What is Riesling?
Riesling is an aromatic white wine grape, best known from Germany, that can be bone dry or very sweet and always tastes bright and zesty, with lime, green apple, peach and honey.
Riesling has a sweet-wine reputation, but plenty of it is dry. What every Riesling shares is sky-high acidity, the mouthwatering zing that keeps even the sweet ones from feeling heavy. It's one of the most food-friendly whites there is.
- Tastes like
- Lime, green apple, peach, apricot, honey
- Sweetness
- Anywhere from bone dry to dessert-sweet
- Where it's from
- Germany; Alsace; Washington; Finger Lakes, NY
- Price range
- About $9–25
- Serve at
- Fridge cold, 40–45°F
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
What Riesling tastes like
Zesty lime, crisp green apple and juicy peach, sometimes with honey or jasmine. Older bottles can pick up a strange but loved smell like petrol. The acid is the backbone, so it always feels fresh.
Where it comes from
Germany is Riesling's home, especially the Mosel and Rheingau. Alsace in France makes drier, fuller ones. In the US, Washington State is the big source of everyday Riesling, and New York's Finger Lakes makes crisp, excellent bottles.
How to tell if it is sweet
Look for the word 'Dry' or the German 'Trocken' for a dry wine. 'Kabinett' is usually a little sweet, 'Spätlese' sweeter, and 'Auslese' sweeter still. Many bottles also have a sweetness scale on the back label.
Alcohol is a handy clue too. Around 8–10% usually means sweeter, because sugar was left unfermented. Around 12% or higher usually means dry.
What to eat with it
Off-dry Riesling is a dream with spicy Thai, Indian and Chinese food. The touch of sweetness tames the heat. Dry Riesling is great with pork, ham, turkey, sushi and anything salty.
Riesling to try
Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling
about $10RieslingDrink this one
Crisp, citrusy and dry. A great Thanksgiving white.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
about $9Riesling
The regular version is off-dry: peachy and a little sweet. Perfect with spicy takeout.
Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling
about $12Riesling
A cheap, juicy taste of German Mosel Riesling. Light and lightly sweet.
Keep reading
- What's a good sweet white wine?
- What is dry white wine?
- What is Moscato?
- What wine goes with Thai food?
- What wine goes with Indian food?
- What wine goes with Chinese food?
Last checked 2026-10-11.