Its vibrant personality, pure fruit flavours, diversity of styles, versatility with food, its ability to show you where it was grown and the ability to age for decades, make Riesling the king of German vineyards. It is one of the most aromatic grape varieties in the world with its primary fruit aromas being apricot, nectarine, honey-crisp apple and pear. But besides just fruit, you will often smell things like honeycomb or a chemical aroma that comes very close to petrol. Believe it or not, it is actually these weird smells and notes that make wine lovers go crazy about Riesling.

Honestly, drinking good wine, with good food, in good company is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Just pour yourself a glass of wine (you might as well take the largest one) and let it do its magic. You will slowly notice your bad mood slipping away while the corners of your mouth turning up in a smiley face.

To make great Riesling even greater, pair it with delicious food and you will surely feel like on 7th Heaven. Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more sophisticated and every day simply better. If you are a wine enthusiast who enjoys indulging in the pleasures that white wine brings, spice up your experience. Due to Riesling’s sweetness and acidity, it pairs perfectly with spicy foods with strong Indian and Asian spices.

When it comes to styles, whether Riesling is very sweet or dry, greatly depends on where the grapes have been grown. Therefore, Rieslings that come from Germany and California are of the sweeter variety, however, some of them can be dry too. All you need to do to find a dry one is look at the wine’s label. On the other hand, Rieslings from the Alsace region of France, Austria, New York and Washington state tend to be dry. If your bottle of Riesling comes from one of these places there is no need to check the label as the majority of Riesling from these regions are dry.

Whether sweet or dry, take your favourite bottle of Riesling and just unwind. It’s been a long day, we get it, in chilly, lazy nights, the great Riesling can be a great friend too.

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What Type of Wine Is Riesling?

It is a highly fruity and aromatic grape variety. It is respected and admired for its pure fruit flavour, diversity of styles and its ability to age for decades.

What Makes Riesling Wine so Crisp and Juicy?

The combination of ripe fruit and acidity is what makes this wine crisp and juicy. Naturally, Riesling has a higher level of acidity than any other wine and this is what greatly contributes to its crispiness. If the wine lacks acidity that means that the grapes have been picked too late.

The Ideal Temperature for Serving Riesling?

It is true that Riesling wine should be cold, but it does not mean ice cold. If it is too cold, the flavours and aromas will not come out right. The ideal temperature for serving sweet Riesling wine is 8-10°C which can be achieved if you leave your wine for 20 minutes in the fridge. On the other hand, dry or well-aged Rieslings usually taste better when served a few degrees warmer.

Where Is Riesling Grown?

The home of Riesling is Germany which is still the greatest producer of this grape variety, with 54, 000 acres spread across 13 wine regions. Australia is the second largest source of Riesling in the world with 10, 000 acres, and the third place takes Washington state with 5, 300 acres.

What Type of Foods Can You Pair With Riesling wine?

The great diversity of sweetness levels and regional styles mean that Riesling can match any flavour profile of almost every dish.

Why Does Rieslings from Different States Taste Different?

This is because of local factors, such as regional climate, the different soil, the micro-climate of the vineyard, the different farming methods and the individual wine-making techniques. All these have a great role in how the wine tastes.

How Long Can a Riesling Age?

As a result of its acid structure, Riesling wine can age longer than other wines. Even after a century, classic German Rieslings can have an amazing taste. Generally, Riesling reaches its peak of maturity within 15 to 20 years. However, keep in mind that a matured Riesling wine does not taste at all like a young one. As they age, these wines lose that primary fruit note they have in their youth. With age, they gain greater depth and complexity.

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Light & Crisp – Fresh and invigorating, these wines are famous for their crisp acidity and quenching character. They are social sippers and food friendly and often feature the notes of citrus, green herbs and sometimes, green apple. In case you didn’t know, it is acidity that contributes to tangy crisp refreshing flavour as it balances sweetness, just like a lemon.
Light and crisp dry white wines , such as Chardonnay, dry Riesling and Pinot Grigio, pair perfectly with appetizers, light chicken dishes, pasta and seafood.

Fruity & Off Dry White Wines – Fruit aromas and flavours and sweetness balanced by pleasant acidity, is what will make you fall in love with fruity & off dry white wines. Most common notes are ripe apple, peach, juicy melon and citrus, what makes thesewhite wines a perfect match to spicy curry, Thai or Chinese dishes. Best choices are Riesling, semi dry Riesling, Muscat and Vidal.

Aromatic & Flavourful – Being bold and exotic fruit-flavoured, these white wines are a true show stoppers. Aromatic and flavourful white wines have personality to spare due to thrillingly intense and floral aromas. Loaded with lychee, mango, papaya and even melon and cantaloupe notes, these wines pair perfectly with sea bass, baked salmon, pork and cured meat. Top choices are Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Muscat and Torrontes.

Full-Bodied & Rich – These flavourful white wines have luxurious texture, usually described as “buttery”, which is why they pair great with food rich in taste, flavour and calories. These full-bodied wines often feature hazelnut, vanilla and spicy taste. Try the white Burgundy, Chardonnay, some white blends or Pinot Gris as these match perfectly with lobster with butter, roasted turkey, cream sauces and poached salmon.

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