The Wine of Summer? Riesling, Baby

Keeping cool is the name of the game during the warm summer months. Inflatable pool that I can fill to the brim with the garden hose when it's 100 degrees out? Yes please. Sticky, sweet, ice cold popsicles? Bring it on. A big box fan blowing cold air in my face? Thought you would never ask! 

As a sommelier, when it comes to choosing the best wines to enjoy in the summer, I take inspiration from these moments, choosing wines that will keep you cool while bringing  a nice amount of punchy tartness. I’m also looking for wines that are refreshing and fruity (but “fruity” doesn’t automatically mean sweet in the wine world). And one of the best wines that embodies all of these characteristics? Riesling.

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Thankfully, the masses are starting to agree and I’m noticing riesling pop up more and more.

Terroir wine bar in NYC is declaring it the Summer of Riesling and setting off on a riesling filled cruise in July. And Brooklyn bar Thief has swapped out the typical Froze for a Friesling (yes, frozen riesling). 

Wally's Wine in Santa Monica loves riesling so much they have both an off dry and dry option on their by-the-glass list.  Santa Barbara riesling seems to be on the rise, with one producer in particular– Tatomer – being seen on many of the hottest L.A restaurants' wine lists. 

Here’s why you should give this wine a try, plus a few of my favorite bottles to start your own Summer of Riesling journey.

Riesling: The Most Misunderstood Wine

Poor misunderstood Riesling. She’s like that friend who doesn't give hugs, is overly sarcastic, and replies with one word texts, but also shows up whenever you need her, gives the nicest compliments, and is very generous. She’s a bit of an enigma. So, let’s dispel some common myths about Riesling that might have kept you from bringing her into your summer fold.

MYTH 1: Riesling Is a Sweet Wine

One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to Riesling is that it’s only sweet. While there are many examples of varying sweetness out there, there are also a ton of dry examples as well. It all depends on the decisions of the winemaker! One way to tell if a Riesling is sweet or dry is to check the back of the label. Many bottles have an indicator letting you know if the wine is on the sweeter or drier side

MYTH 2: Riesling Is Trash Wine

Another misconception is that Riesling is a low quality wine. While there are low quality Rieslings out there (just like there are low quality any-type-of-wines out there) there are many wines of exceptional quality that can compete with some of the finest white wines in the world. Rieslings can hail from many places, including Germany, Alsace, Austria, and the Finger Lakes in the United States. 

MYTH 3: Riesling Doesn’t Play Well With Food

Lastly, many people think Riesling doesn't pair well with food. But riesling with just a touch of sweetness is the perfect partner to spicy foods as it tempers the heat,while the fruity and floral aromas of the wine complement the chilis and spices found particularly in Southeast Asian cuisine. And, if you have a meal that's rich and fatty (buttery rich seafood like salmon or briney and creamy oysters), Riesling’s high acidity will do wonders to cleanse your palate after each bite.

The Key Tasting Notes of Riesling

The extreme heat in the summer leaves us all reaching for an ice cold drink. Riesling is a great option for the summer heat when served nice and cold, as it offers the palate refreshing acidity and a little zest. Its high acidity makes it crisp and quaffable making it particularly enjoyable and refreshing (I liken it to that first sip of a frosty Sprite on a hot summer’s day.) 

Regardless of if you tend toward a drier or sweeter Riesling, it still offers a “fruit salad in a glass” feeling, with vibrant fruit flavors of citrus, orchard fruits, and tropical fruits. These fruity characteristics make it a perfect choice for the summer, since these ripe and juicy flavors are reminiscent of summer fruits. 

Riesling is also a very aromatic grape that often displays intense floral aromas of jasmine, elderflowers, honeysuckle, and even gardenia mimicking the fresh smell of flowers in the summer.

Lastly, Riesling has a lower alcohol percentage than most wines, allowing you to have more than one glass and not drag your feet.  Because it's lower in alcohol, it also makes for a great aperitif before a meal.

Riesling Bottles to Buy

Here are some of my favorite Rieslings for you to try this summer. If you can’t find these at your local wine store, you can always ask them for recommendations which offer similar characteristics to a bottle on this list. 

• Von Winning Estate Riesling 2021: These guys are making some of the best dry Rieslings in Germany. Since the grapes are grown in a mix of over four different types of rock based soils, these wines have wonderful minerality reminiscent of wet gravel. Aromas of lemon, lime, and peach jump out of the glass and each mouthwatering sip leaves you wanting more. (~ $22 a bottle)
• Hermann J Wiemer Dry Riesling 2021:  Considered one of the pioneers of the winemaking movement in the Finger Lakes New York, Hermann J Weimer is a producer not to miss! Even though this wine is dry there is a touch of sweetness that is balanced with bracing acidity and round mouthfeel. (~ $20 a bottle)
• Trimbach Riesling 2019: Trimbach has been around in Alsace, France for 3 centuries and 13 generations. These wines have great structure, are fruity, age well, and ooze elegance. They are classic examples of Alsatian Riesling which is known for being mostly bone dry. (~ $19 a bottle; if you can’t find the 2019 give their 2020 vintage a try)