Riesling Grape
The Riesling grape is widely considered to be one of the top 3 white wine varieties, along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. It is a green skinned grape variety of Vitis Vinifera used to make white wine. The Riesling grape originates from the Rhine region of Germany and is Germany's most planted wine grape. It is a grape variety that prefers cooler growing regions.
Some of the most famous regions where the Riesling grape is grown include:
- Germany where it is made into styles ranging from dry or off-dry to very sweet
- Alsace, France, where it typically made in a dry or off-dry style
Riesling is also planted in many other countries around the world, including Australia, Austria, Canada, and the United States where some of the best examples come from the Finger Lakes region of New York.
The Riesling grape is most commonly made into still wine, but it is also used to make the German sparkling wine Sekt. Riesling can be vinified in a wide range of styles from dry to very sweet. Some of the world's greatest desert wines are made from Riesling. Riesling is also used to make ice wine - a wine made from very ripe grapes that have frozen on the vine.
Riesling is almost never aged in oak. Most dry or off-dry Rieslings are meant to be drunk young. The sweeter varieties can be aged for extended periods of time in the bottle because of their high acidity and sugar content.
Riesling produces a very aromatic wine with aromas that many describe as floral, fruity, tropical, peachy or honeysuckle. A well made Riesling wine is an ideal balance of fruit, high acidity, and residual sugar. It can be paired easily with fish or pork, but is also one of the few wines that can stand up to the strong flavors of Asian cuisine such as Chinese or Thai.
Riesling is typically served chilled (see: Wine Serving Temperature).
Other Names for Riesling
Riesling may also be known by the following names:
- Johannisberg Riesling
- Riesling Renano in Italy
- Rheinriesling in Austria
- White Riesling in New York state
More Information About Riesling
- Riesling, from Wikipedia
