10 Reasons Why You Should Be Drinking German Riesling This Summer

Some thing get a repute they do n’t of necessity deserve , like Riesling , which for long time has been unfairly regard as a wine that ’s “ too sweet . " An incredibly versatile egg white that pair with almost any intellectual nourishment , this wine – particularly from its native land Germany – is typically found among many somms ’ top five , and for good reason . We got three NYC - based expert to tell us why Riesling are always strong selection , and particularly so in the summer : Paul Grieco , Riesling savant , Summer of Riesling founding father , and the proprietor of Terroir Wine Bar , Frederick Twomey of Bar Veloce , and Mike Duffy , sommelier at Burger and Barrel .

They’re fermented in a way that makes them incredibly light

The last thing you want to eat on a live daytime is a magnanimous bowl of boeuf stew that ’ll make you want to catnap , and probably sweat a mess . Same goes for what you want to drink . Riesling is normally fermented in untainted steel drums , so it never sees any of those oak tree barrels that give other whites their big , buttery perceptiveness . Twomey says:“If I ’m going to the beach , give me something light-headed , crispy , and something maybe slightly flowered . Do n’t give me a heavy , oaky chardonnay . If I ’m on a beach , that ’s not what I want . ”

Riesling comes in many styles, from bone dry to rich and fruity

The stereotype that Riesling is a sweet wine-colored is mostly thanks to a few super - sweet varieties that were heavy marketed to Americans in the ‘ 60s and ‘ 70s – but that ’s not the whole storey . Rieslings can ramble from bone dry to very odorous , usually reckon on where they ’re from . No matter your preference on the sucrose spectrum , there ’s bound to be one you ’ll like .

They take you on vacation

Rieslings show off their horse sense of place , or terroir , much better than most other wines . German Rieslings in particular are more filmy with the subtleties that help identify where they were grown , so you get a clear good sense of all the elements that came together to produce the vino – the water supply , soil , sunlight , mood , etc . At the most canonic levels , German Rieslings have several style that range from dry to off dry . But the different terroirs and climates in each region bestow to distinct savour profiles and characteristic in the wine – from gamey acidity to vibrant fruit flavour – that can really transport you as you drink them . Twomey says:“When I taste a wine , I really require to feel like I ’m go . Riesling really lends itself well to mouth about where it ’s from . ”Duffy says:“One of the thing that makes Riesling great is that it ’s a very a versatile wine-coloured . It has a refreshing nature , it ’s a little mo lighter in torso and it ’s normally very nipping – but it can be fruity or juiceless . ”

Riesling is great for day drinking

If you do n’t spend at least half the summer outside with a drink in your manus , you ’re doing the season an unjustness . Besides being light and sharp , German Rieslings typically have a low-toned alcohol subject matter than other wines – which makes that superfluous chalk during your day - drink session kind of a no - brainer . Grieco says:“If you and your mates start wassail Riesling at 12 noon and keep drinking at a leisurely fashion throughout the solar day , you ’re going to be bright eyed and shaggy-haired tailed by 6 at night . ” ( However , he ’s not a doctor , so make certain you recognize your own limits . )

Their high acidity makes them a great summer wine

One of the reasons why German Riesling are as summery as cookouts and pyrotechnic is due to their characteristic high sourness , as well as a bit of residual bread which gives them that crisp , refreshing taste that ’ll have you reaching for them during AC time of year . Grieco says:“During the summer , we want things with good acidity , we want things with a little bit of residual sugar , and you also want light . The dot in Riesling is the highest in any grape or wine . ”

You can eat whatever you want with them

If your idealistic dining experience would include sushi , pizza , and empanadas throughout the track of the repast , then you and Riesling are made for each other . It has the ability to cleanse your roof of the mouth , do them a solid pairing with almost any sweetheart – from your Eggs Benedict at brunch to your ramen at dinner . ( And that ’s mostly due to the high acidulousness in them.)Grieco says:“Acidity is like a Zamboni , and much like how a Zamboni come out on the internal-combustion engine between period so we can go out on the methamphetamine hydrochloride and play field hockey , acid clears the roof of the mouth . ” Here ’s desire “ the Zamboni of vino ” becomes a affair .

Somms love ‘em

Want to get a somm utter ? Ask why Riesling is a great wine and they credibly wo n’t exclude up . They rave about that Riesling balance that have it to be just the right amount of lemony and sweet . Grieco says:“What German Riesling have in spade is balance . That dollop of residual sugar would come across as a spoonful of maple syrup if it was n’t offset by acidulousness . That acidity would make you experience like you were go down on on a acrimonious gamboge if it was not offset by that dollop of residuary sugar . ”

They age well, especially for a white wine

Turns out , not all wine convey better with age . In fact , most white wines are supposed to be had within just a couple of old age after they ’re bottled – but not Riesling . Because of their high-pitched acidity , Rieslings can stay at their peak maturity ( roughly 20 years ) for as long as it ’ll take your 401 K to be deserving something . Twomey say : “ Riesling seems to transmute . It may drop off some of its fruit , but because of its loony toons content , it still has some living in it and it commence to develop in a much more interesting way . And for whatever reason , other grapes just do n’t do that . ”

It hails from Germany, and has for a long time

You thought schooling was out for summertime , but we ’ve buzz off a nimble history lesson for you : Riesling go out all the room back 50 BC in German wine viticulture ( which is a fancy Bible for wine-coloured science , which we bid we would have majored in ) . In the 19th 100 , it was considered one of the most value wines on the planet , and Germany has always been its largest producer . In fact , it ’s creditworthy for more than half of all Riesling available on the market today , and the grape variety hit up 80 % of Germany ’s historic Rheingau wine region . In event you were wondering , that ’s a lot of Riesling to sip on in the fair weather .

It’s the game-changing ingredient in a summer cocktail

Most somms say Riesling is great on its own , but , if you ’re prove to impress your ally , this vino throws down in a cocktail without trying too hard . apply light liquors , like a vodka or tequila , then accentuate the wine ’s distinction with pernicious fruit savor from a flavored liqueur or yield purée . Make a great - batch cocktail at the next cookout you ’re invited to and everyone will probably ignore the cook helming the grill to laud your vino cocktail know - how . Duffy says:“Keep it really dim-witted , not too strong ; make a prissy refreshing cocktail that accentuates the flavors in the wine-colored . ”