Pronounced - rees-ling
Riesling is the only prominent variety to have not originated in France. Germany is the traditional home of riesling where it is usually made into a sweet wine. In Australia it is generally made to a dry wine. Riesling is an aromatic variety and boasts a powerful fruit driven nose. When affected by botrytis riesling can produce luscious desert wines.
Young rieslings will often have a green tinge to the usual light yellow and straw. Aged rieslings will present as deeper yellows and slightly golden.
Riesling is often described as steely or flinty which is associated with this variety's firm, crisp, acid finish and the often strongly defined flavours. The wines are normally light to medium bodied and display Riesling's primary fruit characters well. Riesling is made dry to semi sweet and blends well with the floral variety Traminer.
