
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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- Sauvignon Blanc2052
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Eroica Gold Riesling (500 ML) 2014Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
- JS
- RP
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Selbach Oster Riesling Feinherb 2014Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Schloss Gobelsburg Heiligenstein Riesling (375ML half-bottle) 2014Riesling from Kamptal, Austria
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Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2014Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
- WW
- RP
- W&S
- WS
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Seven Hills Winery Riesling 2014Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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Bouchaine Las Brisas Riesling 2014Riesling from Carneros, California
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Yalumba Y Series Riesling 2014Riesling from Barossa, South Australia, Australia
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Hermann J. Wiemer Josef Vineyard Riesling 2014Riesling from New York, Other U.S.
- JS
- W&S
- WS
- WE
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Dr. Konstantin Frank Reserve Riesling 2014Riesling from New York, Other U.S.
- WE
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Prager Smaragd Klaus Riesling 2014Riesling from Wachau, Austria
- WS
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Heinz Eifel Riesling Spatlese 2014Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WS
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Albert Boxler Riesling 2014Riesling from Alsace, France
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Rudi Pichler Smaragd Achleiten Riesling 2014Riesling from Wachau, Austria
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North by Northwest NxNW Horse Heaven Hills Riesling 2014Riesling from Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington
- WW
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Forge Cellars Classique Riesling 2014Riesling from Finger Lakes, New York, Other U.S.
- WS
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Fowles Wine Ladies who Shoot their Lunch Riesling 2014Riesling from Victoria, Australia
- RP
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Grosset Alea Riesling 2014Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
- RP
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Eroica Riesling 2014Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
- RP
- WW
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Selbach Kabinett Riesling (Fish Label) 2014Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Domaine Mittnacht Freres Rosacker Riesling Grand Cru 2014Riesling from Alsace, France
- WS
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Smith Madrone Riesling 2014Riesling from Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California
- WE
- W&S
- D
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Brundlmayer Zobinger Heiligenstein Lyra Riesling 2014Riesling from Kamptal, Austria
- RP
- D
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Markus Huber Terrassen Riesling 2014Riesling from Austria
- WE
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Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling 2014Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Loimer Kamptal Riesling 2014Riesling from Austria
- WS