Which RS range corresponds to Halbtrocken?

• A. Up to 9 g/L
• B. 12–25 g/L
• C. 9–18 g/L
• D. >25 g/L

Answer: (C)

Halbtrocken is German for an off-dry or semi-sweet style, defined by a residual sugar level that is enough to be noticeable but not dessert-like. The standard range for this category is about 9 to 18 g/L of residual sugar. This places the wine above trocken (which is essentially dry, up to around 9 g/L) without tipping into clearly sweet territory. The other options don’t fit as cleanly: anything up to about 9 g/L is typically considered dry, and well over 25 g/L would usually taste noticeably sweet. The 9–18 g/L range captures the balance that characterizes Halbtrocken, explaining why this is the best match.