Riesling is one of the most misunderstood white wines. Many people think it’s always sweet, but it can be bone dry, lusciously sweet or anything in between, always with a burst of refreshing acidity. Here’s how it tastes, how to tell a dry Riesling from a sweet one and what to eat with it.
What is Riesling?
Riesling is a white grape variety from Germany’s Rhine Valley, where it has been grown for centuries and remains the country’s signature grape. Known for its purity, it’s one of the few varieties that can reflect its terroir with remarkable precision.
Riesling makes a wide range of styles, from bone dry and zesty to lusciously sweet, but it always keeps a backbone of refreshing acidity that makes the wine vibrant and balanced.
Thanks to its adaptability, Riesling has spread far beyond Germany. It now thrives in cool-climate regions like Alsace, Austria, Australia’s Clare and Eden Valleys, and parts of the USA, especially Washington State and the Finger Lakes in New York.
What does Riesling taste like?
Riesling is one of the most aromatic white grapes, loved for its balance between fruit, sweetness and vibrant acidity. Typical flavours include green apple, lime, lemon and white peach, often with delicate floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle.
Riesling flavour profile
- Body: light to medium
- Acidity: high, crisp and refreshing
- Sweetness: from bone dry to lusciously sweet
- Fruit flavours: lime, green apple, apricot and peach
- Other notes: honeysuckle, jasmine, minerality and, with age, petrol, honey and dried fruit
- Alcohol: low to moderate, around 8–13%
Climate influence
Riesling’s character changes a lot with climate. In cooler regions like Germany’s Mosel or Alsace, it’s crisp and elegant, with green apple, lime and white peach, and a mineral edge of wet stone or slate.
In warmer, sunnier regions, the wines show riper stone fruit like apricot and nectarine while keeping their bright acidity. They feel fuller on the palate but never lose their signature freshness.
Age influence
As Riesling ages, it develops incredible complexity, with honeyed, nutty notes, dried apricot and beeswax. It can also develop a petrol note, which Riesling lovers adore. These flavours deepen over time while the wine keeps its refreshing backbone.
Is Riesling sweet or dry?
Riesling can be either. Most Riesling from Alsace, Austria and Australia is dry, while Germany makes both dry and sweet styles. The trick is knowing how to read the label.
What do Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese mean?
German labels often show a word that tells you how ripe the grapes were at harvest, not how sweet the wine is. From the least ripe to the ripest:
- Kabinett: light, delicate wines, often off-dry
- Spätlese: “late harvest”, riper and fuller, dry or medium-sweet
- Auslese: from selected, very ripe bunches, often sweet
- Beerenauslese: from individually picked berries, often affected by noble rot, and very sweet
- Trockenbeerenauslese: from shrivelled, nobly rotten berries, intensely sweet and rare
- Eiswein: from grapes frozen on the vine, sweet and vibrant, just like ice wine
Because these words describe ripeness, a Kabinett or Spätlese can be dry, off-dry or sweet. The richest sweet styles are some of the world’s great dessert wines.
How to spot a dry Riesling
Look for these words on the label:
- Trocken: dry
- Halbtrocken or feinherb: off-dry, with a touch of sweetness
Some producers, especially in the USA, also print a sweetness scale on the back label, from dry to medium dry, medium sweet and sweet. And as a rule, a lower alcohol level, around 8-10%, usually means a sweeter wine, as some of the grape sugar was left unfermented.
What food goes with Riesling?
Riesling is incredibly food-friendly, and its versatility shines with many cuisines.
Seafood and fish
Dry Riesling, especially from cooler regions like Alsace, is wonderful with seafood. Its zesty acidity cuts through the richness of oily fish like salmon or trout and complements shellfish such as crab, scallops and prawns. Try it with sushi, ceviche or grilled white fish with lemon and herbs.
Spicy food
One of Riesling’s best pairings is with spicy food, particularly Thai, Indian or Sichuan dishes. Its refreshing acidity and, in off-dry styles, its touch of sweetness tame the heat of chilli and highlight aromatic spices. A German Kabinett or an off-dry Alsace Riesling works beautifully with spicy curries, pad Thai, chilli prawns or buffalo wings.
