Which PDO category allows dry style wine production in Germany?

The Auslese category is significant for its designation of wines that are made from hand-selected, fully ripe grapes, often affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). While it primarily leads to sweet wines, it can also be vinified into dry styles. This flexibility in production allows winemakers to create a range of wines, and some Auslese wines are crafted in a dry style.

The other categories, such as Qualitätswein and Kabinett, generally lean towards regulated sweetness levels, with Kabinett usually representing lighter, fresher, and often slightly sweet wines. Spätlese, while also allowing for some sweetness, typically represents late-harvest, riper grapes that tend to produce wines with more pronounced sweetness compared to the Auslese category, which provides more versatility in sweetness levels, including options for dry wine production.