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In Good Taste

Introduction to Riesling

Introduction to Riesling

Riesling - A Noble Choice

Riesling is the name of a white grape and wine variety discovered by farmers in Rhine, Germany. Loved for its orchard flavors of apricot, nectarine, and pear, Riesling features a strong floral aroma and flavor profiles ranging from fruity and sweet to crisp and dry. In short, Riesling is a white wine that has something for everyone.

 

History of Riesling 

One of the first references to Riesling occurred in 1435, when it was listed in the storage inventory of German Count John IV of Katzenelnbogen. Since its noble beginnings, Riesling has been a favorite of wine connoisseurs and collectors because of its extremely long storage life compared to other wines. Due to the high acidity levels in Riesling, it can be stored in barrels for over 100 years!

Origin of Riesling Wines
Riesling is high in acid

Is Riesling a Varietal Wine or a Wine Blend?

Riesling is primarily a varietal wine because it loses much of its character when combined with other grapes. However, there is one notable exception. In the Alsace region of France, winemakers routinely blend Riesling with Gewurztraminer. The Gewurztraminer wine is usually dominant in the blend, with its intense aroma of rose or lychee lifting the Riesling’s more delicate tasting notes.

Riesling is a wine Varietal

The Taste of Riesling

Depending on how it’s produced, Riesling can feature a wide variety of flavors. While you may notice everything from syrupy-sweet fruitiness to crisp mineral dryness, the traditional tasting notes are peach, pear, apple, apricot, and other “orchard” type flavors. 

Botrytized Riesling wines (grown with the fungus Botrytis cinerea) tend to be sweet on the palate, but most Rieslings would be classified as dry or off-dry. Typically, dry Riesling wines tend to be lighter in color, while sweet Rieslings have a slightly darker golden or yellow hue.

Color of Riesling Wine can tell you how sweet or dry it will be

Riesling Around the World 

Riesling grapes are often “terroir-expressive,” meaning that the specific notes they express represent the exact soil and climate conditions they were grown in. Depending on the wine-growing region, Riesling aromas range from fruity to floral. The first notes you smell with a Riesling glass in your hand will be intense, highly-expressive aromas of citrus or orchard fruits. 

As Riesling is often aged for decades, the wine in those barrels acquires a strong note of petrol. Believe it or not, this hint of petrol is a mark of a finely-aged and more desirable wine. (We know it sounds strange—but trust us.) It is also a signature of Riesling grapes grown in warmer New World climates (think outside Europe), whereas grapes grown in cooler Old World climates (within Europe) lack the petrol notes.

Today, Riesling wine is often produced in these regions: 

  • Alsace region in the Rhine River Valley in northeastern France
  • Clare and Eden Valleys in South Australia
  • Washington State and the Finger Lakes region in the USA
  • Austria

Riesling Serving Instructions

The ideal Riesling serving temperature is between 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Chilling it in your refrigerator will usually keep it a little cooler than this, so letting it sit at room temperature right before serving should yield the right flavor profile. 

Riesling also has its own special glass to drink out of that balances the high acidity and residual sugar content. Known simply as a Riesling glass, it features a smaller bowl and a smaller rim to send each sip toward the back of the tongue instead of overwhelming the front tastebuds with the wine’s sweetness. Of course, if you don’t have a Riesling glass on hand (which is totally understandable), the second-best option would be a traditional white wine glass. 

Serving Temperatures and Glassware for Riesling Wines

Related: Chardonnay Wines

How to Drink Riesling

To properly sip your Riesling, follow the See. Swirl. Smell. Sip. Savor method. 

See. Start with a glance at your Riesling’s label. Learning the winemaker and vintage will make it easier to remember this wine if it moves onto list of favorites. Next, take note of the wine’s clarity and color. Quality wine should never be cloudy, so make sure yours is clear.

Swirl. Here’s your chance to get a little fancy. Swirl the wine around in your glass to aerate it. This sophisticated swirl is more than high-society pageantry. It aerates the wine, opening up the natural aromas and enhancing your overall enjoyment. 

Smell. Raise the glass to your nose, and inhale deeply. Your Riesling should have a pleasant fruity aroma, but you may also pick up hints of jasmine or honeysuckle. While the scents may be diverse, the wine should never smell musty or vinegary. These smells are unfortunate signs that the wine may have spoiled during storage.

Sip. At last, the moment you and your tastebuds have been waiting for! Take a small sip, enough to swish around in your mouth. Allow the Riesling to coat your tongue before swallowing.