Pork and poultry
Riesling’s balance of fruit and acidity makes it an excellent partner for white meats. Roast pork, glazed ham or duck with an orange sauce all pair beautifully with slightly off-dry Rieslings, which mirror the sweet and savoury contrast. Dry styles also complement roast chicken or a Thanksgiving turkey.
Asian-inspired dishes
From ginger and lemongrass to soy and sesame, Asian flavours find harmony in Riesling. A dry Riesling highlights the umami in stir-fried vegetables or teriyaki chicken, while off-dry versions are lovely with sweet-and-sour sauces.
Cheese
Riesling and cheese are a surprisingly good match. Soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert pair well with dry Rieslings, while blue cheese or aged Gouda shine alongside sweeter late-harvest styles.
Desserts
Sweet Rieslings are stunning with fruit-based desserts, like an apple tart, a lemon meringue pie or a peach cobbler. Avoid very chocolatey or heavy puddings, as Riesling shines most with lighter, fruity sweets.
Where is Riesling grown?
Riesling is grown in many parts of the world, but it truly thrives in cooler climates, where it keeps its vibrant acidity and expressive aromas.
Germany
Germany is Riesling’s spiritual home, and where it reaches its most iconic expression. Regions like the Mosel, Rheingau and Pfalz are famous for their steep vineyards and slate soils, which give the wines a signature minerality. German Rieslings range from dry to very sweet, with delicate citrus, apple and floral notes.
Mosel, Germany
Alsace, France
Across the border, Alsace Riesling is usually dry, with more body and texture. The wines often show stone fruit, citrus and a subtle petrol note, backed by crisp acidity. It’s one of the most food-friendly white wines in France, great with everything from tarte flambée to roast pork, and the region’s other star white, Pinot Gris, is just as versatile.
Austria
In Austria, Riesling tends to be dry, elegant and mineral, especially from regions like the Wachau and Kamptal. These wines often show green apple, lime and apricot, with a firm structure that allows them to age beautifully.
Australia
Australia has made a name for itself with crisp, bone-dry Rieslings from the Clare Valley and Eden Valley. They’re intensely aromatic, with lime and lemon zest, and sometimes a petrol note as they age. They’re vibrant, pure and excellent with seafood or spicy food.
New Zealand
New Zealand Rieslings range from dry to off-dry and tend to be intensely aromatic, with bright citrus, apple and white flowers. Regions like Marlborough and Central Otago make lively, fruit-forward wines with refreshing acidity.
United States
In the USA, Riesling has found success in cooler regions such as Washington State and the Finger Lakes in New York. Washington Rieslings are often fruitier and more approachable, while those from the Finger Lakes show zesty acidity and a more European-style restraint.
Finger Lakes, New York State, USA
Other regions growing Riesling
You’ll also find excellent Rieslings in Canada, particularly in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula and British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, where the cool climate makes expressive, high-acid wines, including superb ice wines. South Africa and Chile also make smaller but promising quantities.
How should you serve Riesling?
Serve Riesling well chilled, at around 7-10°C, the ideal serving temperature for crisp whites, which keeps it fresh and zesty. Sweet Rieslings can be served at the same temperature, or a touch colder. A standard white wine glass is perfect, as it gathers the aromas without letting the wine warm up too quickly.
FAQ
Is Riesling the same as Pinot Grigio?
No, they’re two different grapes. Riesling is more aromatic, with higher acidity and lime and floral notes, while Pinot Grigio is lighter and more neutral.
Can Riesling age?
Yes, very well. Thanks to its high acidity, good Riesling can age for 10 years or more, developing honey, toast and petrol notes.
Why does Riesling smell of petrol?
It comes from a natural compound in the grape that develops with age, sun exposure and ripeness. Many wine lovers see it as a sign of a great, mature Riesling.
What’s a good Riesling for beginners?
A dry Riesling from Alsace or Australia’s Clare Valley is a great place to start. If you prefer a touch of sweetness, try a German Kabinett.
