Riesling is a white grape variety of German origin, valued for its high natural acidity, aromatic precision, and ability to transmit site differences with unusual clarity. It is closely associated with the Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz, Alsace, Austria, Australia’s Clare and Eden Valleys, and parts of the Finger Lakes, where climate strongly shapes its balance of ripeness and tension.
The grape can produce bone-dry, off-dry, sweet, sparkling, and botrytized wines, often with marked longevity. Typical aromas include lime, green apple, peach, apricot, white flowers, honey, petrol, and wet stone, with acidity serving as the structural feature that allows both freshness in youth and complexity with age.