FOOD & DRINK BEVERAGES
Slake Your Summer Thirst WITH RIESLING
Photo by barmalini/Getty Images.
BY GAETANO MARANGELLI
Y
ou’ve dated Riesling. I know you have.
You may be with Riesling now. When things began between the two of you, you’d say to friends, “Riesling is sweet and simple. Nice and easy.” But you weren’t taking Riesling seriously, were you? And maybe you still aren’t. Are you? If you aren’t, then set down your glass of froufrou Rosé—or ho-hum Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or Chardonnay—and listen to me. The Riesling you know is sweet, simple and easy because that’s the kind of Riesling your neighborhood bars and wine shops serve you. While many Rieslings are sweet, more are dry or off-dry. Sweet Rieslings are simply one side of Riesling’s labyrinth character. 24 | SHEPHERD EXPRESS
You may slake your summer thirst with boring Sauvignon Blancs—made with factory yeasts to taste like every other Sauvignon Blanc you’ve ever tasted—dull Pinot Grigios—made with muted aromas, flavors, and acidity—and blousy, louche and lusty Chardonnays—made to taste of oak, butter, and alcohol—or you can explore the world of Riesling. You can have the same summer wines you’ve always had, or you can make the Riesling you don’t know your new wine of summer.
WINE OF MANY FACES Riesling has an otherworldly alchemy. Like the Greek god Proteus, it has as many faces as there are kinds of nature. Riesling is light in alcohol, delicate in texture and high in fruity, natural acidity. These are the qualities that make Riesling a refreshing summer wine. And the flavors and aromas of Riesling are rich palettes of terroir—the soil, topography and climate of a wine region. These are the qualities that make Riesling magical.
Begin your Riesling summer with the classical style from the north German valleys of the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer Rivers. These Rieslings are delicate and structured, refined and racy. They taste of the slate in their vineyards’ soils. Then explore the richer Riesling styles from the German regions of the Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Nahe and Pfalz. Journey to the Rieslings of the Alsace region in the east of France, which yields dry wines, with aromas and flavors of minerals and flowers. Travel to the Rielsings of the Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal regions of Austria, which make dry, rich, round wines. And voyage to the Rieslings of the Clare and Eden Valleys in the south of Australia, which offer dry, citrusy, tropical wines. You may have dated Riesling. You may still be with Riesling, but you don’t know Riesling yet. This summer, why not discover what Riesling really is?
