Riesling Rising

Riesling is probably one of the most mysterious of grape varietals...one that people might put in a category of being just a wine to enjoy with dessert. The fact is that Riesling, at it's best, can be a prime example of balance between sugar and acid encompassing a graceful contrast between these two elements and often rounded out by a floral fruit palate. Riesling can be highly aromatic with hints of apple and peach and often has floral undertones that have a delicate influence on the palate! These wines originated in Germany's Rhine and Mosel River valleys and some of the most expensive dessert wines come from these late harvest grapes. There are two ends of the spectrum for Riesling wines...the sweet extreme and the down right dry! When it comes to Riesling, the climate is a key component. The warmer, drier and sunny climate of Alsace in France for instance, makes a distinctively different Riesling than in Germany where the vines may have a more difficult time ripening in the cooler climate. Outside of the chilly Rhine homeland, and in places such as California, Rieslings have the opportunity to reach a level of ripeness that they have not been able to achieve in Germany. The tendency for California Riesling therefore is to be softer and fuller with more diverse flavors. Once overshadowed by Chardonnays in the 1980's and 1990's, Riesling's are emerging as a versatile alternative when it comes to food pairing the sharp acidity/sweetness in Riesling's serve as a good balance to stand up to stronger flavors and especially the spices of Thai and Chinese Cuisine. Change is never easy, and every once in a while it could be fun to try a wine that might not fall in your daily 'comfort zone'! I recently tried a bunch of Riesling wines from four different regions and this is barely a scratch of the surface of experiences in this unique varietal!

S. A. Prum Essence Riesling 2009 Mosel Germany
Aromatic bouquet with scents of apricot and peach.
$10

2008 Chateau St. Michelle Riesling 'Eroica' Columbia Valley
This wine exudes mandarin orange and sweet lime aromas.
$24

2008 Navarro Vineyards Riesling Anderson Valley Mendocino
A medium bodied wine that opens with a mild apple bouquet.
$18

2009 Kilikanoon Riesling "Mort's Block" Australia
An intense wine with hints of green apple and lemon blossom...dry.
$20

Cheers!