Tasting the Big 9: Riesling

Some basic information regarding this grape:

• Wines made of Riesling almost always say so on the label, regardless where they are from.
• Some Rieslings are sweet, but many are dry.
• Riesling likes a cold, hard life, growing on stony slopes in places like Germany, New York State and Idaho.
• If a Riesling says trocken on the label, it's dry.
• Ripe doesn't necessarily mean sweet, so a wine that says Spätlese could be stone dry or slightly sweet.
• Riesling's naturally high acidity makes it extremely flexible with a wide range of foods, from fish to fowl and even red meat.

Some comparisons of Rieslings:

California vs. Germany
German QbA Rieslings such as Dr. Loosen Dr. L, Lingenfelder Bird Label, St. Urbans-Hof
California Rieslings such as Beringer, Fetzer, Turning Leaf

Two Hallmarks, Two Expressions*
German Kabinett Riesling from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer such as C von Schubert, Dr Loosen, Kerpen, Selbach-Oster
Riesling from Alsace like Dopff & Irion, Hugel, JB Adam, Paul Bank, Trimbach or others

Differences Down Under
Riesling from South Australia such as Yalumba South Australia Y Series, Jacob's Creek Barossa Valley Reserve Riesling or a Clare Valley Riesling such as Annie's Lane, Grosset Polish Hill or Pikes
A Riesling from anywhere else in the world.


* The Rieslings from Alsace and Germany are considered to be hallmarks of the style, but are very different.