Learning to Taste Wine: Riesling Tasting Notes

Pacific Rim offers a number of Riesling choices, but if you’re unfamiliar with this type of wine, you may wonder about the taste profile of this popular choice. Any wine’s taste profile is created from the color, flavors, aromas, and structure of the wine itself, and a Riesling taste profile is unlike any other. What Riesling tasting notes will you notice when you try a Pacific Rim option? Take a look. 

A History of Riesling Wines

Riesling wines originated in Germany. The first options came from the Rheingau, Pflaz, and Mosel areas. They have a unique off-dry feel along with a high level of acidity. They’re also very aromatic and offer intense minerality. 

Understanding Riesling Varieties

You can find Riesling varieties in many different flavors and a complete range of sweetness. Some like a riesling as a dessert wine while others prefer it as a very dry option. The variety found here depends on how early or late the grape harvest takes place for a particular type. Under-ripe grapes that are harvested early have low residual sugars, which makes the wine fairly dry. Later harvests mean sweeter Rieslings. 

You can find a number of colors with this type of wine. Pale straw is probably the lightest color available while a deep gold means it comes from a warmer region or that it’s an older vintage. Rieslings are unique in the fact that they’re one white wine that can actually age for quite some time.  

Riesling Flavor Notes

The flavor notes here are just as diverse. Some come through with strong fruit flavors while others include floral or herbal flavors. In most cases, the fruit flavors in a Riesling comes from citrus fruits like lemons and limes or stone fruits like peaches and apricots. In some cases, you’ll find tropical notes like pineapple. Spice notes in wines usually come from where the wine ages. Vanilla notes, for example, come from wines that are aged in oak. Rieslings, however, tend to mature in stainless steel tanks, which means you won’t usually find those spice notes. 

Serving Riesling

Riesling is a wine you’ll want to chill before you serve it. It should be between 45 and 55 degrees fahrenheit. Many foods work well with riesling. It pairs well with spicy and salty foods as well as seafood and pork dishes. Sweet Rieslings tend to work well with desserts that feature fruit. 

Interested in tasting the diversity a Riesling can bring to your wine cellar? Shop our complete selection now. 

Beer People vs Wine People

There are beer people and there are wine people, but are there any major differences between these two populations who love their favorite beverage? Read on to find out.

Alcohol content: Beer people vs. wine people. Even though a glass of wine and pint of beer contain about the same amount of alcohol, most beer drinkers believe that beer is more likely to cause a “buzz” faster. However, one study from Texas revealed that wine is more likely to cause inebriation faster than beer by a few minutes. Of course, at the end of the day, it really just depends on how fast the beverage is consumed.

• Adds more calories: Most alcoholic drinks have calories. Overall, if you drink more beer vs. wine, you are going to be adding more calories. On average, a pint of beer contains 50 percent more calories than a glass of wine. Over time, this can cause some beer drinkers to develop a protuberant belly, hence the name “Beer belly”. But make no mistake, if you drink a decent amount of wine, it will also add non-essential calories to your body. The extra calories are of more concern for regular beer drinkers than the occasional beer or wine drinker. When considering beer people vs. wine people, in general, the weight gain following excess beer and wine consumption just comes down to the level of indulgence. 
• The hangover: It is well established that alcohol consumption can cause a rough morning. But is beer worse than wine at causing nausea and headaches? In general, it is more about dehydration. Alcohol is a potent diuretic; it causes fluids to wash out of the body. In general, there does not appear to be a major scientific difference in drunkenness or hangovers after consuming beer vs. wine, although many will say differently based on their own anecdotes. If you drink enough of either, you’ll probably develop similar adverse effects.
• Health consequences: It has often been stated that one glass of red wine every day might be good for health, as antioxidants can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Wines are known to contain polyphenols, which are potent antioxidants and can help prevent damage to blood vessels. Beer, on the other hand, does not have the same health-promoting features, chiefly because it contains very low levels of polyphenols. However, to get the health benefits of wine, it is important not to overdo it.
• Personalities: There are certain misconceptions about wine and beer drinkers, and they include the following:
• Wine drinkers tend to sip, whereas beer drinkers tend to chug the beverage down. This can go both ways.

