Riesling is a white wine originating from the Rhine region of Germany. Other popular regions for this wine are Alsace (France), Austria, and even started to pop up in the United States in the late 1800s. Riesling currently sits as the 20th most popular wine variety but is regarded as part of the top white wine varietals with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Another characteristic of Riesling is that it is heavily influenced by the region it is grown. It can often be sweet or dry as well as enjoyed young or old. It is also known for ageing very well and can be aged longer than just about any other white wine varietal.
Generally, Riesling is produced as a lower alcohol wine with high acidity tasting of citrus, stone fruit, and spice. This wine is fantastic to pair with Asian dishes as well as Fish. If your Riesling has high sugars and is very sweet, be sure to pair it with spicy Thai and Vietnamese dishes. German Rieslings can often times be very hard to understand the sweetness level but there are many resources out there to aid in selecting the perfect Riesling.
