Being a fan of Riesling, I’m excited about May being Riesling Month. Being a huge fan of Finger Lakes Rieslings, I’m excited to have yet another reason to sample some of my favorites and some new finds for the next month.
Finger Lakes Wine Country wineries continue to be recognized globally for their award-winning Rieslings. For those of you who think Riesling equal overly sweet wine, here are some good news – there are fabulous dry, food-friendly Rieslings from the Finger Lakes! Finger Lakes Rieslings fall into three main categories of sweetness: dry, semi-dry and late harvest, the sweet ‘dessert’ wine some, including me, enjoy.
Below are some favorite Rieslings from the region:
- Anthony Road Wine Company – 2011 Dry Riesling ($15.99). Floral aromas, citrus and tropical fruit flavors.
- Dr Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars – Château Frank Célèbre ($20), a crisp sparkling Riesling.
- Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard – 2009 Late Harvest Riesling ($23): Mouthful of honey and ripe green apple.
- Heron Hill Winery – 2009 Ingle Vineyard Riesling ($20). Single vineyard wine with nutmeg and citrus aromas and crisp line flavors.
- Red Newt Cellars – Dry Riesling Reserve ($22) and Red Newt Circle Riesling ($13). Circle Riesling is award-winning and delicious.
- Red Tail Ridge – 2009 Dry Riesling, Estate Grown ($19). Floral nose with ginger, Meyer lemon flavors.
Here are some of our favorite New Jersey wine shops:
Gary’s Wine – Bernardsville, Madison and Wayne
Cool Vines – Westfield
Princeton Corkscrew – Princeton
Joe Canal’s – Multiple locations in South Jersey
Tewksbury Fine Wine & Spirits – Oldwick
Wine Works – Marlton
Passion Vines – Somers Point
Hops and Grapes – Glassboro
Spirits Unlimited – Point Pleasant Beach
For those of you on Twitter, join the Riesling conversation by sharing your wine thoughts with others via hashtag #rieslingmonth. For those on Facebook, please share with Jersey Bites on its Facebook wall.
Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie: Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County, NJ. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.
