Riesling
81/100
The short takeAn approachable off-dry Riesling with rounded fruit, refreshing acidity and satisfying citrus-mineral persistence. Recognizable varietal character and good balance make it enjoyable, though the flavor profile stays straightforward.
Tasted Karl HillHow we score
In the glass
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Appearance
Pale straw yellow and clear.
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Nose
Lemon curd leads, with mineral notes and a subtle saline impression adding definition to the citrus-led aroma.
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Palate
Rounded lemon and pear flavors give the palate an approachable shape. Gentle sweetness sets an off-dry tone, balanced by refreshing acidity; the fruit has enough presence to support that acidity and maintain freshness.
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Finish
Citrus and mineral flavors continue after swallowing, with a delicate saline edge. Freshness carries through the close, giving the wine satisfying persistence.
How wine-like is it?
Recognizable Riesling fruit and acidity, with a mineral-saline close, give the glass a familiar varietal character.
Structure
- Off-dry
- Rounded
The wine
Citrus and mineral notes give The Substitute Riesling a satisfying close. They remain after swallowing, with a delicate saline edge and freshness that carries through the finish. Persistence is a strength here, even though the flavors themselves stay straightforward.
Gentle sweetness rounds the lemon and pear fruit without losing the refreshing acidity that gives the palate definition. The off-dry profile feels agreeable because there is enough fruit to meet that acidity; neither element has to carry the glass alone. Rounded texture makes it approachable, while the fresh balance keeps the sip engaging. That combination gives the wine its appeal, with its straightforward fruit profile held together by a fresh balance.
The clear, pale straw pour opens with lemon-curd aromas, mineral notes and a subtle saline impression. Those accents carry a recognizable Riesling character from the aroma into the finish. It is an enjoyable, easygoing glass whose fruit, sweetness and acidity work comfortably together. The limited complexity remains apparent, but the citrus-mineral persistence gives the simple profile a satisfying conclusion.
The bottle
Production Dealcoholized
Evidence Bottle verified
Production type describes how it is made, not how it tastes. What this classification means.
Method Undeclared
Research notes
The Riesling front label explicitly states alcohol-removed wine and less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. Germany and Riesling are stated in the retailer's origin details. No product-specific removal machine is named.
Verified facts
Evidence: Bottle verified · 5 sources
- Not disclosed Method Undeclared
Where to buy
- Package
750 ml
- Typical price
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$16.99 / 750 ml
- Availability
The Zero Proof single-bottle listing was in stock on 2026-10-10.
Prices and availability are independently observed and may change. Retailer listings do not imply endorsement. A different package is labeled as a different format. Reader-service exceptions and commercial links are identified above; neither affects scores, rankings, classification, verification, or editorial coverage.
Product facts
- Bottle / can
- 750 ml
Sources & verification
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Evidence at a glance
- Bottle verified8 facts
- Producer documented1 fact
- Secondary source1 fact
- Retailer sourced2 facts
Sources
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Bottle / can label Bottle label
- Nutrition
- Package
- Country
- Calories
- Sugar
- Ingredients
6 notes
- Nutrition
- Per 150 ml: 27 kcal, total fat <0.5 g, trans fat 0 g, carbohydrate 6.8 g, total sugars 5.3 g, protein <0.5 g. The panel’s 11% daily value beside total sugars is preserved in the photo but not interpreted.
- Package
- Made from Riesling grapes. Distributed by The Zero Proof Holdings, Inc., Atlanta, GA 30318. Lot 0201001. Best before 12/09/2027 retained verbatim because date order is unspecified. Label sensory and pairing language is producer copy, not Karl Hill’s tasting evidence.
- Country
- Physical bottle states DEALCOHOLIZED WINE FROM GERMANY.
- Calories
- Physical panel states 27 calories per 150 ml, five servings per bottle.
- Sugar
- Physical panel states 5.3 g total sugars per 150 ml but provides no added-sugars row. Earlier retailer claim of 0 g added sugar is not treated as label-verified.
- Ingredients
- Grapes, concentrated grape must, carbon dioxide, dimethyl dicarbonate, sulphites.
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Note
- Production
- Inspected the pictured front label; alcohol-removed wine is explicitly printed.
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2 notes
- Price
- Current listing, not the editor's actual purchase price.
- Volume
- The Zero Proof lists 750 mL.
Additional sources
Product record history Sourced changes and open disagreements. Prior claims stay on the record when sources conflict.
- ReviewedReviewed and published.
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