Many people think of Riesling as a sweet wine, but this white can be dry, semi-dry, light, or more full-bodied. This versatility means that there is a range of food pairings for Riesling, from cheese plates and light fish dishes to German bratwurst and mildly-spiced Asian food. Once you begin to discover the many aspects of this varietal, you’ll understand why chefs rely on Riesling as the perfect pairing with so many dishes.

About Riesling Wine

Riesling has been grown and produced in the Rhine and Mosul valleys in Germany for the past 600 years. The grape does well in a cold climate, and there is a rather elaborate system of classifying the Rieslings resulting from earlier or later harvests. At later stages, the grapes often get a mold that causes them to shrivel—and concentrates the sugar content. Rieslings can also be classified by the German terms “trocken” (bone-dry) or “halbtrocken” (half-dry). There are ice-wine Rieslings, as well as sparkling varieties. Currently, Rieslings are produced in other countries such as France, Austria, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Oregon, Washington, and California, as well.

Descriptions of Riesling wine tend to focus on particular characteristics:

• Floral aroma (rose or violet)
• Fruitiness (apple, peach, apricot, or more tart citrus)
• “Terroir” or distinctive mineral taste

Riesling has a high acidity, which makes it easy to drink with traditional German dishes like sausage and sauerkraut. Its combination of sweetness and acidity turns out to be a great match for Asian cuisines such as Chinese, Indian, and Thai. While Gewürztraminer is often paired with highly spiced Asian dishes, Riesling might be a better match for milder spicy dishes.

Ideas for Food Pairings with Riesling Wine

Since there is such a range of body, dryness, and flavor in Rieslings, you need to know something about the particular bottle before deciding what foods to serve it with.

Pairings with Tart, Light Rieslings:

• Asian dishes with lemongrass, ginger, lime, or papaya
• Shrimp, scallops, or fish
• Chutneys or salsas
• Pasta with white sauce
• Fondue

Pairings with Semi-sweet, Crisp Rieslings:

• Ham or pork
• Chinese cuisine
• Mildly spicy Indian or Thai
• Sushi and sashimi
• Japanese teriyaki
• Mexican
• Gravalax and smoked salmon
• Choucroute (sauerkraut with sausage)
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Pairings with Full-bodied Rieslings with Mineral Overtones:

• Poached fish
• Bratwurst
• Roast salmon
• Roast pork
• Rabbit
• Stews

Pairings with Sweet Rieslings:

• Fruit pies
• Angel food cake
• Crème brulee
• Cheesecake

There are many affordable Rieslings on the market right now, so figuring out which foods you like best with the many different varieties doesn’t have to break your budget.