Mosel
The Mosel produces the best wines, and is portrayed as the benchmark of quality. Mosel wines tend to be delicate, lower in alcohol, higher in acid, floral and intensely mineral. They are usually made in an off-dry style, owing to their elevated acidity. This is THE Riesling region, with 66% of its total acreage being dedicated to Riesling. The Mosel is commonly planted on steep, south-facing hillsides of high planting density along the Mosel River. Soils are mostly composed of slate though volcanic rocks can be found. The best vineyards are often Erste Lage from VDP producers. Classic producers include Dr. Loosen, Markus Molitor, Selbach-Oster, J.J. Prûm, Dr. Thanisch and Von Schubert (Maximin Grünhaus), among many others.

Other German Riesling-producing regions include Baden, Württemberg and Franken.

ALSACE
Alsace is the only wine region in France allowed to grow Riesling grapes. The region, on the west side of the Rhine River, is very rich in diverse terroirs and consists of alluvial-based soils in the plain to calcareous, marl or sandstone on the hills. Fifty-one Grand Cru vineyards are scattered along the 90-mile-long region. Alsatian Riesling wines are often made in a dry style and they tend to be aromatic and powerful. Alsatian vignerons prefer to produce wines of higher alcohol content, normally around 12% (there’s a legal minimum of 11% alcohol for the Riesling wines in Alsace). Classic producers include Marcel Deiss, Hugel et Fils, Josmeyer, Albert Mann, Ostertag, Schlumberger, F.E. Trimbach, Weinbach and Zind Humbrecht.

Interestingly, the wine laws in Alsace are mostly German. Alsace has been French territory since 1648 (when the Treaty of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years’ War), though it reverted back to Germany from 1870 to 1918, and then again from 1939 to 1944. Riesling is on record as being planted in the Alsace region since 1477 when its quality was praised by the Duke of Lorraine. Today over a fifth of Alsace’s vineyards are covered with Riesling vines, mostly in the Haut-Rhin district.

NORTH AMERICA
Riesling is widely produced across the West Coast and in select areas of New York, Michigan and Canada. Because the climates, geographies and soils of these regions are so vastly diverse, North America produces a panoply of Riesling styles. In the late nineteenth century German immigrants brought with them Riesling vines, named Johannisberg Riesling. New York, particularly the Finger Lakes region, was one of the earliest U.S. producers of Riesling. Plantings first appeared in California by 1857 and followed by Washington in 1871.

Washington
In Washington, Riesling is experiencing nothing short of a boon. Most of the Riesling acreage is grown in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range on the east side of the state within the Columbia Valley appellation. One particularity of the viticulture in this region is the quasi absence of rootstocks. Washington is the largest Riesling producer in the United States. Classic soils of the Columbia Valley of Washington are wind-blown loess on the top of granitic deposits from the Missoula floods sitting above the basalt bedrock. The wines are usually ripe, often slightly sweet (though not necessarily so), with notes of peach and expressing excellent minerality. Classic producers are Chateau Ste. Michelle/Eroica, Pacific Rim, Hogue, Columbia Winery, Poet’s Leap, Owen Sullivan and Woodward Canyon.

Michigan
Michigan contains four AVAs known for the production of quality wines including Fennville, Lake Michigan Shore, Leelanau Peninsula, and Old Mission Peninsula. All four of these regions are located in proximity to Lake Michigan, and almost all of Michigan’s wine grapes are grown within 25 miles of the lake. The lake effect provides a favorable microclimate compared to interior regions of the state. Chateau Grand Traverse is a classic producer in this region.

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
The warmer Australian climate produces thicker skinned grapes, sometimes seven times the thickness of German-grown grapes. Australian Rieslings are noted for their oily texture and lime fruit flavors in their youth and a smooth balance of freshness and acid as they age. Riesling producing regions are largely found in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
In 1838, William Macarthur planted Riesling vines near Penrith in New South Wales. Riesling was the most planted white grape in Australia until the early 1990s when Chardonnay greatly increased in popularity. Riesling still flourishes in the Clare Valley, in particular the areas of Watervale and around the Polish Hill River, and the cooler Eden Valley where some sparkling Riesling is produced.

The Clare Valley is probably the finest Riesling producing region in Australia. The Clare Valley presents wide variation of soils (limestone, shale…). The wines are often very dry and highly aromatic. Most Rieslings throughout Australia are bottled under screwcap closure. Classic producers are Grosset, Jim Barry, Knappstein and Petaluma Clare Estate.

