Why Is Riesling White Wine Dry Wine Sweet Wine A Delicious Option To Chardonnay Or Pinot Grigio

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Riesling: Rapidly Becoming The New World´s Sexiest White Grape.

As more wine aficionados become familiar with Riesling´s uniquely perfumed bouquet which regardless of provenance is transparently expressive of floral, mineral, citrus, and sometimes, depending on vintage and origin, apricot, honey and petrol notes in a way that no other grape can. Riesling wine is becoming more fashionable by the day.

Riesling´s history dates as far back as the 14th Century in Germany´s Rheingau valley. In spite of other varietals such as Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris it remains Germany´s most noble grape. This is also the case for Alsace, France where it is also first in nobility along with Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, its plantings date back to 1477. Rieslings from the Mosel and Rhine Valleys express the most pleasant floral and mineral notes emanating from the slate soils in the valley´s best growing regions. Germany´s vast variety of styles of the Riesling grape range from Trocken (dry) to Halbtrocken (medium dry) to Trockenbeerenauslese (sweet), the latter made from riper, botrytized grapes. Their naked winemaking methods (prohibited malolactic fermentation, lee stirring) or their use of new oak combined with classic wine making techniques, make for some of the best white wines in the world. Recently, a new wave of German winemakers whose superb well-balanced dry Rieslings with higher alcohol content than their medium dry counterparts are successfully marketing those wines in major markets such as the US and UK.

Rieslings from Alsace are well known for their strong fruit character. However, it is the clay, limestone and sandstone soil which can be fully appreciated in Alsatian wines, where Riesling constitutes a quarter of all plantings. Alsace has held the torch when it comes to dry Rieslings for sometime, winning 77 out of 124 metals at the 11th Annual International Riesling Competition in 2007.

In Austria, Riesling is grown in the Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal regions. The mineral component in Austrian Riesling expresses true Austrian terroir, where slate, granite, clay and gneiss is undeniable also late ripening and forbidden chaptalization provide for tremendous complexity in Austria´s high quality wines.

Now let´s move on to the new world, where the Australians have become very successful at producing some of the most delicate, elegant and dry Rieslings. Their Rieslings differ from old world counterparts in that they are much more modern. That is, citric fruit characteristics are accentuated with pungency in Rieslings from the Eden and Clare valleys, along with floral and minerals elements. As these wines age, they can develop strong toast and petrol notes which add to the wine´s beautiful complexity.

In New Zealand the regions of Nelson and Central Otago produces delicate, elegant and very racy Rieslings, a result of a perfect marriage: vineyards located in slopping hills combined with extended autumns which bode very well for Riesling, a late harvest grape. The most widely planted grapes are Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay with Riesling accounting for 10% of plantings.

Riesling has been at the forefront in the wine boom production and compsumption experienced in the United States in the last decade, with Washington State, New York, California, and to a lesser extent Oregon leading the pack in growth. The former three states increased acreage planting by en estimated 50% over the past seven years, and as of late Oregon has begun to experiment with Riesling. It was the fastest growing white wine grape in the US during the period 2005-2008 growing 54%, 40% in 2007 alone, and consumers spent over $33 million more on Riesling in 2007 than in 2006 respectively. In Argentina´s Patagonia wine region winemakers have also began experimenting with Riesling just a few years back.

The sexiest elements of Riesling is its versatility and compatibility. There is a vast variety of possibilities, whether you enjoy a German Spatelese with spicy Indian food, and experience the pleasantry of ying and yang on your tongue or a dry Alsatian Riesling with raw oysters or lastly a modern dry Australian Riesling just to drink or pair with a light salad, you can be sure that from the old world to the new you will find one that will satisfy your palate.

As for me, I am really looking forward to enjoying a German dry Riesling with my Thanksgiving dinner of Turkey with oyster stuffing, pumpkin and pecorino gratin, sautéed Swiss chard and of course, cranberry sauce!

Nidya Garcia de Roche

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