Riesling Wine

Recognized as Germany’s signature wine grape, Riesling is loved for its complex aromas, lively acidity and versatility. The small, thin-skinned grapes can produce various wine styles, including dry, off-dry, sweet and sparkling wines.

Sensitive to the soil and climate they are grown in, Riesling grapes can produce high-quality wines in various styles, each with pronounced regional differences. Riesling wines range from crisp and dry everyday pours to sweet, lush wines that are perfect for serving with (or for) dessert. Quality Riesling wines also have a fantastic ability to age. They develop deep, complex flavors with time, often evolving from bright fruit notes to rich, honeyed characters and sometimes developing a unique “petrol” aroma note.

Riesling traces its origins back to the Rhine region of Germany around the 14th century. Its name possibly derives from “rieseln,” a German word referring to the grape’s tendency to ripen late or “to trickle,” indicating the traditional winemaking method. Over the centuries, Riesling has fortified its reputation as Germany’s flagship grape and is used to produce aromatic white wines in a range of styles—from bone dry to sweet, as well as Eiswein, a German-style ice wine, and Sekt, a German sparkling wine.

The Mosel, Rheingau and Pfalz regions are the traditional strongholds of Riesling within the Rhine region. However, many of the best examples of Riesling can be found in the Alsace region of France and in Austria, where the wines are usually more rounded in style.

In the New World, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada all produce Riesling wines worthy of attention, with each country’s wines having distinct and delicious differences that are all worth exploring.

Riesling wines can be light or full-bodied, dry or sweet, but they will almost always have high acidity and pronounced aromatic characteristics.

The wines almost always have excellent aging potential. Aged German Rieslings are known for their honeyed, smoky notes that can develop into the signature hint of “petrol.” Being a terroir-driven wine, Riesling’s style and flavor profile will vary dramatically according to where it is from.

German Rieslings are best known for their high acidity and delicate balance of sweetness. These wines are frequently classified by ripeness at harvest, from the light and delicate Kabinett to the sweet and concentrated Trockenbeerenauslese. The grapes thrive in Germany’s cooler regions, such as the Mosel, creating wines with subtle perfumed aromas and a racy acidity that’s deftly balanced by the natural residual sweetness of the grapes and flavors of tree fruits. German Rieslings are rarely aged in oak, however, some warmer regions such as Baden and Pfalz do use oak barrels, as their wines can be fuller-bodied and more capable of standing up to the oak influence.

Rieslings from the Alsace region of France and from Austria can have a sweeter fruit profile of citrus and orchard fruits, a result of the grapes being late-ripening in drier climates. Dry and fuller-bodied with complex acidity, these Riesling wines are considered some of the best by wine connoisseurs. Alsace Rieslings have good aging potential, with many able to mature gracefully over several years, creating wines with softer fruit flavors and complex secondary and tertiary notes of spice and honeycomb.

In Australia’s Clare Valley and Eden Valley, Rieslings have an oilier texture and a signature zesty lime flavor that complements the grape’s high acidity—perfect for enjoying during warm summer months.

Riesling has become a popular white grape in North America, too. New York Rieslings from the Finger Lakes region are light and bright and made in a range of styles from dry to sweet. In contrast, California Rieslings tend to be fuller and rounder, offering a flavor profile that's more diverse compared to its German counterparts and often displaying ripe orchard and tropical fruit characteristics.

On the other hand, Washington State—especially the Columbia Valley—is renowned for its Rieslings that are typically crisp, refreshing and easy-drinking, showcasing delightful notes of peach and minerality.

Riesling wines typically deliver green apple, citrus, peach and tropical fruit flavors, layered over floral or mineral undertones. Some Rieslings, particularly those from Germany or Alsace, can develop a unique, complex aroma known as “petrol” with age.

Riesling wines often have flavors of:

•  Lime
• Meyer lemon
• Green apple
• Pear
• Nectarine
• Apricot
• Pineapple
• Jasmine
• Ginger
• Beeswax
• Honey

What makes Riesling stand out from other light white varieties is its unique aroma that reminds many of “petrol” (or petroleum wax)—the result of a natural, harmless compound known as TDN.

However, flavors can significantly vary depending on the origin and style of the Riesling—this variability is one of Riesling’s hallmarks.

The key to finding the perfect bottle is paying attention to where a Riesling is from.

If you want a crisp and refreshing style of Riesling, with bright flavors and fresh aromas, opt for a Riesling from cooler climates like those found in Germany’s Mosel wine region, Washington or Australia.

But if you’d like a rounder, more complex Riesling with sweeter orchard fruit flavors, look for bottles from the Alsace, Austria, Germany’s Pfalz and Baden regions or California.

Riesling's high acidity and wide range of flavors make it exceptionally food-friendly. Dry Riesling pairs well with fish, chicken and pork, while sweeter styles are excellent with spicy Asian dishes. Riesling is a good friend to seafood, particularly crab, seabass, sole, shrimp, sushi and pork or chicken-based dishes.

Generally try to avoid pairing this lighter-bodied wine with heavy dishes—stick to lighter dishes featuring roast vegetables such as potato, carrot, red onion, herbs and spices including clove, ginger, allspice, Sichuan pepper, basil and sesame. That said, certain types of Riesling, especially those with a balance of sweetness and acidity, can pair well with mild cheeses or cream-based sauces.

For a dessert pairing, serve a glass of sweet German Riesling with a fruit-based dessert, such as a classic tarte tatin or peach cobbler.

The ideal serving temperature for Riesling varies with the style of the wine. Generally, lighter, dry Rieslings are best served between 45-50°F. Fuller-bodied and sweeter Rieslings can be served slightly warmer, about 50-54°F. This helps to emphasize the wine's fruit characteristics and balance its high acidity.

If served warmer, you risk the wine’s refreshing acidity turning bitter and masking Riesling’s signature juicy fruit flavors. Serve your Riesling in a white wine glass with a narrow rim to concentrate the wine's delicate aromas.