Riesling
Pronunciation: Rees leengWhere it's Grown: Reisling is grown in Germany, Austria, and France in the most pure forms. It is also grown with great success in new world countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Germany has focused on this one grape as its wine calling card for centuries and is almost synonomous with the grape. France became a Riesling source when Alsace became part of France after World War I. This somewhat Germanic part of France has always claimed Riesling as one of its four most noble grapes. Austria has been focusing on Riesling in vineyards along the Danube and its tributaries for centuries as well.
The grape was brought to many of the New World regions out of love for its remarkable character. New York state does a fine job in the Finger Lakes Region, Michigan is offering world class renditions, Australia makes very exciting dry examples, Washington State and New Zealand bridge the dry and off-dry styles. There are great numbers of choices!
What to expect: Electric is a great way to describe Riesling as it is so vibrantly accented with bright citrus flavors, like fresh lime. German Riesling is racy, delicate, slate accented, lime zest driven, and often not dry; think a dab of honey. Modern German wines are increasingly less sweet, and if you have not had one lately, you're overdue.
Austrian examples are almost invariably dry and crisp in the lower tier, with the exceptional wines being rich, powerful and aromatic. Austrian wines always feature mineral notes prominently. Alsace Riesling is almost oily in texture with distinct notes of minerals that weave in and out of lime, peach and other stone fruits.
New World examples vary greatly, but good ones will always feature a remarkable tartness that refreshes and begs for seafood or salty items like ham. Australia offers very dry, intense Riesling with an almost Sauvignon Blanc approach. New Zealand creates somewhat delicate wines of racy tartness. Some of their wines are dry and some are not.
New York has been making electrically charged lime driven wines for decades and is getting better every year. Expect both dry and more fruity-sweet styles. Washington latched on to Riesling decades ago with great success. Their wines are rich in texture and not as tart as any of the previously mentioned wines. Their best wines are dry but some balanced off-dry wines are made as well.
Then there is Michigan, home sweet home. Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas have the greatest potential in the state, but Lake Michigan Shore can make outstanding dry to just barely not dry examples. These wines feature a green apple candy note that marries very well with the steely tartness and essence of lime. Try one as soon as possible!
