
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 Blanc48
- Pinot Gris/Grigio25
- Riesling24
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- Chenin Blanc6
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Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Clean Slate Riesling 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling 2019Riesling from Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
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Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2019Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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Villa Wolf Riesling Dry 2019Riesling from Pfalz, Germany
- JS
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Zilliken Rausch Riesling Spatlese 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- JS
- RP
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Zilliken Butterfly Riesling 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- JS
- RP
- WW
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Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- JS
- RP
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Zilliken Saarburg Riesling Kabinett 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- JS
- RP
- WW
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Heinz Eifel Riesling Spatlese 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Robert Weil Estate Riesling Trocken 2019Riesling from Rheingau, Germany
- JS
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Louis Guntrum Riesling Royal Blue 2019Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2019Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
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Heinz Eifel Riesling Auslese 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Heinz Eifel Riesling Kabinett 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Hermann Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett Riesling 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
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Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Noble House Riesling QbA 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
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Dr. Loosen Red Slate Dry Riesling 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
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Pikes Hills and Valleys Riesling 2019Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
- RP
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Jim Barry Lodge Hill Riesling 2019Riesling from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia
- RP
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Dr. Hermann Dr. H. Riesling 2019Riesling from Mosel, Germany
- RP
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Eroica Riesling 2019Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington
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Henschke Julius Eden Valley Riesling 2019Riesling from Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
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