| When people perceive the word Riesling, they think | | | | the best elements to make a award winning Riesling |
| of a German white wine. While that is consistent, it is | | | | grape for characteristic wines. So much so that it |
| also wrong to think of Riesling in such a limited way. | | | | was not until the 20th century that Austrians and |
| Riesling is a special grape varietal that is used to | | | | Australians jumped in to plant considerable acreage in |
| produce Riesling wines. Germany was the lead to | | | | Riesling vines for wine production. Not until the 19th |
| make a market for these wines going back to the | | | | century did winegrowers in New York State became |
| 15th century. To be absolutely accurate, they yield | | | | the first to successfully grow Riesling vines in the |
| many different variations of the same varietal. Each | | | | United States. Their wines were celebrated in the |
| style is based on the level of residual sugar left in the | | | | states but did not match favorably with their German |
| wine when fermentation is concluded. To the | | | | their German counterparts. |
| purchaser this marks the contrast between dry, | | | | Not until the late 20th century did California wineries |
| semi-dry, and sweet tasting Riesling wine. The Alsace | | | | try any serious sowing of the Riesling grape. Unlike |
| region of northern German is best known for a dry | | | | the German tradition of capitalization (adding sugar to |
| style of Riesling while the other styles are more | | | | the wine during fermentation in order to increase |
| dominate in the Rhine region. When favorably | | | | alcohol levels), the California wine code prohibits this |
| produced, Riesling wines have heightened normal acid | | | | so grapes are left on the vine until sugar levels and |
| level making them somewhat crisp and bright fruit | | | | acid levels are at the correct level. This code added |
| flavors such as peach, apple, grapefruit, and pear. | | | | more risk for California winemakers as the short |
| For years it was accepted that the cool environment | | | | window for harvesting was problematic. |
| and the slate and sandy clay soils of Germany were | | | | |