By Robert Giles

Riesling is a grape that is growing in popularity and is one of the best wines to drink in warm weather. Dry or sweet, a nice bottle of Riesling can complement many summer meals.

The Riesling grape itself has a wide variety of fruit flavors and sweetness levels that can be found in the finished wines. These qualities will depend on the ripeness of the grape at the time of harvesting. With fruit flavors ranging from apple and pear to peach and mango it is easy to see how this wine can satisfy many tastes.

The grapes natural high acidity will complement the longer ripening phase by giving a counterbalance to rising sugar levels. Rather than ending up with a wine that is dominated by the sweetness inherent in the grape, the acidity provides a balancing counterpoint.

While the grapes themselves have a high sugar content, the winemaking process determines the final sweetness levels. If the bottle does not say anything about the sweetness levels of the wine, estimate it based on the alcohol content. Lower alcohol content will indicate a higher residual sugar content while higher alcohol content will indicate a drier wine. The wines themselves are also typically made using stainless-steel vats so as to preserve the natural acidity of the finished product.

Cool climates are Riesling’s favorite areas to grow. It is typically known as a German grape and that is where some of the highest quality wines will be found. This grape is also found in the Alsace region of France, high altitude regions in Australia, and in Washington and Oregon in the United States. Typically, you will find German and U.S. Rieslings most readily available.

From Germany there are several great wines that showcase the different sweetness levels possible.

For a sweeter style you can go with Leonard Kreusch Piesporter Michelsberg Spatlese which has notes of grapefruit with hints of honey. And there is Schlink Haus Auslese that shows strong peach flavors with notes of candied apples.

On the American side, you have slightly fewer options but they are still fantastic.

Teutonic Jazz Odyssey blends Gewurtztramanier with Riesling for hints of lemon and peach with an off dry quality.

Kung Fu Girl is a good, lightly sweet wine that shows strong green apple and lime notes balanced with a sweetness and acidity that round out the body of the wine.

Chateau St. Michelle Sweet Riesling is a good option on the sweetest side that showcases a rich, ripe peach flavor with a matching acidity.

If you are just starting your journey into wines or looking for that perfect summer wine, Riesling is a great option to look at. Being able to adjust the sweetness level of the wine for your dish or for your personal taste is a fantastic option.

Any patio dinner can be accentuated with the addition of the perfect Riesling to make every evening perfect for a celebration. Cheers!