Editing Riesling (section)

==Production regions==
[[File:080110 zell mosel.JPG|thumb|left|Riesling vines on a steep, south-facing slope in the [[Mosel wine|Mosel]] region]]
Riesling is considered one of the grape varieties that best expresses the [[terroir]] of the place where it is grown.<ref name="Encyclopedia_Grapes_194">Oz Clarke, ''The Encyclopedia of Grapes'' Websters International Publishers 2001, p. 194 {{ISBN|0-15-100714-4}}.</ref> It is particularly well suited for slate and sandy clay soil.<ref>[[Jancis Robinson]], ''Vines, Grapes and Wines'' Mitchell Beazley 2002 p. 105 {{ISBN|1-85732-999-6}}.</ref>

===Germany===
Today Riesling is Germany's leading grape variety, known for its characteristic “transparency” in flavour and presentation of ''terroir'',<ref>Andrew Ellson, [https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/roll-out-the-riesling-german-wines-are-making-a-comeback-5zxb25hwl Roll out the riesling, German wines are making a comeback], in: [[The Times]] dated 9 December 2019.</ref><ref>Wine Spectator Magazine, ''Wine in Northern Europe'' September 30th, 2006 p. 124.</ref> and its balance between fruit and mineral flavours. In Germany, Riesling normally [[ripens (wine)|ripens]] between late September and late November, and late harvest Riesling can be picked as late as January.

Two common characteristics of German Riesling are that they are rarely blended with other varieties and usually never exposed to oak flavour (despite some vintners fermenting in "traditionel" old oak barrels already leached). To this last item there is an exception with some winters in the wine regions of [[Palatinate (wine region)|Palatinate]] (Pfalz) and [[Baden]] using new oak aging<!-- old information 2001 -->. The warmer temperatures in those regions produce heavier wines with a higher alcohol content that can better contend with the new oak.<ref name="Encyclopedia_Grapes_195">[[Oz Clarke]], ''The Encyclopedia of Grapes'' Websters International Publishers 2001, p. 195 {{ISBN|0-15-100714-4}}.</ref> While clearer in individual flavours when it is young, a German Riesling will harmonize more as it ages, particularly around ten years of age.

In Germany, sugar levels at time of harvest are an important consideration in the wine's production with [[Qualitätswein mit Prädikat|prädikat]] levels measuring the sweetness of the wine. Equally important to winegrowers is the balance of acidity between the green tasting [[malic acid]] and the more citrus tasting [[tartaric acid]]. In cool years, some growers will wait until November to harvest in expectation of having a higher level of ripeness and subsequent tartaric acid.<ref>Oz Clarke, ''The Encyclopedia of Grapes'' Websters International Publishers 2001, p. 197 {{ISBN|0-15-100714-4}}.</ref>

Before technology in wineries could stabilize temperatures, the low temperatures in winter of the northern German regions would halt fermentation and leave the resulting wines with natural sugars and a low alcohol content. According to local tradition, in the [[Mosel wine|Mosel]] region the wine would then be bottled in tall, tapered, and green [[hock (wine)|hock]] bottles. Similar bottles, although brown, are used for Riesling produced in the Rhine region.<ref>[[Stuart Walton]], ''Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine'' Hermes House 2006, p. 70 {{ISBN|1-84081-177-3}}.</ref>

Riesling is also the preferred grape in production of Deutscher [[Sekt]], German [[sparkling wine]].

Riesling wines from Germany cover a vast array of tastes from sweet to off-dry ''halbtrocken'' to dry ''trocken''. Late harvest Rieslings can ripen to become very sweet dessert wines of the [[beerenauslese]] (BA) and [[trockenbeerenauslese]] (TBA) class.