New Zealand Riesling wines tend to be lighter and more delicate than their Australian neighbors due to the cooler climate. They are made from dry to sweet with the best examples coming from Marlborough and Nelson.

AUSTRIA
Austria has relatively small plantings but Riesling is the second leading white grape variety after the indigenous Grüner Veltliner. Wines are mostly made in the dry style and known for being clean, direct, rich and palate-coating with a particularly strong mineral aspect. A particular Austrian Riesling trademark is a long finish that includes hints of white pepper. With alcohol levels normally around 13%, Austrian Riesling has a relatively high alcohol content and is generally at its peak after 5 years. Main Riesling producing regions include Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal.

SOUTH AFRICA
The Cape winelands stretch from the rugged mountains and multi-directional slopes of the coastal region to the open plains of the Little Karoo where viticulture takes place mainly in the riverine valleys. South Africa’s vineyards are mostly situated in the Western Cape near the coast. Rainfall on the coastal side, where fynbos and renosterveld vegetation flourish, measures up to 1 000 mm per year. Travel over the mountains into the hinterland and the rainfall decreases dramatically with the vegetation dominated by hardy succulents, cycads and aloes.

Riesling is well-adapted to various soils, and is preferably planted on medium potential soils in cool climates. The clones available are quite susceptible to botrytis rot due to their compact bunch form. Planted commercially for the first time in 1974, some of the more successful Rieslings are made in a botrytis or Noble Late Harvest style.

In 2007 there were 240 hectares of Riesling planted in South Africa, representing 0.23% of the total area planted to wine grapes in South Africa. 1761 tonnes of grapes were crushed. There has been a recent revival for Riesling in the form of “Just Riesling” an association of all the Riesling producers in South Africa.

Until 2010 the prefix ‘Rhine’ or ‘Weisser’ must be used for Riesling to distinguish it from the inferior Cape Riesling, or Crouchen Blanc.

In Germany, a single wine estate may decide to make upwards of a dozen individual wines (from dry to sweet) based on grapes picked at different times (and ripeness levels) during a harvest. The wines are best understood when broken down into the following categories.

German wines are classified by law, based upon the ripeness of grapes. This system is undergoing some changes, but these terms are still relevant and helpful.

Qualitätswein bestimmter
Anbaugebiete (QbA)
The basic level of “quality wine” in Germany and guaranteeing that grapes are of a certain ripeness and from one of the thirteen legally designated wine regions. In addition, QbA wines can be chaptalized.

Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP)
QmP means literally “quality wines with distinction” and is used to distinguish German wines of superior quality. These wines carry one of the six Prädikats, giving us clues as to what style of wine is in the bottle:

Kabinett
Light styled, dry wines. These wines are clean and refreshing, and are best enjoyed either before a meal or when paired with seafood and shellfish.

Spätlese
These wines can be made dry to sweet. Drier Spätlese wines tend to be better with savory foods; sweeter Spätlese tend to pair well with spicy dishes.

Beerenauslese (BA)
Rich, dessert-style wines crafted from individually selected berries (Beeren) usually affected by Botrytis mold. These are concentrated wines with deep color.

 

Auslese
These are select harvest wines made from very ripe hand-picked clusters that are usually affected by Botrytis mold. Auslese wines can also be made from dry to sweet. Drier Auslese wines are generally better with food. Sweeter Auslese wines exhibit a richness, concentration and complexity often better savored on their own.

Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Very rich, unctuous style (110 Oechsle minimum). Crafted from individually selected berries that have become withered to the point of raisins. These wines are quite rare and have a richness like honey. They are some of the most expensive wines in the world.

Eiswein - Literally “ice wine”
These dessert wines are made from grapes left on the vine very late into the season, harvested and pressed when frozen.

 

Riesling is the only grape variety which has great growth vineyards in every German region.

Each estate can bottle select wines as a “Gold Cap” (similar to a reserve bottling). The most notable is the Gold Cap Auslese (GKA), or even more recherché, the “Long Gold Cap.” Gold Cap wines are primarily found at Auslese level, but can also be made at BA, TBA and Eiswein levels.

ATTENTION: WINE GEEK ALERT
The following section is intended for those wine geeks who are already well beyond the pale. Deliberate ingestion of the following contents may well render one unfit for further “normal”/ healthy social intercourse.