Grape varieties: Riesling
With some of the best wines in the world, it is surprising that Riesling does not enjoy more popularity. There are perhaps a number of reasons for this. Firstly, during the 70s and 80s a lot of very poor quality German wine was exported. Riesling is German’s flagship grape, and many people never got passed the terrible wines from German they drank. Secondly, in 1985 it was discovered that winemakers in Austria were using antifreeze ingredients in their wines. Many of which were Rieslings. Thirdly, it is a love it or hate it grape. It can have an aroma of petrol / kerosene, which many people cannot stand.
About the Riesling grape
Despite the issues above, Riesling can produce stunning wines. This white grape is quite small, buds and ripens late, and produces high levels of acidity. It is an aromatic wine and often expresses the character of the terroir in which it is grown. Because of its acidity, it can produce wines which can age. It is also a very versatile grape, used to make everything from dry to sweet styles.
A perfect match with spicy food
Because of its high levels of acidity, it can cut through rich flavours and spices. Sweeter versions can soften the impact of spice reducing the burn. A lot of Asian foods pair exceptionally well Riesling. Think Pad Thai, milder Thai curries or spicy noodles – Riesling is your friend here. It also pairs well with a variety of other dishes included roasted meats such as pork, hams, chicken and lamb. And sweeter versions complement fruity desserts well.
Profile
Riesling can be made in a variety of sweetness levels, so levels sweetness can vary, but generally, the flavour profile is:
- High acidity
- Low to Medium sweetness (unless made into a sweet style)
- Low to Medium alcohol (these tend to be lighter styles)
- Low to Medium body
- No tannin
Typical flavours include lime, citrus fruit, green apple, ginger, florals, beeswax, petrol / kerosene, jasmine, and can also include tropical fruits in riper versions. With age petrol aromas, ginger and honied flavours can develop, along with dried fruits and white pepper.
It can truly sparkle
In Germany, there are sparkling wines produced using the Riesling grape. It is easy to see why the grape would lend itself to this style, due to its acidity. These wines are usually labelled at “Sekt” wines. The best quality wines can have complex flavours including lime, green apple, rhubarb, peach, blossom and buttery and cream textures. Riesling can make some nice slightly sweeter off dry sparkling wines.
It can also be quite sweet
It would be impossible to talk about Riesling without mentioning the fact it can make some truly outstanding sweet wines. The full spectrum of sweet wine making can be used here. This includes: Late Harvest, Ice Wine, Noble Rot wines, and premature ending of fermentation. With age these wines can take on flavours of dried fruit, marmalade, nutmeg and cardamom.
Production
Germany is by far the biggest producer of Riesling wines. It is also prolific in some areas of the United States and Australia. In addition, Alsace in France is a well known Riesling producing area. Australian Rieslings tend to have a lime aroma, whereas German examples tend to have higher minerality. Some wines can age 10 years and beyond.
So have I persuaded you to get past the aroma of petrol and appreciate the rich complex flavours of Riesling with your next Asian takeaway? Riesling is arguably a wine you need to give a few chances before you come to appreciate it. If you learn to love it, I’d love to hear about whether prefer the German or new world styles – drop me a line. In the meantime, keep exploring this beautiful planet we live on, one glass at a time!