Riesling is a light-skinned white wine grape variety and it is considered to be one of the finest grapes known to humankind. It displays floral and fruit flavours with very high acidity and it might have high residual sugar content, depending on the style, which may vary from bone dry to extremely sweet, Riesling can produce outstanding wines, like Chardonnay, it is an age worthy wine.
The spiritual home of Riesling is alongside the rivers Rheingau and Mosel, where the vines cover the steep, slate-rich hills above these famous rivers, and are used to make crisp, refreshing wines with pronounced acidity and very long ageing capabilities, other famous regions are Pfalz, Rheinhessen and Nahe. From the other side of the Rhine River lies Alsace where Riesling can produce outstanding expression with individual much richer and full-bodied style.
Austria's picturesque Wachau region is one of the best places for Riesling together with Kamptal and Kremstal, and Alto Adige in Italy, it is in cool climates that the grape gives its best. Outside Europe, the grape is to be found in the top Australian regions of Eden and Clare Valley as well in Otago and Canterbury regions of New Zealand.
The Riesling grape also produces some fantastic botrytised sweet wines, including the Canadian Ice Wine.
Riesling pairs well with many food types, but it is with spicy food that it really excels. Spicy food and Riesling are a pair made in heaven.
Riesling is living a sort of renaissance due to very poor and sweet wine that has flooded the world a couple of decades ago, dry Riesling is crisp, due to its high levels of acidity, and has floral aromas.
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