Savor. Even after you’ve swallowed the first sip, you’ll probably pick up additional flavors and aromas. The better the wine, the more complex the finish should be. Now, with the stage set, you’re ready to enjoy the rest of your glass.

What To Pair with Riesling 

Riesling wines pair well with spicy Indian and Asian cuisines due to their acidity and sweetness. They also go nicely with meats like duck, bacon, and chicken. For seafood pairings, shrimp and crab are some of the most popular Riesling pairings.

Thanks to its natural sweetness, Riesling also goes great with strong spice flavors like cayenne pepper, ginger, clove, and cinnamon. If you’re going to enjoy your wine with fresh veggies, you can’t go wrong with bell peppers, carrots, and a full glass of dry, fragrant Riesling. The freshness of that pairing just might make the appetizer the best part of your meal!

Introduction to Riesling Wine - Infographic

Rosé of Sangiovese

Andiamo

Sangiovese can be found in both the Chianti and Montalcino regions of Tuscany (it all sounds so romantic, right?) and is known for producing classic medium-bodied wines. Rosé wine is actually made from red grapes, and this is where the Rosé of Sangiovese comes to play. Crisp, fruit-forward, and easy-to-drink, it's everything you want in your bottle of Rosé and more.

Montepulciano

Andiamo

Big, bold, and full of flavor—exactly what you’d expect an Italian wine to be! This classic Italian grape produces some of Italy’s most straightforward red wines and is often used as a blending grape. Not here, though. We let Montepulciano do the heavy lifting as a heavy red wine and shine on its own. If you enjoy the smell of leather bound books, nibbling on dried fruit, and complementary notes of bitter, dark chocolate and sweet plums, you will love this Italian wine. No need to pair it with any certain dish—Montepulciano tastes great with all the Italian classics.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Unprecedented

If Pinot Noir is the light and juicy queen of reds, Cabernet Sauvignon is her bolder, heavier, meatier sister. Often referred to as just “cab,” it’s the wine of France’s Bordeaux and California’s Napa Valley. There’s nothing subtle about Cabernet Sauvignon—high in alcohol, full-bodied and robust, you can usually find this red served with a ribeye, New York Strip, or filet mignon (re: carnivores love cab). Classic cabs usually offer tasting notes of chocolate, coffee, and darker fruits like prunes and plums. The Unprecedented Cabernet Sauvignon is as classic as they come, and we highly recommend letting the bottle sit and mellow until your next red meat and potatoes dinner!

Pinot Grigio

La Pluma

If you’re looking for more zest in your life, a bottle of Pinot Grigio can provide that. We included a classic Pinot Grigio in the La Pluma collection because we’re all about light and easy here, which is exactly what this grape from Italy is. It has that dry sense of humor that seems so effortless with a punchy acidity to keep you on your toes, all while offering notes of lemon, limes, green apples, and honeysuckle. Long story short; when it’s been a heavy day and your soul is seeking light things only, you’ll be happy to have this bottle on hand.

Pinot Noir

Unprecedented

We couldn’t create the In Good Taste Unprecedented collection without the Golden Retriever of wines: Pinot Noir. Pinot is likable, it’s easy, and its natural state of being is simply charming. It’s an incredibly easy red wine to love, which is why so many people do. The grape itself is from the Burgundy region of France, but has made its way to California, Oregon, Australia, Italy, Argentina, and Germany since. Our Pinot Noir has no surprise twists—it’s a classic light red with just the right amount of sweetness to keep you coming back for another glass (or two).

Coteaux Bourguignons

Passport

The Burgundy region of France is home to their best Pinot Noirs, but we took the grapes into our own hands to create something extra special with our Coteaux Bourguignons. It’s a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, which results in a French red that’s light in body but full in flavor. The ripest blueberries and freshest herbs can be easily detected in this French burgundy blend. May we suggest pairing it with some creamy brie and freshly baked bread? It’s a oui-ning combo.

Verdicchio

Andiamo

A little sweet. A little tart. A little salty? You truly get it all with this white Italian wine. If you're into that biting acidity, Verdicchio will probably be high on your list of most-loved wines from our Andiamo collection. Citrus fruits like mandarin, lemon, and grapefruit are at the forefront, but what really sets this Italian wine apart is its distinct notes of almond. While our Verdicchio can start out tasting a bit tart, the more you sip, the smoother it becomes. In fact, we suggest approaching it as an aperitif (Italian for an alcoholic drink sipped before a meal to stimulate the appetite) to experience its full effect.

