Riesling
Riesling is a white grape, happiest in cool to moderate climates, with high acidity.
Colour
White grape
Climate
Cool, Moderate
Acidity
High
Body
Light to Medium to Full
Sweetness
Dry, Off-dry, Medium, Sweet
Oak
Typically unoaked
How it tastes
Worth knowing
- Susceptible to botrytis
- Aromatic variety
- Many harvest options
Where it grows best
Australia
South Australia, Clare Valley
Bone-dry and racy, with zingy lime-cordial and grapefruit fruit, a chalky mineral edge, and a kerosene note that emerges with bottle age.
Australia
South Australia, Eden Valley
Cooler, higher-altitude sibling of Clare; dry, finely floral and citrus-driven with steely acidity and a slightly more delicate, blossom-scented profile.
France
Alsace, Alsace
Typically dry and structured, showing ripe lemon, green apple and orchard fruit over a firm, stony backbone; sweeter late-harvest styles also appear from top vineyards.
Germany
Mosel
Featherlight and low in alcohol, where a touch of residual sugar offsets searing, electric acidity to give pure green-apple and citrus flavours laced with slate.
Germany
Pfalz
Germany's sunniest Riesling region delivers fuller, riper, often-dry wines with generous stone fruit and citrus alongside still-bright acidity.
Germany
Rheingau
Frequently dry and noticeably more powerful and full-bodied than Mosel, with concentrated citrus and peach fruit framed by crisp, structured acidity.
Compare it with
Chenin Blanc 
Sémillon / Semillon 
Furmint Drill Riesling until it sticks
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