If you are a fan of white wine, you have certainly already heard of Riesling! A symbol of Alsace, it is indeed one of the four noble grape varieties of the region along with Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat. Nevertheless, its presence around the world is much more extensive than one might imagine, and it can exhibit very varied characteristics depending on its terroir of origin.
If you want to learn more about Riesling, you are in the right place! Thanks to this article, you will discover its history and its cultivation areas, explore its taste characteristics as well as learn tips for enjoying it under the best conditions.
Follow the guide!
History and cultivation areas of Riesling
While ampelographers almost unanimously agree that Germany and the Rhine Valley are the very likely birthplace of Riesling, several hypotheses exist regarding its date of appearance.
The most likely of these would nevertheless be that Riesling is actually the grape variety Argitis minor, a variety present since Antiquity (1st century BC) within the Rhenish vineyard. The word "Rieslingen" (Riesling in German) only appears in 1435, the term coming from "riesen", meaning to flow. This name would come from the grape variety's sensitivity to coulure, a phenomenon causing the vine's flowers to fall and consequently favoring a significant decrease in yields.
Recent DNA tests have identified that Riesling is the result of the crossbreeding of two other grape varieties: the gouais blanc (now extinct) and the traminer, better known as Savagnin and still well established in the Jura.
It was only from the 15th century that Riesling finally appeared in Alsace and it would take until the 20th century and the 1960s for it to become the leading grape variety of the region.
Today, nearly 60,000 hectares of Riesling are planted worldwide in many countries such as Austria, the United States, Australia, and South Africa.
With 24,000 hectares, Germany accounts for 40% of the world's vineyard, with Riesling making up a quarter of the national vineyard.
In France, 4,000 hectares are planted in Alsace (more than 20% of the vineyard)...and that's about it because it is present in almost no other region of our beautiful country.
Types of wine and aromas of Riesling
While Riesling is, in the overwhelming majority of cases, intended for the production of dry white wines, be aware that it is also often used in the blending of certain sparkling wines such as Crémants d'Alsace. It is then regularly blended with Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois, or even Chardonnay.Also, some Rieslings can have a certain sweetness on the palate and be semi-dry, or even sweet !
While this is rarely the case in Alsace, Germany has indeed made it a specialty. In fact, given that the German vineyard is particularly northern, winemakers here often choose to retain some of the sugars naturally present in the grapes to achieve a balanced and flavorful wine.
Therefore, if you come across a bottle of German Riesling with one of the following mentions: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA) or even Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA), be aware that these terms indicate the sugar concentration present in the grapes at the time of harvest, from the lowest to the highest.
If we return to France (and thus to Alsace), Riesling is predominantly used to produce dry white wines with a beautiful acidity as well as a great minerality.In terms of aromas, citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit) and green apple are the most common markers. On beautiful terroirs, aromas of peach, apricot, beeswax, and even hydrocarbons (petroleum) can also be present!
Finally, Riesling is also known for offering wines with a magnificent aging potential.Indeed, although most of the cuvées produced are intended for consumption within the first three to five years, some Rieslings from the best terroirs can positively evolve over 20 or even 30 years! Incredible aromas of beeswax, undergrowth, and an enhanced minerality then appear.
Food and wine pairings and serving temperature
With its acidity, beautiful minerality, and rich bouquet of aromas, Riesling is definitely a partner of choice at mealtime.
Thus, with dry Rieslings, sublime pairings are possible with seafood and shellfish (oysters, shrimp, crabs, sea urchins, etc.) as well as grilled fish (Cod, Sea Bass, Sea Bream, etc.).
With complex Rieslings, particularly from certain Alsatian Grands Crus, Lobster or Scallops will also be divine. Finally, Riesling is a grape variety that also pairs very well with goat or sheep cheeses.
If you opt for a semi-dry or sweet Riesling, spicy cuisines (Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.) as well as some sweet and savory dishes will then be excellent companions. Some blue-veined cheeses like Roquefort will also be interesting to combine.
From a serving temperature perspective, Riesling is ideally enjoyed between 8 and 10°C. Colder, you might not detect certain aromas. Warmer, it would then lose its pleasantly refreshing quality.
As you will have understood, depending on its style and terroir, Riesling can meet many of your culinary expectations!
The best Rieslings
Although it is difficult to provide an exhaustive list of the best Rieslings,
- Domaine Mittnacht Frères - Riesling Muehlforst
- Domaine Mittnacht Frères - Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker
- Domaine Boehler - Riesling Holderhurst
- Domaine Barmès-Buecher - Riesling Grand Cru Hengst
You are now an expert on Riesling! All that's left is to take the plunge and make your choice from the lovely selection of
2 comments
Bonjour Marina et merci pour votre commentaire ! Vous avez tout à fait raison, cela était mal exprimé dans l’article et je viens donc de corriger cet aspect. Merci pour votre vigilance !
À bientôt.
Bonjour,
Merci pour cet intéressant article, néanmoins, je vous recommande de vous pencher un peu plus sur les catégories de Riesling des vins allemands du Qmp ou du VDP- en effet, il ne s’agit pas du taux de sucre dans le vin, mais le taux potentiel dans le raisin: ce qui affecte le potentiel sucre résiduel, ainsi que les degrés d’alcool finaux. Vous pouvez en théorie trouver des Spätlese plus secs que des Kabinetts, selon les choix de vinification.
Belle journée.