Riesling

The first thing that comes to mind when I mention Riesling to people is - oh I don’t like a sweet wine. Let’s dig a little deeper into the Riesling grape variety from Germany. Riesling, Germany’s leading grape variety is a white grape which originated in the Rhine region. German wines are categorized by the degree of ripeness, which is determined by the sugar content in the grapes measured upon harvest. If you don’t see the name Riesling on the label, then there is little chance that the Riesling grape was used in the wine.

Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed aromas. It is almost never fermented or aged in new oak, which means that Rieslings tends to be lighter weight and therefore suitable to a wider range of foods. Riesling is versatile for pairing with food also because of its balance of sugar and acidity.
The levels of ripeness that will help acquaint you with the type of Riesling that fits your style are below. These are in order of increasing potential alcohol, which generally translates into body or sweetness. Also, you can look for these words on the bottle.

Kabinett: This is a light semi-dry wine, generally low in alcohol (8-10%).
Food pairing: Asian food, seafood, and shellfish.

Spatlese: (Late Harvest) These grapes are picked after the normal harvest. These wines will have more body and be intense in flavor. You might see the words halbtrocken (medium dry) to trocken (dry) on the label.
Food pairing: pork, scallops Thai food, Crème Brulee, smoked salmon.

Auslese: (Select Picking) This is the harvest of selected extra ripe grape bunches. Again this will yield a more intense flavored wine. Most Ausleses are lush, with some sweetness.
Food pairing: rich chesses, desserts (peaches, pears and apple).

Beerenauslese: (Berries Select Picking) these grapes are picked out individually from the grape bunches. With this level of wines these become truly sweet. These are the very rich desert wines from which Germany is noted for.
Food pairing: Foie Gras, desserts.

Trockenbeerenauslese: (Dry Berries Select Picking) the harvest of selected individual grapes that are overripe and shriveled like raisins. These wines are rich and sweet honey like. These will be the most expensive wines.
Food pairing: salty cheese (i.e. Blue), fruit desserts, and Foie Gras.
If you have not tried a German Riesling in a while, give it another try! They are a great, versatile food-friendly wine.

Until next time, cheers!

Viognier

Viognier (VEE-oh-nyay) is an aromatic white wine, and my wife’s favorite white. For those who crave a softness and want less or no oak, Viognier might just be to your liking too. The wine will show notes of peaches, mangoes, honeysuckle, and other tropical fruits. Envision over-ripe apricots mixed with orange blossoms. The wine is well known for its floral aromas, which are also found in Muscat and Riesling wines. The color and aroma of the wine could lead you to believe it is a sweet wine, but Viognier’s are predominantly dry. This wine is meant to be consumed while it is young, as it has a tendency to lose its aroma with age.

The Viognier grape is low in acidity, and sometimes used to add fragrance and to soften wines made with the Syrah grape. An example would be French Syrah Cote Rotie. The Viognier grape is the only grape used for the Northern Rhone Appellation Condrieu and Chateau-Grillet (look to spend $50.00+ for Chateau-Grillet). The origin of the grape is unknown. It is presumed to be an ancient grape, and brought to the Northern Rhone by the Romans.

Viognier likes the company of rich tasting seafood such as crab, lobster and scallops. Add some cream sauce to heighten the pairing. If you typically serve Chardonnay at Thanksgiving, try opening a bottle of Viognier to compare. Serve Viognier with your butternut squash, sweet potatoes and turkey. Also, give Viognier a go with Thai food or Sushi.

Chardonnay and Viognier share tropical fruit flavors and a creamy mouth feel similar to crème brulee. Viognier can be as full-bodied as a Chardonnay, but offers much more distinctive fruit characteristics. If you’re a Charonnay lover, you might want to give this wine a try! I recommend trying the following, which are under $25.00: Yalumba Eden Valley from Australia, Zaca Mesa from California, Miner Viognier from California, Fess Parker from California, or Robert Hall from California.

Until next time, cheers!