As part of my ongoing series of wine guides, it’s time to cover the sometimes misunderstood, yet wonderfully diverse Riesling. Riesling is one of my favourite wines because it is so expressive (i.e it has strong flavours and smells), so it opened up the world of wine to me, enabling me to pick out some of its key characteristics pretty early, and giving me a certain level of confidence (misplaced or otherwise) that I was starting to ‘get’ wine.
So, in an attempt to share my enthusiasm for Riesling with you, this is a beginner’s deep shallow dive into Riesling’s origins, what it tastes and smells like, where to buy it, and what foods to pair with it. So, without further ado, here’s my guide to Riesling for beginners…(but first, as is customary, a little silliness…)
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WHAT IS RIESLING WINE?
Introduction
Riesling is a white wine grape, originating in Germany. It’s mostly grown in cooler climates on slopes. Riesling wine has a very diverse spectrum of aromas and tastes, from green apples, citrus, peaches and apricots, honey and even petrol (or ‘gas’ for my American readers).
What makes is such a favourite among winos, is the fact that Riesling really reflects the region where it is grown, such that wine enthusiasts and collectors love nothing more than trying to guess the origin of a Riesling during a blind tasting. I am by no means a professional sommelier, merely a fan with a decent nose, and Riesling even does this for me, so I like it because it makes me feel clever.
Why Does Riesling Have a Bad Reputation?
Many people don’t necessarily have good memories of Riesling, and/or German white wines in general. The reason for this was summed up perfectly by one of my American guests who joined me on one of my wine tours in Austria. She described Riesling as a ‘gateway wine’, as she drank overly sweet low quality Riesling when she was younger, and as her palette for wine was still developing.
Much like any grape though, Riesling is only as good as the winemakers allow it to be, and there will always be a market for low quality, bulk crap. I actually think that describing Riesling as a ‘gateway wine’ is quite appropriate, but because it’s one of the easier wines to pick out smells and flavours from. It is that which makes Riesling a great entry point for those beginning their journey into wine.
Indeed, there is so much to this grape that demands a second look, not least it’s diversity of flavors and styles. So whether you prefer a dry, crisp Riesling or a lusciously sweet one along with some blue cheese, delving deeper into what is Riesling wine gives us an ideal way to begin appreciating wines in general.
RIESLING FOR BEGINNERS - FAQ
Where Does Riesling Come From & Where Does it Grow Best?
Riesling’s exact origins are debated, but it’s generally believed to have originated in the Rhine region of Germany, where it has been cultivated for centuries. Germany remains one of the most significant Riesling-producing countries in the world and it is still the largest producer of Riesling by volume.
Being a cool climate wine, other notable regions for Riesling production include Alsace (France), Austria, the United States (particularly in Washington State and the Finger Lakes region of New York), Australia (especially in South Australia’s Clare Valley and Eden Valley), and New Zealand.
Riesling Aromas
Riesling is a very aromatic variety. Expect to smell anything from green apple, pear, lemon & lime, stone fruits (peach and apricot), and floral elements (honeysuckle and jasmine). Being one of the more fragrant wines makes it a good starting point for many people starting out on their journey of discovery into wine.
Riesling is also known to reflect the area in which it grows, and this is perhaps no clearer than in the Wachau Valley in Austria. This 33km stretch of the Danube, is a little too cool for wines in its western half, and so apricot orchards dominate the riverside landscape. As soon as vines start to appear around half way through the valley, around the hamlet of Spitz, you’ll find Riesling with very pronounced apricot and peach aromas. It’s actually very cool once you start to make those connections.
The same can be said of the mineral notes which are often found in Rieslings from the Thermenregion, just south of Vienna, as this is where an ancient sea deposited high mussel shell and lime content into its soils.
Learn a little about the area where your Riesling is from and you may also understand why a Riesling tastes or smells the way it does.
Does it Really Smell Like Petrol?!
Believe it or not, some wines made from Riesling can develop a distinct aroma often described as petrol, kerosene, or gasoline. The aroma comes from a natural compound called TDN that develops as the wine ages, especially when the grapes had lots of sun exposure or come from warmer regions like Clare Valley. That’s why you’re more likely to notice it in older Rieslings than in fresh, young ones.
Equally, some regions, like Mosel in Germany, typically produce lighter, more delicate styles where the petrol note is faint or absent. Many wine enthusiasts (myself included) actually like this trait because it adds complexity, though, of course, others find it off-putting – whether it’s good or bad is entirely down to your palate!
What Does Riesling Taste Like?
Hmm, what does Riesling taste like?! Well, much of wine tasting is defined by what you smelling, so it can be hard to differentiate between that, and what you are actually tasting (if it’s even different). Expect therefore to taste hints of stone fruits (peach, apricot), and/or green apples and citrus fruits (lemons and limes).
