, honeydew melon, and pineapple, with bright lemon-lime acidity that prevents the sweetness from becoming heavy. Honey and candied citrus notes round out a lush, approachable profile.

How does St Christopher compare to Leonard Kreusch Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese? Both wines come from the same Grosslage designation and occupy a similar price tier, making them the most direct competitors on the shelf. Leonard Kreusch tends to lean slightly more restrained in sweetness, while St Christopher generally delivers a fuller, more tropical fruit-forward character.

Is Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese good for beginners? Yes — its lower alcohol (around 8%), approachable sweetness, and vibrant fruit make it one of the most accessible entry points into German Riesling for those who prefer off-dry to sweet wines.

Where is Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese made? The grapes are grown in the Piesporter Michelsberg Grosslage, a collection of vineyard plots near the village of Piesport along the Mosel River in western Germany. St. Christopher sources from contract growers in the region and has operated since 1992.

What foods pair well with Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese? Thai green curry and pad thai, where the wine's sweetness counters chili heat; foie gras or duck liver pâté, which mirrors the wine's honeyed richness; blue cheese such as Roquefort, where sweetness offsets salt; fresh fruit tarts with apricot or peach; and mildly spiced Moroccan tagine with dried fruits.

What sizes does Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese come in? The standard bottling is 750ml, which is the most widely available format.

Is Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese worth the price? St Christopher positions this Auslese as an entry-level expression within the late-harvest category, making it one of the more affordable ways to experience genuine Auslese-level sweetness and complexity from the Mosel. Its 88-point Wine Enthusiast score reinforces solid quality for the tier.

Why Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese?

Auslese-designated Riesling occupies a specific and important rung on the German Prädikat quality ladder — above Spätlese, below Beerenauslese — and finding one at this price point with critical recognition is uncommon. The 88-point score from Wine Enthusiast on the 2023 vintage validates consistency across recent releases. What sets this bottling apart is its balance: the Mosel's cool climate and slate soils produce acidity sharp enough to keep the concentrated tropical sweetness in check, resulting in a wine that reads as lush without becoming syrupy. For anyone exploring German wine or seeking a versatile dessert-course companion, this remains one of the most dependable Auslese values available.