Riesling 101

What is Riesling wine? 

Rieslings are white wines that are often light in body, crisp and refreshing with varying levels of sweetness. 

Rieslings have high acidity, low to medium alcohol levels with aromas/flavors that range from fruity to flowery to minerally. 

Germany and Washington State are well known for their Rieslings.  For our Riesling 101 Tasting, we featured 3 Chateau Ste. Michelle Rieslings from Washington state.  We have the Dry Riesling which is the least sweet and has the most amount of alcohol of the three at 12%. We also have the standard Riesling which is a little sweeter and has a little less alcohol than the Dry at 11%.  Lastly, we have the Harvest Select Riesling the sweetest and has the least amount of alcohol at 10%.

 Riesling is also one of the easiest wines to pair with food.  Specific food pairings for these wines include:

• Dry Riesling: crab, scallops, mild cheeses, Asian dishes, Indian curries

• Riesling: fresh fruit, crab, mild cheeses, chicken

• Sweet Riesling: fresh fruit, crab, Asian dishes, mild cheeses