Getting familiar with Rieslings
The Riesling is one of the more aromatic white wine grape varieties. Its origin is in the Rhein region in Germany. It is one of the most ancient white wine grape varietals which is still in use to date. The name means to split, perhaps because of how the berries split between the fingers when held.
Rieslings are a flexible grape variety both because of the flavors and their ability to be crafted into totally different tasting wines; from dry to ultra-sweet, green to tropical fruit flavours. The final product is dependent on factors such as the terroir the grapes grow in and the wine-making process. They bud late, avoiding spring frost and ripen late, depending on the style of wine the winemaker wants to produce. This variety will do best in regions that offer cooler and or moderate climates. Specific flavor notes and sweetness levels depend on climate, terroir, and wine-making practices.
Are all Riesling Sweet?
Although it has seven sweetness levels, you may be surprised to know that it also produces dry wine. Notably, the Rhine Region in Germany mostly produces dry kind of this varietal. These grapes can also produce Dessert wines by utilizing Noble Rot. Dry mainly includes: Alsace, “Trocken” German Riesling, Washington State Riesling labeled “dry,” most New York Riesling, and most Australian Riesling from Clare and Eden Valleys.
German Riesling is categorized into four main categories:
- Sweet. Most have at least some level of sweetness. Due to terroir, German wines like riesling are usually sweeter. Sweet rieslings are best between 10 and 30 years of age.
- Dry. French, Austrian, and American wines tend to be drier than those made elsewhere, and riesling is no exception. The ideal aging period for most dry Rieslings is five to 15 years.
- Semi-sweet. Falling somewhere in the middle, semi-sweet. These Rieslings have great balance. The best age to enjoy them is between 10 and 20 years.
- Sparkling. Called “sket” in Germany since the late 1800s, sparkling Riesling is still a popular option in its home country.
Types of Riesling
Acidic grape varietals like the Riesling produce wines with a touch of sweetness to balance their natural acidity. In Germany, Riesling wine labels indicate the ripeness (and therefore sweetness) of the grapes when they were picked, with five different levels:
- Kabinett (bone dry to off-dry)
- Spätlese (sweet)
- Auslese (sweeter)
- Beerenauslese (very sweet)
- Trockenbeerenauslese (sweetest)
Regions where Riesling grows
The vines like cool climates and slate soils like those found in the following wine regions:
Germany.
German Riesling is rarely blended with other varietals or exposed to oak. This allows the grape’s natural flavors to shine through. A third of the country’s Riesling grows in the Mosel Valley. One of the country’s winemaking regions, the Rheingau has spawned many of the nation’s best wine innovations and is home to some of the most notable winemakers, such as Schloss Johannisberg. Finally, Pfalz is a warm, productive region that grows ample grapes with rich flavors.
France.
Located on the west bank of the upper Rhine, the Alsace region in France has been home to Riesling since the late fifteenth century. More than 20% of Alsace’s vineyards are dominated by thiswhite wine grape vines. Alsace Riesling has a higher alcohol content than its German counterpart due to subtle changes in climate and the production process.
The United States.
German immigrants brought their Riesling winemaking traditions with them to the U.S. in the late nineteenth century. Vineyards are found in significant quantities in Washington State, Michigan, and the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Australia.
Despite its hot climate, Riesling is also doing really well in Australia. Major Australian producers include the Clare Valley, Eden Valley, and High Eden regions.
New Zealand.
The cooler climate of the area around Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island lends itself well to riesling production.
South Africa
The emerging wine-making region has increased production of the grape drastically in recent years. Most of South African Riesling comes from Stellenbosch, Robertson, Constantia, Elgin and Swartberg.
Food pairings
Because of Riesling’s sweetness and acidity, it makes the perfect partner to spicy food. The wine pairs really well with spicy duck legs. You can however pair This white wine with a wide range of foods, thanks to its sweet and acidic characteristics. Some of these include:
Meat Pairings
Duck, pork, bacon, and chicken
Spicy foods
Chicken Teriyaki, Pilau, Indian food, spicy stews, githeri and Kenyan cuisine. Cheese is also a great accompaniment to Rieslings.
Riesling has a very unique taste and smell, in that it is very floral with hints of citrus.
That’s right, once you manage to find your way around Germany and find the right grape, you’ll come across one of the most fragrant white wines in existence.
Even though Riesling is a white wine, it has an aroma that many describe as floral and fruity. Its complex fragrance is full of citrus and stone fruit (the kind with big juicy pits like peaches) overtones with a touch of petrol smell. But don’t worry—it’s not as scary as it sounds! The petrol smells won’t make your wine taste like gasoline; they actually help balance out the sweetness that comes naturally from Riesling grapes.