$23.99

Côtes du Rhône White

Passport

This was one of our first French wines to join the Passport collection and one sip will explain why. Some background on the Rhône Valley in France: While this region is known for its dark, juicy reds, a very small amount of special white wines are made in the Rhône Valley. Our Côtes du Rhône is packed with French-perfected, floral flavor and Old-World charm. Its natural tang paired with the weighty Marsanne grape and aromatic Roussanne grape results in a crisp, savory sip that’ll transport you to a sunbathing chair by the Rhône itself.

$23.99

Bordeaux Rouge

Passport

When you picture medieval folk sitting around a feast with goblets of wine, chances are they were drinking Bordeaux. This wine has been made in France since forever and is arguably the most classic French wine out there. Bordeaux is known for its full body, smoky notes, and rich, oaky taste. If you love cabs, chances are you will adore Bordeaux. For our Passport wines, we had to include this classic French red for you to sip and enjoy to your heart’s content. Best savored over a rich meal like lamb ragu, ratatouille, or BBQ.

$21.99

Ventoux Rosé

Passport

You probably know that the Tour de France is held on Ventoux Mountain in France, but did you know that the same area is known for its high-altitude rosé? This is the kind of quintessential French rosé that you don’t need to spin your wheels over—it’s simply delicious, crisp, and perfect for warm weather. Despite its delicate, pale pink color, each sip is lush with flavor, from tropical passionfruit and zesty citrus to refreshing melon. This has the potential to be your new summer go-to, so we’d suggest stocking up.

$21.99

Tempranillo

Wild Child

Say “¡Hola!” to Spain’s main grape: Tempranillo. This red grape put Rioja wine on the map and is un vino tinto classico. It’s best compared to a classic cab, but with a bit more unique magic that’s hard to put your finger on, which is why it’s a part of our Wild Child line. This medium- to full-bodied wine with its relatively higher tannins usually offers complex notes of cherry, fig, cedar, tobacco, and dill. This is the type of red wine you want to buy and pour for a Latin-infused meal; think carne asada, tacos al carbon, or just perfectly cooked steak fajita meat.

Grenache

La Pluma

We knew the only red in the La Pluma collection had to be exceptionally good and exceptionally light. That’s why including a Grenache was a no-brainer. If smooth, fruit-forward, light-bodied reds appeal to your tastebuds, this could be your new favorite. The grape itself is tricky; depending on the climate of where its grown, Grenache wines could be light, dense, or somewhere in the middle. La Pluma’s version has all the airiness and flavor notes we wanted in our Grenache, which is how we know you’ll love it. Get the most of this red by pairing it with roasted meats, spice-heavy vegetables, and Mexican-inspired dishes with lots of cumin.

$27.99

Moscato

Andiamo

This grape goes by different names in most European countries, but what remains the same is its fruity floral nature. Delicate in every way and extremely quaffable, this wine is as dainty as they come.

Barbera

Andiamo

We really try not to play favorites at In Good Taste, but there is just something about an Italian Barbera that hits different in the best way. Barberas are the perfect wine for pizza night; they're low in alcohol, and medium-bodied but taste super light, and their berry and plum flavors pair incredibly well with savory tomato sauce and cheese! Another fun thing about Barberas? They actually taste great when chilled, which is not something we're in the habit of suggesting for our red wines. Our Italian Barbera lies somewhere between the body of a cab and a pinot and is the ideal choice for a "ladies who lunch" kind of afternoon.

Vermentino

Wild Child

We couldn't not have a weird white in the mix, right?! The Vermentino grape is native along the coast of Italy on the island of Sardinia (yeah, like the fish). Because of its origin, this grape offers a salty, crisp flavor that's incredibly easy to drink and enjoy. We say it's "weird" only because it's not widely known by name, but chances are you've probably had it before if you've ever ordered white wine in an Italian restaurant. If you love peaches and lemons and get a kick out of anything that reminds you of the sea, our Vermentino is the perfect Italian white to experience on a sunny day outside.

Viognier

Unprecedented

For the Chardonnay lovers who are looking to dig a bit deeper in the world of bold whites, a Viognier (pronounced vee-own-yay) could be your next big adventure. Viogniers tend to have more range; while they can be creamy with hints of vanilla like their Chardonnay counterpart, they also offer lighter, fruitier flavors like tangerine, mango, and honeysuckle. It’s still a more full-bodied white wine, but unlike Chardonnay, it’s softer on acidity and more perfumed. Spend an afternoon with a glass of Viognier amongst the flowers and it’ll all make sense.

$24.99

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