About Riesling
The world’s richest exotic white wine
Riesling is one of the world’s deluxe white wine grapes. It has a German origin. The taste and quality of Riesling largely depend on the soil and location it is grown. The wine production is susceptible to noble rot, and it also faces the hazard of underripeness in the colder regions. However, despite these apparent setbacks, it is highly sought after because of its fruity flavours.
The light-skinned grape has its natural acidity, which balances the sweetness. It has a late-ripening variety that enables producers to use yield late harvest wines. This makes it unique and more sophisticated. Common names include for Riesling are Rheinriesling and Johannisberger.
Riesling History and overview
History
This wine belongs to the grape variety called Vitis Vinifera. It originated in the Rhine region, Germany in the 15th century. Since then, it has become Germany’s leading grape species. The variety has also gained a reputation in some parts of the world like France, Canada, South Africa, Napa Valley, Italy, and Switzerland over the centuries.
Overview
Its crispy taste is pleasant when consumed, and it thrives in a cool climate. People love Riesling wines for their transparent flavour, terroir presentation, and the perfect balance between mineral and fruit flavours. You may harvest the grapes anywhere from late September until January. These wines are hardly ever blended with other wine varieties. More so, they do not get exposed to oak flavours. The German Riesling best harmonizes at about ten years of age.
Taste profile
The sweetness of this exotic wine largely depends on the soil it was grown. However, it could be dry, sweet, sparkling or semi-sweet depending on the clime. Rieslings have certain features that make give them a robust profile, as seen below:
Colour
The berry skin grape for the white wine ranges from pale to medium straw. It might also be deep gold. The pale straw is found in cooler regions while deep gold is seen in warmer regions.
Flavours & Aromas
The aroma could be unpleasant for some as it is often likened to the scent of petrol. It can exhibit apple and tree fruit notes. In the cooler climates, they show more citric notes (lime, lemon, green apple, and pear). They might also exhibit a mid-range of stone fruits such as peach and apricot). Warmer climates exhibit tropical fruit notes like pineapple and banana.
Spice
Since Riesling wines mature in stainless steel tanks, they do not possess spicy notes like vanilla and clove.
Taste
The taste is very dry, sweet, and with a combination of orchard fruit aromas, giving the wine a crispy taste.
Wine structure
High acidity, no tannins, 8-13.5% abv. The higher the abv, the lower the sweetness. The wine has a light body. Rieslings have a full range of sweetness levels from sweet dessert wine to bone dry.
Other properties
It can be used for sparkling wines
Calories: Yes
Ageing: Aging periods for Riesling wines are:
- 5–15 years for dry versions
- 10–20 years for semi-sweet versions
- 10–30+ for sweet versions
Wine styles
Common wine styles include:
- Chardonnay
- Muller – Thurgau
- Silvaner
- Botryized
Taste profile
The wine is often termed as one of the world’s strongest grape varieties. Its hallmark taste profile is in its aromatics, high acidity, and citric flavours.
Food pairing
Riesling can be paired with different kinds of food, though the acidic nature cuts through the food, while sweeter ones fit well. They balance foods with high salt content. Riesling can be paired with pork or white fish.
Common regions to find Riesling wines
Other places to find Riesling wines include Napa Valley, Switzerland, California, Luxembourg, France, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada
Summary
Riesling wines remain one of the best exotic white wines, filled with history and quality. A close substitute is Sauvignon Blanc.