Riesling-style dry whites: what to choose

Riesling is an aromatic white with high acidity, and it can be made dry or sweet. We sell two Rieslings, from Marcos Hehn and Beyra, and their pages describe lemon, citrus and mineral notes with vibrant acidity. For a dry white with similar words on its page, look at Quinta do Gradil Branco 1492, Soalheiro Granit or Ticket Grenache Blanc. We send to Finland.

What does a Riesling taste like?

Wine Folly says Riesling has high acidity, similar to the level in lemonade. Its aromas are orchard fruits such as nectarine, apricot, honey-crisp apple and pear. It adds honeycomb, jasmine and lime peel.

Traditionally, most Riesling is on the sweeter side, to balance the acidity. Wine Folly says there is now dry Riesling too, for people who prefer a leaner-tasting wine. It names the Mosel in Germany, on steep south-facing hills, as home to the best Rieslings. In Finnish, a white wine is a valkoviini.

So "Riesling-style" can mean three things: high acidity, citrus and orchard fruit, and a dry finish. Both of our Rieslings are described with vibrant acidity and citrus notes.

How can you tell if a Riesling is dry?

Read the label. Wine Folly lists the word Trocken on a German Riesling and the word dry on a Washington State Riesling as signs of a dry wine. It also lists Alsace Riesling, most German Riesling from VDP estates, and most Riesling from the Clare and Eden Valleys in Australia as dry. It lists the words sweet and feinherb as signs of a sweeter one.

Which Rieslings do we sell?

• Marcos Hehn Riesling: a crystalline lemon-yellow colour, with lemony notes, green peach and some floral hints. The page describes a light to medium body and very vibrant, high acidity, with lemon juice, lime, yellow plum and some peach. The ending is clean, direct and mineral, with a permanent lemonade note.
• Beyra Riesling: a very intense, mineral aroma with citrus notes balanced by floral hints of roses. The page describes great volume in the mouth, citrus notes marked by a vibrant acidity and salinity, and a persistent finish that is very fresh and long.

Both pages describe vibrant acidity, close to Wine Folly's description of Riesling. Both wines sit in the white wine collection.

Which dry whites use similar words?

These wines are not Riesling, but they share some words with the Riesling description above, such as citrus, acidity and mineral, and each page says dry.

• Quinta do Gradil Branco 1492: from the Lisboa region, made from equal parts Sauvignon Blanc and Arinto. The page describes bright citrus, green apple and tropical fruit aromas, crisp acidity and a clean mineral finish. It calls the wine bone-dry, at around 13% alcohol, and medium-bodied. It suggests serving at 8 to 10 °C.
• Soalheiro Granit: a bright lemon-yellow colour and mineral aromas. The page describes a dry, persistent flavour and a sensation of salinity on the palate. Our guide to Alvarinho explains the grape.
• Ticket Grenache Blanc: a French white from the IGP Pays d'Oc, made 100% from Grenache Blanc. The page calls it dry and medium-bodied, with lemon-lime and grapefruit flavours, green apple and white nectarine, and a clean finish.
• Opta Branco: a blend of Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Cerceal Branco. The page calls it a very easy dry white that is light and fresh, and quotes the British magazine The Wine Merchant calling it "juicy and vibrant".

For a drier white with green fruit and herbs, our Sauvignon Blanc guide covers the grape and the bottles.

Which one should you pick?

• You want the high acidity and the lemon note of Riesling: Marcos Hehn Riesling.
• You want mineral and salty notes: Beyra Riesling, or Soalheiro Granit, whose page describes a dry, persistent flavour.
• You want a dry page and a medium body: Quinta do Gradil Branco 1492 or Ticket Grenache Blanc.
• You want light and easy: Opta Branco.

What food suits these whites?

The Quinta do Gradil Branco 1492 page suggests grilled or steamed fish, shellfish, light poultry or pork with herbs, fresh salads and soft cheeses. Wine Folly lists duck, pork, bacon, chicken, shrimp and crab among the foods that suit Riesling. It also says that, because of its sweetness and acidity, Riesling is a good partner for spicy food. That point is about the sweeter styles. For serving, Wine Folly puts Riesling at 6°C, which it calls fridge cold, and the Quinta do Gradil page suggests 8 to 10 °C.

How do you order white wine to Finland?

Add the wine to your cart and the cart shows the delivery cost for your order before you pay. If timing matters, contact us before you order. We sell wine only to people aged 18 or over. For a wider choice, see the wine collection.

Frequently asked questions

Do you sell Riesling?

Yes. We sell Marcos Hehn Riesling and Beyra Riesling. Both pages describe citrus notes with vibrant acidity.

Is Riesling dry or sweet?

Both exist. Wine Folly says most Riesling is traditionally on the sweeter side, and that dry Riesling is now common too. Look for the word Trocken or dry on the label.

What is a dry white wine like Riesling?

No dry white tastes the same. Quinta do Gradil Branco 1492, Soalheiro Granit and Ticket Grenache Blanc say dry on their pages and use words such as citrus, mineral and crisp acidity.

Do you send white wine to Finland?

Yes. Add the wine to your cart and the cart shows the delivery cost before you pay.

Sources

• Wine Folly: The Taster's Guide to Riesling Wine
• Finnish Wikipedia: Valkoviini
• Product pages at garrafeiradailha.com for the descriptions of the wines named above.

Please enjoy wine responsibly and in moderation. Our wines are sold only to people aged 18 or over. For facts about alcohol, visit drinkaware.ie.