Riesling - The King of German White Wine
Riesling wine is considered the flagship of German wine culture. The Riesling grape represents the global image as the most recognized and known grape in 13 growing regions throughout Germany and is considered the home of the Riesling.
The regions are the Rheingau, Palatinate, Mosel, Rheinhessen, Württemberg, Nahe, and Baden.
Internationally, Riesling grapes are cultivated in Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Luxemburg, the Republic of Moldova, New Zealand, and the USA.
The Riesling Experience
The German Riesling is often categorized as a “sweet” dinner wine. Let us help you to understand better and enjoy German Riesling.
The German Riesling comes in two categories. The Qualitätswein has a lighter body and is often experienced as dry, which many consumers would see as the most recognized German Riesling. There are several levels of sweetness in a Riesling. The categories are Trocken (Dry), Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, and Eiswein.
Riesling Food Pairings
It was on March 13, 1435, that the 'Wines of Germany' officially recognized and documented the Riesling grape. Wine has been produced for thousands of years and was discovered in either Palestine/Israel, or Georgia about 6,000 years ago. My best guess is that pairing of wine and food started around then.
Pairing food and wine is a very personal experience. Personally, the food and wine industry can guide me, but at the end of the day, it is my palete that needs to be happy. It is my very personal decision if my selected glass or bottle of German Riesling will pair well with meat or fish and the temperature my Riesling wine should have.
Rieslings pair well with a mild cheese from cowäs mile, and vegetables like carrots, green beans, or squash are a great addition to your meal. The refreshing and crisp bouquet, with some sweetness, will be a great selection for a summertime meal. You can serve Riesling with trout, salmon, chicken, or turkey. I have enjoyed a steak or porkchop, and on the dessert side. Maybe you like a crème brûlée?
Temperature and Storage of Riesling
The storage and temperature of wine are essential to ensure the best condition for your wine. The temperature for serving Riesling is best at 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is between 7-9 degrees Celsius. If you place your bottle in the refrigerator overnight, the wine will be around 37 degrees F or 3 degrees C.
You must store your bottles horizontally to keep your cork moist and store it between 50% and 70% humidity. If you keep your wine in the basement, have a digital humidity and temperature comfort monitor nearby. I purchased mine at Home Depot for about $13.00. If you want to ensure your wine stays within the recommended temperature and humidity, consider a wine fridge, wine cabinet, or even building a wine cellar. Here is a link to an interesting article on 'Fresh Wine' (click here).
Top Riesling Vineyards
If you visit a wine store with a comprehensive selection of German and international Rieslings, picking the one bottle you want to try can be overwhelming. The choice of Riesling can be challenging and expensive. Anthony Zhang has published ‘German Riesling Wine: Classification, ten splendid bottles to buy in 2023, Prices’ on Vino Vest (click here to go to the article). The information contains the following list of vineyards:
- Egon Muller Scharzhofberger
- Graf von Schönborn-Schloss Schönborn Erbacher Marcobrunn
- Weingut Keller G-Max
- Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan Forster Jesuitengarten
- Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg
- Schloss Johannisberg Grünlack
- Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr
- Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr
About German Riesling Wine
German Riesling Wine is located in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains, about an hour and a half North of Atlanta, with plenty of nature around us. Growing up in Germany, in the state of Hessen, I was introduced to German wine at many family dinners and traveling throughout Europe. I learned to appreciate wine in many ways, including the beautiful concept of food pairing, the history of local wineries, and the hard work it takes to present and share the final product.
The website launched in June 2023 to share my passion for German Riesling wine. The goal is to provide consumers and wine enthusiasts with an understanding that Riesling is a fantastic product with hundreds of years of history and provides jobs to thousands of families. It can be challenging to find a one-stop education website that informs about the Riesling industry, introduces easy-to-find and affordable wine recommendations, and provides a summary of industry news. The vision is to provide a to-go-to website that educates and connects consumers, stores, and wine enthusiasts.
Cheers! Zum Wohl!