On the other hand, describing what minerality in a Riesling feels/tastes like is rather more challenging, and you kind of need to use your imagination somewhat. For me, though, I tend to get a little pop or fizz on the tongue rather than any particular tastes or flavours with mineral Rieslings, so it tends to be more about the sensation rather than a flavour. Also, I’ve never eaten stones nor metal (to my knowledge) so it’s a little harder to empathise with that one.
At the end of the day, what Riesling tastes like is question only you can answer, for wine tasting is something that truly is in the tongue of the beholder!
Other Riesling Characteristics
High acidity: Perhaps the most well-known of all Riesling characteristics is its high acidity. Don’t panic here though, I’m aware that when wine people talk about acidity, non-wine people often feel an urge to immediately leave the room, but it’s actually really easy to understand what they’re talking about:- after tasting a wine consider how much it makes your mouth water. Literally, that’s it. If it makes your mouth water more than other wines you’ve tried, then you can describe it as having higher acidity. Do this with enough wines and you’ll develop a good sense of acidity levels in wine across the board.
Why is acidity important for Riesling? Without acidity in Reisling, it wouldn’t be as refreshing, as it is a grape that typically has higher residual sugar levels compared with others. Acidity balances sweetness, and sweetness balances acidity. Imagine it the other way around – too much acidity and too little sugar would create a very sharp, sour wine which wouldn’t make great drinking. This is also why Riesling is a common grape variety used in dessert wines.
Riesling reflects its ‘terroir’: Wine w@nker word alert! As already mentioned above, another key characteristic of Riesling is that it is regarded as a ‘terroir-expressive’ grape, meaning it can convey the unique characteristics of the vineyard and the region where it is grown. Different soils, climates, and wine making techniques influence the style of Riesling coming from a given area. As a very general example, German Rieslings are known for their minerality, while Alsace (French) Rieslings tend to be fuller-bodied and fruitier.
What to Eat With Riesling?
Riesling is one of the best wines for pairing with food. Dry Rieslings pair well with seafood, poultry, and Asian cuisine. For some reason many believe that Riesling dessert wines go well with er…desserts. However, every time I drink a Riesling Auslese or anything sweeter, I just want a big ‘ole cheeseboard with some veiny blue cheese on it, i.e a British Stilton or something similar. Riesling’s ever present acidity makes it an ideal wine for cutting through rich, creamy dishes & cheeses.
What to eat with Riesling is, of course, up to you, but my advice would be to first pair it with some spicy Singapore Noodles and just see how that goes.
When to Drink it?
High-quality Rieslings can age gracefully for decades. That’s because the combination of Riesling’s high acidity and residual sugar preserves their freshness and complexity over time, evolving into more complex and honeyed flavors.
It’s always worth asking the wine maker or seller whether or not a bottle is better drunk young or if it should be given a few years to develop. Ageing a wine that was made by the wine maker to enjoy in its first couple of years after harvest is pointless, by the way, as you’ll go past its peak of refreshing fruitiness. However, if the sugar and acidity levels are both high enough, then holding onto a wine to let it further develop in the bottle should improve it.
WHERE TO BUY RIESLING?
United States
When buying Riesling in the US, check out the Organic Wine Exchange as they have a great selection of low intervention and organic Rieslings from some of the best Riesling producing regions, including Alsace, France, and the Weinviertal in Austria. They also offer several old world Riesling blends, as a great way to ease yourself in to this variety.
UK
For buying Riesling in the UK, I recommend checking out The Great Wine Co, who feature a massive number of high quality German Riesling, French Riesling, and many, many others from all over the world (164 different bottles in fact!).
Ireland & the EU
If you want to buy Riesling in Ireland and other countries in the EU then 8wines have a brilliant selection of Rieslings, not just the big hitting regions mentioned in this article, and some very fine Grand Cru Rieslings from France, but also lesser known Rieslings from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They also offer a Riesling Tasting Case for those of you who wanna dive straight in and not muck about!
RIESLING FOR BEGINNERS: OUTRO
Well, by now, you should at least be able to bluff your way through when it comes to Riesling, acidity, and how wine can sometimes even smell of petrol!
So go ahead and dive into Riesling to taste why this is one of the world’s most famous and beloved wines. Play around with different regions, and cook up some different meals to pair with it – that’s what wine is all about! Just don’t nail too much of it while you’re still cooking 😉
If you’re feeling a Riesling pro already, it’s probably time for you to move on to another old world (European) white, this time from just over the border in Austria. Oh ja! It’s time for something übercool and on trend to pair with that pulled pork and salted caramel thing you’re eating – yes, of course, I’m talking about the ultra hip Grüner Veltliner.
And if you fancy some red instead, then check out my beginner’s guide to Cabernet Sauvignon.
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