Wine Tasting for the Week: Reisling

[SusieO]

Well, the weekend is almost here and I haven't seen where anyone has suggested a wine to try. So I would like to suggest Chateau Ste Michelle Johannisburg Reisling. I think I've seen it mentioned elsewhere on the BB, but have never tried it myself.

Cheers, everyone.

[Leanne]

I have to say I will not be joining in the wine tatsing this week - I really don't like reislings - too sweet. But, they are good drizzled over fresh berries.

[ChrisF]

Ah yes, another week, and another wine!
Since I consider myself a charter member of the Wine for Dummies club, I am using each week's wine as motivation for a little research. The winetoday.com encyclopedia says this about riesling ".....produced in a wide range of styles, but at its best it is an elegant wine with a flowery perfume and an intense acidity that makes it a prime wine for food. It goes well with delicate soups and is one of the very few wines to pair well with egg dishes." The text also mentions pairing well with Roquefort or Gorgonzola.
Hmmmmm, I love omelettes for dinner, and I think I have some gorgonzola at home, now if I can only find the weekly selection!
Salud! Chris

[emilycat]

Leanne,

I must offer a bit of persuasive info for Rieslings... (since I'm a German wines girl, and I do my very best to find the most interesting ones...)

Many rieslings, are in fact, sweet, especially those designated spatlese-- there should be an umlaut over the "a," but I can't figure out how to do that on e-mail.
Auslese's are even sweeter. And if it's American, and says "Late Harvest," you don't want that either (unless you like 'em sweet)

I think, though, that you might find that you could enjoy a halb-trocken (half-dry) or Kabinett, because those are on the drier side of Rieslings.

Anyway, I'm in a hurry, and this is a half- &%# explanation, but I just have to put a plug in for Rieslings! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Also, if I remember correctly, the St. Michelle is a dry Riesling, and it is excellent for the price.


Emily

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 02-02-2001).]

[kwormann]

Now you have reached MY area of expertise! That is our ALL TIME FAVORITE wine!

Chteau Ste Michelle is our favorite brand of reisling. It is so like German wine because it is on the same latitude as Germany, so the grapes have essentially the same growing climate. It is perfect balance of fruitiness and dry. I cant think of a single food it wouldnt be good with. The best part??? All this for such a great price. We have trouble paying more than $10 for wine after finding this gem for around $7. !

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif (can you tell Im enthused?????) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

p.s. Emily is right...please dont write this one off, I HATE sweet wines, but find this one delightful...perfect!

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 02-02-2001).]

[AndreaU]

I have tried this wine and I'm usually not one for sweet wines either. Not all Reislings are super sweet. Chateau Ste. Michelle does some great wines- this is one of them!

[SusanL]

We tried it and we have to agree with Leanne, too sweet for us. I can still use it for cooking, but our tastes are more on the dry side. Can't wait for our next new bottle to try!! This is fun trying new wines!

[SusieO]

I tried this wine at Outback Steakhouse over the weekend, and really liked it. Of course I like sweet wine. I thought this one had a nice, delicate flavor, sweet but not too sweet.

[Peggy]

Just have to put in a plug in favor of Rieslings... I personally do not care for them because they are sweeter than I like. However - I recently consulted my Food and Wine pairing cookbook to find the perfect wine to serve with the Curried Shrimp in Peanut Sauce (Jan/Feb '01). After analyzing all of the recipe ingredients with the bridging ingredients listed for Rieslings, I chose a Riesling. It was wonderful with that main course. Honest! I would never have believed that I would enjoy that wine but it was perfectly compatible with the recipe.

All non-believers and Riesling dislikers... Take note! You may like the wine when it is served with just the right food.

Peggy

[Gail]

Thank you, Peggy. Don't close yourselves off, guys... that's what the tasting idea is all about. Some things you'll like, some you won't. Some things taste lousy without food, but when you pair them with the right flavors, there's magic. And sometimes so-called "dry" varieties will throw you a curve by ending up on the sweet side or vice-versa. Unless you've had that specific vintage and label, you just never know...

...testimony from the person who once swore she'd never learn to like Zinfandel. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[LGBurns]

I agree, Peggy. I'm not much of a white wine drinker in general and especially (I thought) Rieslings. Then I had the Chateau St. Michelle with Curried Chicken over Pumpkin Raviolis I made one day -- and it was fabulous. Wouldn't have even known except I read about it on this board and my husband doesn't like red wine so I took a chance. And this is coming from a girl whose first (and still) favorite wine was Red Zinfandel at age 16! (Under the careful guidance of my parents, of course) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[cl4me]

My first post......

I noticed the virtual wine tasting club last week and have bought the last 2 wines suggested. My thanks to whoever thought of this idea!

I love this Reiseling. I have been stuck in a chardoney rut and just tried this last night. It is excellent and has a little kick to it! As with earlier posters, I am not a sweet wine drinker but I do enjoy this wine.

What are others serving with it?

Cheers and looking forward to the next wine pick.

[SandyM]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I love a good reisling. Nothing beats a fine cab or merlot with a meal, but for a sipping wine, Stag's Leap or Hogue reisling does it for me.

If you ever see it in your stores, check out Chateau Grand Traverse Late Harvest Reisling. It's a Michigan wine - many people don't know Michigan has a great selection of locally produced wines!

[mightyh]

I'm late... Just going back and "re-doing" the wines of the week cause I just recently developed an interest http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Anyway, wanted to say that I am "marinating the cook" as I prepare risotto tonight... with Chateau Ste Michelle riesling and it's delightful. This from a person who claims to like only really expensive chardonnays or dessert wines from the white category.

I love it!! Thanks so much for pushing it, Kim, and others http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif