Riesling is an aromatic and refreshing white wine, usually with the flavors of apple, apricot, peach, and pear and found in a tall and slender glass bottle. Because of its high levels of acidity, Riesling is crisp, often with a strong floral aroma.

This high acidity, combined with a chemical compound found inside the Riesling grape know as TDN, gives high-quality Riesling the ability to age, unlike other white wines which are meant to be consumed soon after bottling.

Aren’t Rieslings Really Sweet?

There’s a common assumption that all Rieslings are very sweet, but that’s not true! Whether the wine is dry or sweet depends on where it was grown.

• Rieslings from Germany and California tend to be sweeter.
• Rieslings from the Alsace region of France, Austria, the Finger Lakes region of New York State, and Washington State tend to be dry.

Food Pairings

Riesling is a very “food friendly” wine, so it pairs well with many foods. I would especially recommend you grab a bottle when you’re eating something spicy, though. The crisp and fruity white wine tames the heat a bit, without clouding or overwhelming the flavor of the dish.

What’s your favorite Riesling? I’d love to try it.

Cheers!

“All worries are less with wine.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

Sources:
Vine Pair
The Spruce Eats