Another misconception is that wine drinkers sit around a table, sip wine, and tend to talk only about food pairings, while, on the other hand, beer drinkers sit on a couch that is littered with fast foods like pizza, chips, French fries, and pretzels to wash down with the beverage. Again, stereotypes are sometimes correct, but this also goes both ways.

Here’s one that is only sometimes a misconception. Wine drinkers tend to be more refined and serious-minded, often reflecting on societal and political issues and how best to resolve the nation’s economic woes. Sound like anyone you know? Beer drinkers, on the other hand, tend to be more relaxed, although often screaming at TV announcers as they talk about the final score of the game. It could be said that, oftentimes, beer drinkers are more entertaining. But not all wine drinkers are alike just as not all beer drinkers are alike.

In general, there is no one distinction between beer people vs. wine people. They both love to enjoy their drinks, relax, eat some good food, and talk about things that interest them.  If you’re looking for your next great wine, then check out our selection at Pacific Rim & Company!

Foods to Try with Sweet Riesling

Pacific Rim offers some of the best Riesling options available. With several sweet choices in our line, though, you may wonder what is best served with this wine. Our sweet riesling choices actually work well with a number of different foods. Here are a few sweet riesling pairings you may want to try. 

Foods to Try with Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling

• Foie Gras: Sweet rieslings offer a beautiful flavor on their own, but paired with a Foie Gras, you will experience an entirely new level of flavor. The sweetness of the wine mixes perfectly with the richness and smooth texture. Thanks to the high acidity level, the two dishes tend to balance each other out. 
• Salty Snacks: Whether you’re serving simple appetizers or something more intense, sweet rieslings are the perfect pair for a salty snack. The gentle sweetness will delight your tongue as it processes the complex flavors in both the wine and the snack. Pizza is always a fan favorite.
• Go Tropical: The strong flavors that are so typical in tropical fruits work well with a sweet riesling from Pacific Rim. Colorful and delicious, feel free to serve them as a fruit tray option or in another dessert. Either will work well with our wines. 
• Consider Tarts and Pies: Tart and pie fillings tend to be seasonal fruits, and a riesling is the perfect way to help you rediscover the flavor and juicy nature of those fruits. It’s the ideal way to complete the bouquet a sweet riesling begins to create. 
• Caramel Works Well: A Pacific Rim sweet riesling means a floral, aromatic option, and when you pair that with the mixture of sweet and salty that caramel desserts so frequently offer, you have an ideal match. 

Other Fruit Options: You can also consider other fruit options to pair with a sweet riesling. Nectarines are an excellent option. Just serve them fresh or poach them. You could also grill them or create a warm dessert like a crumble. Similarly, apple desserts pair well with sweet rieslings. A crisp apple cheesecake or an apple dumpling will be the perfect complement. Citrus options like Key Lime Pie make a beautiful choice as well. 

Take a look at our complete line of sweet riesling options now.

 

A Brief History of Wine

For thousands of years, wine has remained a very popular beverage. A brief history of wine tells us that over the centuries, wine has had a major impact on societies and cultures, leading to the exchange of ideas and trade. Humans have a fondness for wine, chiefly due to its exhilarating taste, its social lubrication effect, and even its health benefits.

WHEN WAS WINE FIRST INTRODUCED TO CIVILIZATIONS?

When did people start drinking wine? No one is sure when wine was first created, but historical archives reveal that the Persians were aware that ripened grapes could produce a fluid that was sometimes sweet and acidic. Analyses of fossils indicate that winemaking probably started around 5,000 BC in northern Iran. This was a time when some civilizations had a stable living situation and ventured into agriculture, including the growing of grapes. The use of wine slowly spread across most of the ancient world and wine drinking was common among the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.

WINE IS DIFFERENT TODAY

However, the wine consumed during this era was markedly different from the wine we know today. The Egyptians combined all types of grapes, including the addition of figs, palm, and dates, to make the beverage even more palatable. As well, most of the winemaking was a manual task in the beginning. Irrespective of how it was made, the Egyptian pharaohs loved their wine, and they were often buried with their wine containers.

