We often think of Riesling as sweet, but there are plenty of dry examples, from New York’s Finger Lakes region to the American Northwest, the Alsace region of France, and the place most often associated with Riesling: Germany. Dry Riesling has plenty of fruit, but the level of residual sugar is low, and as a result, the wines are generally higher in alcohol than sweet Rieslings ― usually about 11 or 12 percent. They are fruity and crisp with racy acidity that plays well off rich foods such as curry. So if you think you don’t Riesling, but you’ve only had sweet ones, give these a try.
France
Wolfberger Riesling, 2016 (Alsace); $17.99
Delicate floral aroma with notes of honey and pear; bright and full-flavored with lovely concentrated fruit.
Germany
Bastgen Blauschiefer Riesling, 2016 (Mosel); $16.99
Mineral aroma with a hint of almond and preserved lemon; bursting with luscious, rich fruit.
Carl Ehrhard Rüdesheim Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, 2016 (Rheingau); $16.99
Enticing honeyed aroma with pleasant petrol notes; full-flavored with racy acidity and bright, tart fruit.
Gessinger Zeltliner Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, 2015 (Mosel); $16.99
Lovely petrol aroma with hints of honeyed apple; lush and rich with crisp acidity and notes of Granny Smith apple.
Hansen-Lauer Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling, 2015 (Mosel); $15.99
Wet stone and caramelized pear aroma; rich with balancing acidity and concentrated stone fruit flavor.
J. & P. Matheus Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett, 2016 (Mosel); $19.99
Lemon-drop aroma with floral and mineral notes; lush with gently sweet flavor of honey-dipped stone fruit and dried fig.
Rudi Wiest Selections Dry Riesling Qualitätswein, 2016 (Rheinhessen); $9.99
Honeyed pear aroma with prominent mineral notes; slate on the palate with hints of lemon zest and white grapefruit.
Von Schleinitz Dry Riesling Qualitätswein, 2016 (Mosel); $14.99
Floral and spice notes on the nose; luscious fruit, with vibrant flavors of apple, apricot and white cherry.
Von Schleinitz Nitor Dry Riesling Qualitätswein, 2015 (Mosel); $19.99
Aromas of wet stone and tropical fruit; mouth-filling flavor and crisp acidity with apple and tangerine notes.
Moldova
Chateau Vartely Individo Feteasca Regala Riesling, 2016 (Codru, Republic of Moldova); $14.99
Delicate aroma of pear and minerals; vivid, bright fruit with notes of stone fruit and apple peel.
New York
Forge Cellars Dry Riesling Classique, 2016 (Finger Lakes); $19.99
Honeyed, floral aroma with undercurrents of honeydew and minerals; spicy, rich and flavorful, with notes of lychee and Golden Delicious apple.
Oregon
Eroica Riesling, 2016 (Columbia Valley); $21.99
Rich, elegant aroma with notes of minerals, melon, lime and florals; steely minerals on the palate with a hint of white peach and cherry.
Washington State
Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling, 2016 (Columbia Valley); $7.99
Honey, floral, mineral aroma with a whiff of apricot; bright and tart with fresh, clean fruit and lemon zest finish.
Sweeter, lower alcohol
Karl Josef Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling Kabinett, 2016 (Mosel); $10.99
Rich, honeyed aroma with mineral and sweet lemon notes; bright acidity and juicy tart notes of apples and pears.
Karl Kaspar Riesling Kabinett, 2016 (Mosel); $13.99
Fresh apricot aroma with a steely undercurrent; lushly sweet fruit with crisp acidity and Granny Smith apple finish.
Carl Ehrhard Rüdesheim Berg Roseneck Riesling Kabinett, 2016 (Rheingau); $16.99
Enticing honey and petrol aroma with elegant, rich fruit; bursting with tropical flavor and mouth-watering acidity.
Prices may vary.