===France===
[[File:Riesling -raisins sur pied de vigne.jpg|thumb|Riesling grapes growing in Alsace]]
Riesling is on record as being planted in the Alsace region by 1477 when its quality was praised by the [[Duke of Lorraine]].<ref>Oz Clarke, ''The Encyclopedia of Grapes'' Websters International Publishers 2001, p. 193 {{ISBN|0-15-100714-4}}.</ref> Today over a fifth of Alsace's vineyards are covered with Riesling vines, mostly in the [[Haut-Rhin]] district, with the [[varietal]] {{Interlanguage link|Riesling d'Alsace|fr}} being very different from neighboring German Riesling.<ref name="Enjoying_Wine_74">Stuart Walton, ''Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine'' Hermes House 2006, p. 74 {{ISBN|1-84081-177-3}}.</ref><ref>According to French regulations as of 2011, this variety may only be planted in [[Moselle (departement)|Moselle]], [[Bas-Rhin]] and [[Haut-Rhin]].</ref> This is partly from difference in the soil with the clay Alsatian soil being more dominately calcareous than the slate composition of Rheingau. The other differences come in wine making styles, with the Alsatian preferring more French-oriented methods that produce wines of higher alcohol content (normally around 12%) and more roundness due to longer time spent in neutral oak barrels or steel tanks. In contrast to German wine laws, Alsatian rieslings can be [[chaptalization|chaptalized]], a process in which the alcoholic content is increased through the addition of sugar to the must.<ref name="Encyclopedia_Grapes_198">Oz Clarke, ''The Encyclopedia of Grapes'' Websters International Publishers 2001, p. 198 {{ISBN|0-15-100714-4}}.</ref>

[[File:Alsatian Riesling .jpg|left|thumb|An Alsatian Riesling]]
In contrast to other Alsatian wines, Rieslings d'Alsace are usually not meant to be drunk young, but many are still best in the first years. Rieslings d'Alsace tend to be mostly very dry with a cleansing acidity. They are thick-bodied wines that coat the palate. These wines age exceptionally well with a quality vintage aging up to 20 years. This is beneficial since the flavours in an Alsace wine will often open up after three years, developing softer and fruitier flavours.<ref name="Enjoying_Wine_74"/> Riesling is very suitable for the late harvest ''Vendange Tardive'' and the botrytized ''Sélection de Grains Nobles'', with good acidity keeping up the sweetness of the wine.

In addition to [[Muscat (grape and wine)|Muscat]], [[Gewürztraminer]] and [[Pinot gris]], Riesling is one of the acceptable varieties whose planting is allowed in ''[[Alsace grand cru]]'' sites.<ref>Stuart Walton, ''Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine'' Hermes House 2006, p. 121 {{ISBN|1-84081-177-3}}.</ref>

===Australia and New Zealand===
[[File:Opera House wine detail2.JPG|right|thumb|155px|Gold lettering on collectible [[Sydney Opera House]] wine]]
In 1838 [[William Macarthur]] planted Riesling vines near [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]] in [[New South Wales]].<ref>[http://www.dtftwid.qld.gov.au/Wine/Helpful+Information/Viticulture/Riesling Queensland Government Wine Development-Riesling] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720222340/http://www.dtftwid.qld.gov.au/wine/Helpful+Information/Viticulture/Riesling |date=2008-07-20}}.</ref> Riesling was the most planted white grape in Australia until the early 1990s when [[Chardonnay]] greatly increased in popularity.<ref name="Encyclopedia_Grapes_198"/> Riesling still flourishes in the Great Southern of [[Western Australia]] (in particular Mt Barker, Frankland River and Porongurup), and in [[South Australia]] in the [[Clare Valley wine region|Clare Valley]], and particularly in the areas of [[Watervale, South Australia|Watervale]] and around Polish Hill River, and the cooler [[Eden Valley wine region|Eden Valley]] and [[High Eden]]. The warmer Australian climate produces thicker skinned grapes, sometimes seven times the thickness of German grown grapes.<ref name="Encyclopedia_Grapes_195"/> The grapes ripen in free draining soil composed of red soil over [[limestone]] and [[shale]], producing a lean wine that, as it matures, produces toasty, honeycomb and lime aromas and flavors. It is common for Australian Rieslings to be fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks with no oxidation of the wine, followed by earlier bottling.<ref name = "Encyclopedia_Grapes_199">Oz Clarke, ''The Encyclopedia of Grapes'' Websters International Publishers 2001, p. 199 {{ISBN|0-15-100714-4}}.</ref>

