Varietals - Riesling

Riesling is a hearty white grape that originated in the Rhine region of Germany and grows best on cooler regions.  Riesling is a heavily aromatic grape variety with floral aromas and high acidity.  Wines made from the Riesling grape range from dry to very sweet and can also be sparkling.  Like most white wines, Riesling wines are rarely oak aged.  The grape is extremely expressive of its terroir, which means there is a wide variation in flavor and intensity from one growing region to another.

The popularity of Riesling wines and the increasing amount of grapes being plated ranks Riesling in the top three white wines along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  The originally grown along the Rhine, Riesling is now cultivated worldwide including crops in Italy, Luxembourg, China, Ukraine, and the United States. 

Young Rieslings are bright, fruity wines with notes of apple, citrus, rose, and honey.  Although they are usually enjoyed immediately, the high acidity makes the wines suitable for aging and sweet Rieslings are particularly suited thanks to their high sugar content.  The sweetest Rieslings, and also the most expensive, are Late Harvest Rieslings produced by allowing the grapes to hang much longer on the vines before harvesting.  This  allows a concentration of flavors that creates a more complex profile in these rich wines. 

The best choices for pairing with a Riesling can depend on how dry or sweet the particular wine is, but all Rieslings pair well with seafood or pork.  However, the huge variation in Rieslings makes it easy to find one to pair with nearly every food.  Spicier foods will be well supported by fuller bodied aged Rieslings. 

Recently, a red variety of Riesling has been garnering attention among wine lovers.  This rare varietal produces a white wine with a slightly heavier flavor.  Riesling hybrids are also becoming popular as a way to make use of the best characteristics of the grape to create new and unique flavor profiles.

Some of the best Rieslings come from Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars, Evergreen Vineyards, Fox Run Vineyards, Peconic Bay Winery, and Ventana Vineyards. 
 

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