
Riesling
Learn about Riesling — taste profile, popular regions and more ...
A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. It can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and the best exmples can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Riesling is best known in Germany and Alsace, and is also of great importance in Austria. The variety has also been particularly successful in Australia’s Clare and Eden Valleys, New Zealand, Washington, cooler regions of California, and the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Tasting Notes for Riesling
Riesling can be a sweet or dry white wine. In any case it usually has a high acidity and stone fruit, citrus, spice and floral notes. At its ripest, it leans towards juicy peach, nectarine and pineapple, while cooler climes produce Rieslings redolent of meyer lemon, lime and green apple. With age, Riesling can become truly revelatory, developing unique, complex aromatics, often with a hint of petrol.
Perfect Food Pairings for Riesling
Riesling is quite versatile, enjoying the company of sweet-fleshed fish like sole, freshly shucked oysters and most Asian food. Sweeter styles work well with fruit-based desserts.
Sommelier Secrets for Riesling
It can be difficult to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling, and German labeling laws do not make things any easier. Look for the world “trocken” to indicate a dry wine, or “halbtrocken” or “feinherb” for off-dry. Some producers will include a helpful sweetness scale on the back label—happily, a growing trend.
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Trimbach Cuvee Frederic-Emile Riesling 1997Riesling from Alsace, France
- WS
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Van Duzer Reserve Riesling 1997Riesling from Willamette Valley, Oregon
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Hugel Riesling (half-bottle) 1997Riesling from Alsace, France
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Nikolaihof Vinothek Riesling 1997Riesling from Wachau, Austria
- RP
- JS
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Schmitt Sohne Piesporter Michelsberg QbA 1997Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Argyle Dry Reserve Riesling 1997Riesling from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
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Schmitt Sohne Piesporter Michelsberg Auslese 1997Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Trimbach Riesling (half-bottle) 1997Riesling from Alsace, France
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Chateau St. Jean Johannisberg Riesling 1997Riesling from Sonoma County, California
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Arbor Crest Johannisburg Riesling 1997Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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d'Arenberg The Dry Dam Riesling 1997Riesling from McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
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Von Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtropfchen Kabinett 1997Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Hugel Classic Riesling 1997Riesling from Alsace, France
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Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese 1997Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Riesling 1997Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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Mirassou Family Selection Monterey Riesling 1997Riesling from Central Coast, California
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Domaines Schlumberger Grand Cru Saering Riesling 1997Riesling from Alsace, France
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Jekel Johannisberg Riesling LH (half-bottle) 1997Riesling from Central Coast, California
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Robert Weil Estate Riesling Spatlese Trocken 1997Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Hugel Hommage Riesling (half-bottle) 1997Riesling from Alsace, France
- WS
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Hugel Jubilee Reserve Personelle Riesling 1997Riesling from Alsace, France
- WS
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Robert Weil Kiedrich Grafenberg Riesling Spatlese 1997Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Joseph Phelps L.H. Johannisberg Riesling (half-bottle) 1997Riesling from Napa Valley, California
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Fritz Haag Estate Riesling 1997Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Schmitt Sohne Riesling Spatlese 1997Riesling from Mosel, Germany