Riesling? Are you feeling alright?

My usual taste in wine is a medium-bodied red, with moderate tannin, fruit, herbs, and well-integrated oak. This begs the question, why am I drinking a Riesling?

Part of the reason I’m writing about wine is to educate myself, so leaving my comfort zone once in a while has to be good for me. By writing about this wine, I should come away with improved knowledge and appreciation for the varietal and the Alsace region. 

Besides, I hear people all the time who say they “don’t like whites” or “only drink _____”. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve persuaded to try something new, who ended up leaving the tasting room with something they never thought they would end up buying. Given that, it would be especially hypocritical of me to not try to broaden my own horizons.

The Alsace

The Alsace region of France is on a plain to the east of the country, bordering Germany along part of Rhine river. Viticulture here goes back to Roman times, and there are approximately 40,000 acres of grape vines growing. The climate is cool, and the main varietals are Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer.

Riesling

Riesling is thought to have originated along the banks of the Rhine river, so it’s close to home in Alsace. Germany still grows more Riesling than any other country. Not all Riesling is sweet, in fact, in Germany they have a scale of sweetness that is usually printed on the label. As a general rule, if the alcohol content is 10% or higher, the wine is likely to be drier in style.

Tasting Notes

Very pale and clear platinum colour, with maybe the slightest hint of copper. 12% alcohol

Light intensity nose, but surprisingly complex. Jasmine, nectarine, guava, a little citrus.

Light and dry on the palate, with medium+ acidity, some minerality, and no discernable tannin.

The acidity helps flavours like nectarine, pear, and guava pop nicely on the palate, and the lightly oily consistency of the wine means the finish lasts longer than one might expect.

Conclusion

I must say I’m impressed with this wine. The complexity and length of finish were aspects I wasn’t expecting at all, so I’m glad I bought this wine.

Perhaps I’ll look into getting another wine from this region at some point, perhaps even a Gewürztraminer. Last time I tried Gewürztraminer I didn’t like it at all, so we shall see…

This wine is available from Wine.com for $18.99 should you want to try it for yourself.