Most people do not perceive or consider Riesling to be an elegant wine but it certainly can be. Riesling do not see any oak allowing for its fruit flavors to come fully forward. In Europe, it comes from the Alsace region of France. These wines are characterized by richness while its German counterparts are recognized for sweetness.

Since early Riesling arrivals to the U.S. from Germany were not only primarily sweet but also came in large 1.5 liter bottles, their quality was not considered to be very high – almost jug wine.

In the U.S., Washington state has become a player and Chateau Ste. Michelle winery produces an array of quality Rieslings. For an off dry taste one might try Bonnie Doon Pacific Rim Riesling.

As stated before, the wines are versatile and can fit in to a variety of situations. They can be paired with white meats, fish along with appetizers. If you have a tart dessert it can be paired with it as well. To determine the sweetness of a particular Riesling study its alcohol content; the lower level, the higher the sweetness and vice versa.