Irresistible Riesling

Riesling has made a comeback. The versatile varietal originated in the Rhine and Mosel river valleys of Germany and before prohibition was actually the dominant white variety grown in the Napa Valley. At one point, it was even more popular than Chardonnay. But in the 70’s and 80’s, it took a back seat to the extremely popular Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in California. These days it’s back on the radar and excellent Rieslings are being discovered from Germany and France to Australia, Canada, Washington and California.

Ranging anywhere from syrupy sweet to bone dry, Riesling is a varietal that is defined by the area in which it is grown. This can often confuse wine drinkers who do not know if they should expect a sweet wine or an extremely dry wine when they pick up a bottle of Riesling. Some Rieslings that are labeled as dry still have noticeable residual sugar. But as more wine drinkers discover Riesling, the quality and quantity of Riesling available has increased dramatically.

Riesling is a very aromatic variety, characterized by floral aromas and intense apple, pear and stone fruit flavors. It often has a strong minerality and can exhibit the unique aroma of petrol – a smell that’s often associated with kerosene or rubber. Petrol aromas often increase as a Riesling ages. Although most Rieslings are drunk upon release, unlike many other white wines, Riesling may actually improve as it ages. Some sweet Riesling can even be aged for 30+ years!

Wine Tip: When selecting a German Riesling, take note of the label. The terms Auslese, Spatlese and Kabinett refer to the level of ripeness of the grapes at harvest and typically correspond to the sweetness level of the wine. Auslese is the sweetest and Kabinett the driest.

Rieslings to Try

Here are a few great tasting Rieslings from various regions that are reasonably priced and that you should be able to find fairly easily.

Claiborne & Churchill Riesling, California – This San Luis Obispo vintner produces dry but fruity wines that are typical of Alsatian style Rieslings. Their 2006 vintage has great aromas of white peach and nectarine with good acidity and lots of rich fruit flavor. $18

Chateau St. Michelle Columbia Valley Dry Riesling, Washington – Their refreshingly dry Riesling is crisp and vibrant with loads of great stone fruit, citrus and melon aromas and flavors. A steal at $9.

Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling, Australia – This is a classic Australian Riesling from Eden Valley with more lime and green apple on the nose than the floral aromas of German or Californian Rieslings. The strong citrus and lemon flavors make for a refreshing but long-lasting wine. $18

Dr. Loosen Riesling – Riesling is the only varietal that this German winery grows. Their Dr. Loosen Riesling is widely available in the U.S. and very reasonably priced. The wine exhibits classic traits of Mosel Riesling with strong floral and juicy pear aromas and just a touch of sweetness and good acidity. $12

Written by Linzi