Calories in Riesling

Riesling is a white grape, which is also known by many other names - Weisser Riesling, Rhein Riesling, Riesling Renano and Johannisberg Riesling. Riesling is the most versatile of all the savory grapes. Riesling originally was produced in the Rhine region of Germany. This aromatic grape variety makes dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines.

Riesling White Wine Facts

The character of Riesling wine varies according to the place of origin. Riesling is popular in Germany since the fourteenth century. Riesling from Germany and California is believed to be perfect for making the best Riesling wine, but Riesling is also grown in the Alsace region of France, in Austria, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

According to the statistics available, a few years back, Riesling was the world's 20th most grown variety at 48,700 hectares (120,000 acres) while in terms of importance for quality wines, it is usually included in the 'top three' white wine varieties, together with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Riesling is the most planted grape in the Rhine Valley in Germany and if you happen to hear Germans talking about a 'Rhine Wine', you may take it for granted that they are talking about a Riesling.

Riesling ripens late and has a moderate yield. This affects the output and often the price reflects this. A cheap Riesling is often sharp, while an expensive but a well grown Riesling will be a sweet but complex white wine that ages very well.

Once it was doubted whether Riesling can maintain its acids in warmer climates, away from its chilly Rhine homeland in Germany. But it has been noticed that in California, Riesling grapes reach a ripeness almost never achieved in Germany and this extraordinary combination of ripe, developed fruit, coupled with acidity, makes California Riesling a unique style.

Californian Rieslings are generally dry which have a melony taste, while Germanic Rieslings are more tart and 'grapefruity'. Most Riesling wines are varietally pure (made principally from one grape and carrying the name of that grape) and are rarely oaked.

Riesling is made available in various flavors which include fruity and floral, as well as honey and musky. Rieslings should not be served cold at fridge temperature, they should be served cool at around 47F.

Riesling Food Pairing

Riesling can be enjoyed very well with oriental dishes and with seafood of all types. The most amazing fact about Riesling is that Riesling is one of the few wines that goes well with chocolate. It is also great on its own, as a dessert wine. Riesling is considered as the world's best dessert wines. In Ontario, Canada, ice wines are made with Riesling.

Riesling Calories

• Riesling: 90 calories per 4 ounce serving
• Riesling white wine: 23 calories per 1 fl oz (30 gm)
• Riesling, Red Zinfandel, White Burgundy, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon: 115 calories per 5 fl oz
• Riesling, sweet dessert wine: 270 calories per 6-ounce glass

Riesling is cherished by German wine makers and drinkers as their noblest variety. People in France's Alsace region also consider Riesling as one of the noblest of vines. Riesling produced in the warmer, drier and sunny Alsatian climate is fuller-bodied, more intensely fruity and dry to the palate. It is distinctively different from that produced in Germany.

For all wine lovers, Riesling is the fascinating example of the stunningly graceful role that sugar and acid play in a wine's overall balance. In fact, significance of a great Riesling lies exactly in a spectacular and elegant contrast between sugar and acid in it. Now that you know about Riesling calories, you can easily adjust your daily calorie intake to incorporate Riesling wine in your diet.