March 13th is International Riesling Day #RieslingDay
Wines of Germany created this wine holiday in 2019! March 13th is now officially known as the official birthday of Riesling. The date is not arbitrary. The first recorded invoice for the Riesling grape that has been found was dated March 13th, 1435. So that will make Riesling 589 years old this year (2024).
German Riesling
Vineyards here are clustered around the rivers, where the flowing water helps to moderate the temperature. In the past, due to the climate, this was often difficult. With climate change, ripening is not as great an issue, but the rivers are a little more challenging. Climate change has brought heavier rainfall and flash flooding on the rivers. Many vineyards have been having trouble with the grapes overripening, and have shifted to planting vines in the North to South Valleys.
Of course, the rivers are usually beautiful, and the surrounding landscape has quaint villages and steep slopes covered in rows of vines.
If there is one wine most people are familiar with from Germany, it is Riesling. Riesling is the most grown variety in Germany and is made in various styles. Many people think that all Riesling is sweet. That is not the case, and with the popularity of dry wines, there are more and more dry Rieslings on the market.
This love of dry wines is a bit ironic for Riesling. You see, wines in Germany are on a scale of sweetness. It was tough to get the grapes ripe so that they would do several different picks, and the grapes that got to stay on the vine the longest and build up the most sugar were for the most expensive wines.
With the change in the climate, it’s easier to make these riper wines. Of course, this is also the time when the public is looking for drier wines.
Riesling flavor & aroma profile
Riesling is known for its aromatic notes of petrol (gasoline). This petrol note comes from a compound called TDN, which forms due to ripeness and can increase with age. It might sound strange, but it is lovely on the nose of a wine.
In addition, you might smell lemon peel, lime zest, wet stone, green apple, honey, beeswax, and lemon curd.
Foods to enjoy with Riesling
When we talk about pairings, one of the things to consider is the sweetness of a wine. Sweetness or sugar in wine can balance out heat or spice in a dish. So when you are enjoying spicy food, like Thai food, Riesling is a great pairing, depending, of course, on its level of sweetness, as are spicy Indian dishes. The spicier the dish, the sweeter the wine.
If you are enjoying a dry riesling, you can pair it much like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc with fish or white meats or dishes that contain lemon or lime. Sushi is a great pairing, or smoked salmon, chevre (goat cheese), shrimp, crab and oysters!
A richer dry Riesling can hold up to a richer dish, think roasted chicken in a rich sauce.
Other Regions for Riesling
Of course, Riesling thrives in places beyond Germany. In Italy, you will find it in Oltrepò Pavese. It is widely grown in Alsace, France. In the United States, you find it in the Finger Lakes of New York State, in Oregon, Washington, and California. Clare Valley in Australia is well known for its Rieslings, and we enjoyed Rieslings when we visited the Orange and Mudgee Regions in New South Wales. There are so many places you will find delicious Rieslings! (Below are a few of our favorites)
More on Riesling from Crushed Grape Chronicles
We’ve written about Riesling before! Here are a few links to other articles to whet your appetite!
- Jim Barry Wines – 3 generations making Clare Valley Riesling
- Day 8 Germany Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling
- Trisaetum Coast Range Riesling – Day 6 – 12 Days of Wine 2021
- Bonny Doon 2018 Riesling to Live – Day 12 of the 12 Days of Wine 2020
- Finger Lakes Riesling and Alsatian Salmon
- Lowe Wine – 2015 Nullo Mountain Riesling
- On the 3rd day we pair Riesling with a Tamales!
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Robin Renken is a wine writer and Certified Specialist of Wine and WSET 3 Certified. She and her husband Michael travel to wine regions interviewing vineyard owners and winemakers and learning the stories behind the glass.
When not traveling they indulge in cooking and pairing wines with food at home in Las Vegas.
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