Riesling weeks 2024: Exploring the versatility of the king of white wines
He is often called the "king of white wines." In June, it has its celebration. Riesling produces wines of great diversity and is extremely versatile gastronomically. "Riesling Weeks 2024," lasting throughout June this year, is an excellent opportunity to learn more about this unique grape variety.
Riesling is a grape variety that can genuinely appeal to any wine lover. Do you enjoy thoroughly dry drinks? Choose riesling. Do you prefer wines with a strong dose of sweetness? You will also find excellent rieslings in this category. In the range between dryness and sweetness, riesling offers plenty of delicacies. Sparkling wine enthusiasts will appreciate it for its unique characteristics. Thanks to its properties, this grape variety provides many possibilities.
The homeland of Riesling is Germany—according to historical records, its journey started there. The first mentions of this variety come from the Rheingau region, with information found in a vine sale protocol from 1435. It notes that the vine cuttings of the "Riesslingen" variety were purchased for 22 shillings. Since then, riesling's popularity in Germany has steadily grown, and today, without a shadow of a doubt, riesling is considered a German national treasure.
The king among white wines
However, Germany is not the only place where this variety produces excellent wines. This grape variety has travelled to the farthest corners of the globe.
- Today, famous rieslings come from the northern areas of the USA, southern Australia, and New Zealand. In Europe, excellent rieslings can be found in the French Alsace, Austria, north of Italy, and the Czech Moravia, - says Tomasz Potrzebowski, International Market Development Expert at Henkell Freixenet Polska.
Wines made from the riesling grape variety are characterised by great diversity, making it difficult to generalise and clearly describe the aroma-taste profile of this variety. However, these wines have a few standard features in the best editions.
- Young, dry rieslings have a beautiful, clean citrus, green apple, and apricot aroma, slightly accented with floral notes and spicy nuances. For many, it may be surprising that riesling can also develop unique and seemingly unexpected aromatic notes, such as the scent of petrol or kerosene. It is worth remembering that in the case of this variety, it is not a wine defect, - explains the expert.
Moreover, riesling can perfectly reflect the terroir, meaning the unique soil and climatic conditions of the region where it is grown. Another essential advantage of this variety is its great ageing potential in the bottle, partly due to its naturally high acidity, preserving the wine for many years. This phenomenal ageing potential means that the best wines can easily wait for their moment in the cellar for even 50 years or more!
What does it pair with?
The undeniable strength of wines from the Riesling variety is their great gastronomic versatility. - Depending on the style of the wine, riesling pairs with a very wide range of dishes. Riesling is fascinating because it can be varied—some wines are dry, others ultra-sweet, some very floral, others spicy and citrusy. This means the number of combinations is virtually unlimited, - says Tomasz Potrzebowski.
I recommend dishes with raw fish, such as sashimi, seafood, and smoked fish, for dry wines. Additionally, pork belly with apple sauce, pickled vegetables, salads with vinaigrette sauce, and goat cheese are excellent choices.
On the other hand, semi-dry rieslings are ideal companions for oriental cuisine. Many spicy foods—dishes from Thai, Vietnamese, and even Indian cuisines—pair well with such riesling. The spicier the dish, the sweeter the riesling.
