What is riesling?

Riesling is a white grape variety originating from the Rhine in Germany – and that is where it is most commonly grown. It is distinguished by high, fresh acidity and intense aromatics: citrus, stone fruits, floral notes, sometimes honey. With age, mature rieslings develop a characteristic petrol note, by which they are easily recognised. It is also one of the few white varieties capable of ageing in the bottle for many years.

Riesling – dry or sweet?

Both. Riesling comes in a full spectrum: from completely dry wines (trocken), through off-dry, to sweet ones – like late harvest wines or ice wines. The secret lies in the acidity: it is so pronounced that it balances the sugar, which is why even sweeter rieslings are not cloying, but fresh and full of energy.

Where do the best rieslings come from? German regions

The character of riesling changes with the region:

• Mosel – steep, slate slopes above the river produce lighter wines, with lower alcohol content, gentle sweetness and pronounced minerality.

• Palatinate (Pfalz) – a warmer region, where rieslings have a riper fruitiness; they tend to be fuller-bodied and more often dry.

• Franconia (Franken) – limestone soils (muschelkalk) produce mineral and usually dry wines.

What to drink riesling with?

It is one of the most versatile wines for the table. Dry rieslings pair wonderfully with fish, seafood, poultry and light salads. They feel particularly at home in the company of Asian cuisine and spicy dishes – the acidity and a note of fruity sweetness soften the sharpness of the spices. Sweeter styles are worth serving with blue cheeses and fruit desserts.

Our rieslings for Riesling Weeks 2026

In our range you will find a wide selection of German rieslings – from various regions and in many styles. To see the diversity this category offers, we encourage you to explore our recommendations:

• Weinbiet Mussbacher Riesling Kabinett Trocken (Palatinate) – a dry wine, fresh and crisp, full of fruity aromas with well-balanced acidity. Excellent with fish, salads and light, white meats.

• Divino Riesling Spätlese (Franconia) – a fuller, fruity riesling from the limestone soils of Franconia, with aromas of apricot, yellow apple and pineapple. The perceptible sweetness is here balanced by fresh acidity, and the finish is long and fruity.

• Schmitt Söhne Auslese Riesling (Mosel) – a sweet wine, composed of late harvest grapes, with notes of ripe apricot, peach and honey. Full-bodied, with a long finish – excellent with blue cheeses, fruit and desserts.

We also encourage you to check out all the German rieslings in our range.

We invite you to our shops throughout the Riesling Weeks period, from 22 June to 19 July. It is a good time to discover the many different faces a single variety can have.

Read more about Riesling Weeks on the website: https://rieslingweeks.pl/