Riesling
The great cool-climate white, from bone-dry to ice wine. It's the flagship of New York's Finger Lakes and northern Michigan and a star in Washington.
Riesling is the classic white grape of Germany and one of the great cool-climate grapes of the world. It's among the most cold-hardy European grapes and expresses where it's grown with unusual clarity. In the U.S. it's the flagship grape of New York's Finger Lakes and northern Michigan and a major player in Washington.
What It Tastes Like
Riesling can be bone-dry, off-dry, sweet or lusciously concentrated, and it carries racy acidity through every style. Expect lime, green apple, peach and apricot, often with jasmine or honeysuckle and a stony, mineral finish. Aged Riesling develops honey and the distinctive petrol note collectors prize. Many American wineries print a dryness scale on the back label, which is helpful because sweetness varies so much.
Where It Grows
The Finger Lakes, particularly the slopes around Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake and Cayuga Lake, are among the country's best Riesling regions. Michigan's Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula and the Lake Michigan Shore are close behind. Washington's Columbia Valley grows more Riesling than any other U.S. state. Ohio's Lake Erie shore, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Idaho also do well with it.
What to Look For
- Dry Riesling, the Finger Lakes and Michigan specialty.
- Off-dry or semi-sweet Riesling, the classic pairing for spicy food.
- Late-harvest and ice wine Riesling, rich and long-lived.
- Sparkling Riesling, fresh and aromatic.
Where to Find Riesling
Wine regions on American Winery Guide where Riesling is grown or poured: