Riesling is native to Germany's Rhine valley and is widely considered one of the world's greatest white grapes. It has very high natural acidity, which preserves it beautifully for decades.
Styles (from dry to sweet):
- Trocken (German: dry): steely, mineral, citrus.
- Spätlese / Auslese: off-dry to medium-sweet; concentrated but balanced by piercing acidity.
- Beerenauslese (BA) / Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): ultra-sweet, made from botrytis/overripe berries.
- Eiswein: made from frozen grapes.
Aromas: Lime, green apple, apricot, peach; with age: petrol/kerosene (a compound called TDN), lanolin, honey.
Key regions: Germany (Mosel, Rheingau), Alsace France (often dry and powerful), Clare/Eden Valley Australia (lime-juicy, dry), New Zealand.