Australian Rieslings are noted for their oily texture and citrus fruit flavors in their youth and a smooth balance of freshness and acid as they age. The botrytized Rieslings have immense levels of flavor concentrations that have been favorably compared to lemon marmalade.<ref name="Enjoying_Wine_75">Stuart Walton, ''Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine'' Hermes House 2006, p. 75 {{ISBN|1-84081-177-3}}.</ref>

Riesling was first planted in New Zealand in the 1970s and has flourished in the relatively cool climate of the [[Marlborough Region|Marlborough]] area and for late harvests in the Nelson region. In comparison to Australian Riesling, New Zealand produces lighter and more delicate wines that range from sweet to dry.<ref name="Walton">Stuart Walton, ''Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine'' Hermes House 2006, p. 71 {{ISBN|1-84081-177-3}}.</ref> [[Central Otago wine region|Central Otago]], the home of cool climate wines, has recently emerged as another area producing terroir driven Rieslings.

===Austria===
Riesling is the second leading white grape varietal after the indigenous [[Grüner Veltliner]].<ref>Karen MacNeil, ''The Wine Bible'' Workman Publishing 2001 p. 569 {{ISBN|1-56305-434-5}}.</ref> Austrian Riesling is generally thick bodied, coating the palate and producing a strong clarity of flavour coupled with a mouthwatering aroma. A particular Austrian Riesling trademark is a long finish that includes hints of white pepper. It flourishes in the cool climate and free-draining [[granite]] and [[mica]] soil of the [[Wachau]] region where Austrian wine laws allow for irrigation. With levels normally around 13% it has a relatively high alcohol content for Riesling and is generally at its peak after 5 years.<ref name = "Encyclopedia_Grapes_199"/> Austrian Riesling is not known for its sweetness and is mostly dry with very few grapes affected by [[Botrytis cinerea|botrytis]].

===United States===
[[File:Columbia valley Riesling.jpg|left|thumb|A Riesling from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington State]]
In the late nineteenth century, [[German-American|German immigrants]] brought with them Riesling vines, borrowing the name of [[Schloss Johannisberg]] to mark the plants' origin. "Johannisberg Riesling" became a semi-generic name for Riesling until an agreement between the U.S. and EU prohibited its use in 2006.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Brostrom|first1=Geralyn G|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tEqx2zwuq-gC|title=The Business of Wine: An Encyclopedia|last2=Brostrom|first2=Jack|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2009|location=-|pages=9| isbn=9780313354014 }}</ref> [[New York wine|New York]], particularly in the [[Finger Lakes AVA|Finger Lakes]] region, was one of the earliest U.S. producers of Riesling. Plantings started to appear in [[California wine|California]] by 1857 and followed in [[Washington wine|Washington State]] in 1871.<ref name = "Encyclopedia_Grapes_199"/>

New York Riesling generally has a characteristic effervescent light body with a similarly light, mellow flavor. The wine can be dynamic though rarely robust, and ranges from dry to sweet. New York is also a notable producer of Riesling-based [[ice wine]], although a large majority of New York Ice Wine is made from [[Vidal blanc]] and [[Vignoles (grape)|Vignoles]].

In [[California]], Riesling lags far behind [[Chardonnay]] in popularity and is not as commonly planted. A notable exception is the growing development of high quality Late Harvest dessert wines. So far, the Late Harvest wines most successfully produced are in the [[Anderson Valley AVA|Anderson]] and [[Alexander Valley AVA|Alexander Valley]]s where the weather is more likely to encourage the needed botrytis to develop. The Riesling that does come out of California tends to be softer, fuller, and having more diverse flavours than a "typical" German Riesling.

