
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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Cave de Ribeauville Clos du Zahnaker Riesling 2010Riesling from Alsace, France
- WE
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St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Kabinett 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling 2010Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
- W&S
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Barnard Griffin Riesling 2010Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
- WS
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Cupcake Vineyards Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Strub Niersteiner Bruckchen Riesling Kabinett 2010Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
- RP
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Chehalem Dry Riesling Reserve 2010Riesling from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- RP
- WS
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Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling Reserve 2010Riesling from New York, Other U.S.
- W&S
- WS
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Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- W&S
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Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Eroica Riesling 2010Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
- W&S
- WE
- RP
- WS
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Forrest Estate Riesling 2010Riesling from Marlborough, New Zealand
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Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WE
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Melsheimer Reiler Mullay-Hofberg Shaf Riesling Spatlese 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
- W&S
- RP
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Hyland Estates Riesling 2010Riesling from Oregon
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J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
- RP
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Mercer Estates Riesling 2010Riesling from Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington
- WE
- W&S
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Trimbach Riesling 2010Riesling from Alsace, France
- WS
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Zind-Humbrecht Terroir d'Alsace Riesling 2010Riesling from Alsace, France
- WS
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Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling 2010Riesling from Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
- RP
- WE
- W&S
- WS
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Jacob's Creek Barossa Steingarten Riesling 2010Riesling from Barossa Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
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Bex Riesling 2010Riesling from Germany
- TP
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Clean Slate Riesling 2010Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Milbrandt Traditions Riesling 2010Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
- WE
- WS