International Riesling Day

March 13th marks International Riesling Day, a day we believe is worth celebrating. Riesling is an aromatic white wine grape variety which creates a floral white wine with fruit flavours. Commonly, Riesling can include characteristics such as; light body and aroma of citrus, stonefruit, white flowers and petrol. While the smell of petrol may make you think the wine is not fit for consumption, the smell of petrol is actually the sign of a higher quality Riesling. The factors that lead to the scent of petrol are high exposure to the sun and water stress, which can often result in a higher quality wine. Riesling is naturally high in acidity, which is why it is one of the most popular choices when producing late harvest wines. 

Riesling can be found growing in many places around New Zealand. The most popular regions are Nelson, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Central Otago and Wairarapa. Pair your Riesling with seafood, pork, cheese or a salad dish. Citrus and vinaigrette, garlic or cream sauces are also all great matches. Riesling can be enjoyed with a wide range of Asian cuisine, and for an optimal drinking experience, be served at 7 degrees celsius. If you plan on cellaring your Riesling wine, it is suggested that ir can be kept for anywhere between 1.5 years to 5+ years.