
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.
- Chardonnay245
- Sauvignon Blanc54
- Riesling38
- Pinot Gris/Grigio17
- Chenin Blanc9
- Other White Blends9
- Rhône White Blends9
- Gewurztraminer5
- Pinot Blanc5
- Albarino4
- Gruner Veltliner4
- Muscat3
- Other White Wine3
- Viognier3
- Assyrtiko2
- Bordeaux White Blends2
- Garganega2
- Godello2
- Torrontes2
- Trebbiano2
- Silvaner2
- Viura2
- Aligote1
- Arneis1
- Falanghina1
- Friulano1
- Furmint1
- Greco1
- Melon de Bourgogne1
- Semillon1
- Verdejo1
- Verdicchio1
- Vermentino1
- Carricante1
- Fiano1
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Chateau Ste. Michelle Harvest Select Sweet Riesling 2018Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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Trimbach Riesling 2018Riesling from Alsace, France
- WE
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Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtroopfchen Riesling Spatlese 2018Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- WE
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Donnhoff Estate Riesling 2018Riesling from Nahe, Germany
- WW
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Maximin Grunhauser Riesling Abstberg Grosses Gewachs 2018Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- JS
- W&S
- RP
- WS
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Forge Cellars Classique Riesling 2018Riesling from Finger Lakes, New York, Other U.S.
- WS
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Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett 2018Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- JS
- WS
- RP
- W&S
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Dr. Thanisch Feinherb Riesling Kabinett 2018Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Poet's Leap Riesling 2018Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
- CG
- WE
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Paul Anheuser Schlossboeckelheimer Koenigsfels Riesling Kabinett 2018Riesling from Nahe, Germany
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Dr. Hermann Trocken Riesling 2018Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Brooks Willamette Valley Riesling 2018Riesling from Willamette Valley, Oregon
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Paul Blanck Et Fils Classique Riesling 2018Riesling from Alsace, France
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Heinz Eifel Shine Riesling 2018Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
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Louis Guntrum Dry Riesling 2018Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
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Pikes Riesling Traditionale 2018Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
- WE
- JS
- D
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Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2018Riesling from Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia
- JS
- RP
- WE
- WS
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Robert Weil Estate Riesling Kabinett 2018Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
- WS
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Dopff & Irion Riesling 2018Riesling from Alsace, France
- WE
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Alsace Willm Riesling Reserve 2018Riesling from Alsace, France
- WE
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Zind-Humbrecht Clos Windsbuhl Riesling 2018Riesling from Alsace, France
- WE
- JS
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Powell & Son Eden Valley Riesling 2018Riesling from Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
- JS
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Averaen Eola-Amity Hills Riesling 2018Riesling from Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
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Josef Leitz Feinherb Riesling 2018Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
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Moselland Gustav Adolf Schmitt Niersteiner Gutes Domtal Spatlese 2018Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany