Riesling is a white grape variety originating from Germany, where it continues to be the leading wine produced today.
Rieslings are crisp, light bodied, refreshing wines. They are high in acidity and tend to be very aromatic, with fresh, flowery aromas. Flavors are fruity or flowery often tasting of peaches, apricots, melons. And they often have mineral quality that is sometimes compared to fresh spring water. They are almost never aged in oak.
Rieslings can be dry or sweet, with the sweetest tasting almost of honey. If you prefer a less sweet wine, look for Rieslings labeled as “Dry” or “Trocken” (meaning dry in German).
Riesling is considered to be a very “terroir-expressive” wine, meaning that the character of the wine is strongly influenced by the environment in which it is grown.
Riesling grapes are very particular and difficult to cultivate. They produce truly great wine only in particular environments. They fare best in cold climates with the very best Rieslings continuing to come from Germany, where the wine originated. Very good Rieslings are also produced in the Alsace region of France and Northern Austria. In the US, some Rieslings are now produced in upstate New York and even in California, but these tend to be softer, fuller wines, less true to their traditional character