GREEKS ADDED SPICES TO WINE

The ancient Greeks continued the wine drinking tradition but consumed it to achieve mental clarity and discuss philosophy. Not only did Greeks love wine but they often added several sweeteners and spices to it, including honey.

WINE AND RELIGION

Wine also played an important role in religion, and it was often consumed at funeral feasts and even poured down tombs via special orifices to permit the dead to share wine. Wine also became a prominent beverage in the Catholic church around the 3rd century. Wine shared a prominent place in religious rituals as it symbolized the blood of Jesus. Today, wine has been replaced by grape juice in some rituals.

WINE IN THE AMERICAS

When did people start drinking wine? Native North Americans only became aware of wine after the transatlantic trips of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. This soon led to grape cultivation and wine production throughout South America. The first winery in the Americas was in Chile, where it has continued to thrive.

As far as North America is concerned, winemaking is relatively new. In 1805, the Spanish colonizers established Sonoma Valley’s first winery in California. The area proved to be a mecca for growing grapes and soon led to some of the most productive vineyards in the nation. The State of Washington can now claim second place.

EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA

Grape growing in Oceania is credited to Scot James Busby. During his travels between Europe and Australia, Busby took grapevine cuttings from Europe and planted them in Australian vineyards. A few years later, he took the cuttings to New Zealand, which now also has a thriving wine industry.

A brief history of wine shows that during the early days, wine was usually reserved for royalty; however, depending on the alcohol content, it was also used for medical purposes to sedate women during childbirth and sterilize wounds.

WINE IS A GREAT CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Fast forward to 2022, and the popularity of wines in the USA has steadily been increasing as people begin to realize that wine offers a far better cultural experience than many other drinks.

Here are some great wines to try if you’re looking for something new!

2021 PACIFIC RIM WICKED GOOD RED

2018 RAMOS VINEYARD GEWURZTRAMINER

2018 SILVER TOTEM CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2019 RAINSTORM PINOT NOIR

 

The Best Riesling Pairing

To true fans, Riesling wines are among the best wines in the world today. A good riesling pairing isn’t hard to find since the tasting notes go with so many different foods. Riesling seems to be growing in popularity each day. 

How Are Rieslings Made?

These wines are made from Riesling grapes, one of the most delicate grapes in the world. They require extra care during harvest. Crushing or bruising the skin of these grapes is far too easy, and that releases tannins into the juice, which makes the wine bitter. 

During the process of creating riesling, both the grapes and the juice are chilled right after harvest to help preserve the delicate flavors you’ll find inside. Even during the fermentation process, this wine is kept fairly cool - usually between 50 - 65 degrees - which can make it tart and acidic. That adds to the bright vibrance this wine so often displays. 

Once fermented, the wine is usually put through cold stabilization and stored just above the point of freezing. That helps precipitate the potassium bitartrate, which prevents crystallization. Once that process is complete, the wine is sterile filtered, then bottled. 

The Best Riesling Pairing

Rieslings work well with many different dishes, and each person has their own favorite riesling pairing. Here are some good ones: 

• Seafood: This type of wine pairs very well with both salmon and trout or any other raw, cured, or smoked fish. It is a popular pairing with sushi. Riesling wines are ideal with fresh and lightly dressed shellfish - like prawn cocktails - as well as oysters. 
• Cream-Based Sauces: Many people turn to chardonnay for cream sauces, but a Riesling can usually offer a contrast to the dish you won’t get with a chardonnay. They’re even better with fish dishes that include a creamy sauce. 
• Pork: Fatty cuts of pork are an ideal riesling pairing, particularly if the dish includes an apple.
• Spicy Foods: Surprisingly, many spicy dishes go well with dry riesling varieties, even Thai and Indian foods. Typically those hotter dishes tend to bring out the sweet notes in good wine, making spicy food an excellent riesling pairing.
• Vegetables: Should you choose to serve a riesling with a vegetable-based dish, you’ll want to go with those that have naturally sweet notes like red onions, bell peppers, and eggplant. They also work well with squash and carrot-based dishes. 

Riesling pairing isn’t too complicated, and at Pacific Rim, our selection of Rieslings makes it easy to get the perfect pair. Take a closer look at our options now.