In the Pacific Northwest, there is a stark contrast in Riesling production. Although Oregon was once viewed as a promising destination for the grape, [[Burgundy wine|Burgundy-style]] wines came to dominate, while in Washington, large producers such as [[Chateau Ste. Michelle]] spearheaded Riesling's growth.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-20|title=The Small Producers Driving the West Coast's Riesling Revival|url=https://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-small-producers-driving-the-west-coasts-riesling-revival/|access-date=2022-02-19|website=SevenFifty Daily|language=en-US}}</ref> Chateau Ste. Michille championed German styles and partnered with well-known German firm Dr. [[Ernest Loosen]] to create specialty wines such as the Eroica brand. With annual productions of over 2,000,000 cases a year, Chateau Ste. Michelle is the worldwide leader in the production of Riesling wines by volume. In 2007 [[Pacific Rim Winemakers]], another Pacific Northwest winery and owned by Randall Grahm of [[Bonny Doon Vineyard|Bonny Doon]], has built the first wine facility in [[Red Mountain AVA]] dedicated completely to Riesling production.<ref>A. King ''"Bonny Doon has crush on Washington Riesling"'' p. 26, Wine Press Northwest Spring 2007.</ref> Riesling from this area ranges from dry to sweet, and has a crisp lightness that bodes well for easy drinking. Often there will be an easily detectable peach and mineral complex

In [[Michigan wine|Michigan]], whose [[Old Mission Peninsula AVA|Old Mission Peninsula]] and [[Leelanau Peninsula AVA|Leelanau Peninsula]] AVAs (near [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]]) are known for their [[ice wine]], Riesling is a fairly common variety, in part on account of its suitability for that purpose.<ref>Fruit Production 2005, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Michigan Field Office, January 25, 2006,
{{cite web |url=http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Michigan/Publications/Current_News_Release/pr0606.txt |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-07-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106071107/http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Michigan/Publications/Current_News_Release/pr0606.txt |archive-date=2007-01-06 }}, accessed July 20, 2006</ref><ref>http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=features&content=49688&ftitle=Michigan%20Ice%20Wine%20Rises%20When%20Mercury%20Falls {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062244/http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=features&content=49688&ftitle=Michigan%20Ice%20Wine%20Rises%20When%20Mercury%20Falls |date=2016-03-04 }}.</ref>

Riesling is grown in other regions as well, including colder parts of relatively warm states such as Oklahoma (where it has even been made into an [[eiswein]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.woodsandwaterswinery.com/ouroklahomafinewines.html |title=Oklahoma Wine and Food |access-date=2013-06-14 |archive-date=2012-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729050445/http://www.woodsandwaterswinery.com/ouroklahomafinewines.html |url-status=live }}</ref>) and Texas.<ref>[http://www.txwines.org/varieties.asp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728165124/http://www.txwines.org/varieties.asp|date=2013-07-28}}.</ref>

Riesling is also grown throughout all the regions in [[Ohio (wine)|Ohio]] and is produced and sold at award-winning wineries across the state.

===Canada===
In Ontario, Riesling is commonly used for [[icewine]], where the wine is noted for its breadth and complexity.<ref name="Enjoying_Wine_75"/> Niagara is a major producer of ice wine in general, putting it neck-and-neck with Germany. Late Harvest wines and some sparkling wines are produced with Riesling in Niagara but it is table wines from dry to off-dry that hold the largest share of production. The climate of the region is typically quite warm in the summertime, which adds a layer of richness in the wines. The founder of St. Urbanshoff in the Mosel, Herman Weiss, was an early pioneer in Niagara's modern viticulture, selling his strain of Mosel clone Riesling to many producers in west Niagara (these vines are well over 20 years old now). This clone and Niagara's summer heat make for uniquely bright wines and often show up in interesting dry styled versions. Many producers and wine critics will argue that Niagara's best offerings come from the [[Niagara Escarpment]] region, which encompasses the [[Short Hills Bench]], 20 Mile Bench, and Beamsville Bench.

In British Columbia, Riesling is commonly grown for use in icewine, table wine, and sekt-style sparkling wines, a notable example of which is Cipes Brut.

In Nova Scotia, particularly in the Annapolis Valley region, Riesling is showing significant promise, being shaped by the warm summer days with cool nights and the extension of the growing season that is being observed. The Maritime climate combined with glacial soils contribute to the interesting expressions that are showing.

===Other regions===
Riesling is also widely grown in Luxembourg (where it represents some 12% of the vineyard), Hungary, [[Italy]], particularly [[Friuli-Venezia Giulia]], [[Croatia]], [[South Africa]], [[Chile]] and [[Central Europe]], particularly [[Romania]] and [[Moldova]], [[Serbia]], Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.