Riesling (pronounced ree-sling) is a variety of wine, and the name of the grapes that are grown to make the wine. Known across popular culture as a sweet white wine, Rieslings can in fact be quite dry, depending on the vintage. These wines are often mildly fruity in flavor, sometimes with a hint of honey, and have a distinctly long "cellar life". Riesling grapes and wine originated in Germany sometime around the 15th century.http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/riesling.htm Today it is grown in abundance in the Rhine Valley in Germany, and in California. In fact, the name "Rhine Wine" is synonymous with Riesling.
The Riesling grape can be a bit difficult for vineyards to grow, considering that the vines are not big producers, and they fruit rather late in the season. Riesling grapes are also prone to certain types of Botrytis blight, which cause the grapes to shrivel and make very uniquely flavored Rieslings.
Riesling is best served with seafood or oriental food. Or you can serve the sweet wine as a dessert wine that is perfect for sipping by itself, or as a companion for chocolate. Riesling is often also used to make ice wine.
Riesling Buying Guide
If you're looking for a good tart Riesling, shop around for a German vintage, and take a close look at some key words on the label. Trocken means "dry" in German, and halbtrocken means "half-dry", and will signal you as to how sweet or dry the bottle is.http://www.thewinenews.com/febmar03/cover.asp Even the half-dry versions will still be somewhat on the dry side, debunking the common notion that riesling wines are always sweet.
French Rieslings will almost always be dryer, rather than sweeter, and therefore will not have any special dryness indications on the label.http://www.thewinenews.com/febmar03/cover.asp
Riesling Wine
In this video, a wine expert discusses three different varieties of German Riesling wines, all of them are a different price and have different classifications (though they were all made the same year). The expert then goes on to formally taste each wine and give his impressions of the aromas and tastes, which include descriptions like apple-flavored, honey-flavored, and even pine-nut scented.
References
Fast Facts
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What it is
A wine, or the grape that the wines are made from
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Origins
Germany
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Serving Recommendations
With fish, seafood Chinese food, or dessert
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Flavor
Known as a sweet wine, though quality vintages can be quite dry
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Aroma
The head of the aroma may smell a bit like gasoline (petrol), which is distinct to Rieslings
