
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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Donnhoff Oberhauser Bruke Riesling Spatlese 2002Riesling from Nahe, Germany
- RP
- WS
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J.J. Prum Riesling Kabinett 2002Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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J.J. Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese 2002Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
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Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling 2002Riesling from New Zealand
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Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling 2002Riesling from Willamette Valley, Oregon
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Hogue Late Harvest Riesling 2002Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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Mitchell Watervale Riesling 2002Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
- WE
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Firestone Johannisburg Riesling 2002Riesling from California
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Covey Run Riesling 2002Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Late Harvest Riesling (half-bottle) 2002Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
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Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling 2002Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Josef Leitz Riesling Spatlese Rudesheimer Magdalenekreuz 2002Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Dopff & Irion Riesling 2002Riesling from Alsace, France
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Giesen Riesling 2002Riesling from New Zealand
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Pikes Riesling 2002Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
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Cooper's Creek Hawkes Bay Riesling 2002Riesling from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
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Spy Valley Riesling 2002Riesling from New Zealand
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J. Lohr Bay Mist White Riesling 2002Riesling from Central Coast, California
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Schmitt Sohne Riesling QbA 2002Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Bonny Doon Pacific Rim Dry Riesling 2002Riesling from Central Coast, California
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Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling 2002Riesling from Australia
- WS
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Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling 2002Riesling from Australia
- W&S
- WE
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Schmitt Sohne Riesling Kabinett 2002Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Bonny Doon The Heart Has Its Rieslings 2002Riesling from Central Coast, California
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Columbia Crest Johannisberg Riesling 2002Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington