Auslese

A small proportion of the grapes may be affected by noble rot in some regions although this never dominates the character of the wine.

[citation needed] Auslesen can be enjoyed by themselves (aperitif – an "afternoon wine") but are usually best accompanied with food, particularly those that exhibit the hearty characteristics of German cuisine.

In Germany, it is common to add stars (usually * to ***) on the wine label, Fuder (vat) numbers or a golden capsule, to indicate this.

With the recent introduction of the new classifications of top dry German wines, Erstes Gewächs and Grosses Gewächs, the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) has discouraged the continued use of Auslese trocken, as it has been seen as confusing for the consumer to have sweet and powerful dry wines with the same Prädikat.

As German winemakers try to carve out a niche in developing red wine, the Auslese ripeness classification has come into play as the ideal level to produce Spätburgunder (Pinot noir), particularly in the Rheingau, Pfalz, and Baden regions.