Riesling has been a popular wine in Europe since at least the 19th Century. Its recent renaissance is due in part to labeling regulations across the globe that have ensured a bottle with Riesling on the label will feature this grape of German origin. For years the wine was thought of only in relation to sweeter whites that appealed to a very specific group, and was generally viewed with little respect. However, the emergence of crisp, clean varieties of the wine and the fact that between different terrior and blending it can express a wide range of flavors and bodies has contributed to its becoming one of the three most popular white wines in the world.
Many different people love their Riesling for many different reasons. Part of its appeal is that a good bottle can be purchased for a reasonable price. The way the grape was originally cultured and spread in Germany made it tenacious, and it thrives in many climates – though it is most commonly grown in colder regions. Similarly, because the grape produces wines with a high acidity level and one of many fruity aromas, it doesn’t need to be aged very long to be flavorful even when very young. This also contributes to making it an accessible wine. And this is only part of its appeal.
It is also called one of the best food wines in the world. First off, most Riesling have pure flavors without any oak because of the way the grape behaves when stores in oak casks. This contributes to it being very easy to pair with many dishes. Second, as most Rieslings have a high acidity, they offer a great contrast to rich, creamy, heavy, and even greasy foods. It can refresh the palette between bights of the strong-flavored food and help to balance out the experience. And people also appreciate the snappy, crisp flavor that this acidity contributes in and of itself. Thirdly, because it represents its terrior so strongly, many Rieslings have one or several fruity undertones. This is more common with sweeter bottles, and it offers the ability to easily pair it with any meal that has a sweet or fruity ingredient, as the similar flavors complement each other well.
The last thing that makes Riesling stand out is the wide range different forms it can take. Because it doesn’t have a very strong flavor but is usually light- to medium-bodies, it is an easy wine to get into for new wine drinkers. Yet it comes in dry or very-slightly off-dry, especially some of the Rieslings produced in Germany, as well as sweeter styles that can be produced almost anywhere simply because the grape will have such a high sugar content if left to fully or even over-ripen on the vine. Yet all of these varieties tend to maintain that crisp acidity as well as the clear undertones of the region where it is grown.
Between being affordable, available in a wide range different sweetness levels, having a manageable and enjoyable acidity level that makes it easy to pair with a variety of different foods, and being grown and produced by experts across the world, it’s no wonder this wine has become so popular.
Riesling Has Become Something of an International Phenomenon in the Past Few Years. Learn Why This Wine Has Come Up in the World and Enjoy It Yourself
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