Category: Riesling

Germany, Rheingau, Riesling, White wines

Domdechant Werner Riesling Classic 2009

Vera C.

Owner of the estate: Dr. Franz Werner Michel
Grape:Riesling
Region: Rheingau, Germany

Rheingau is the Germany’s most central wine growing region. About 7,250 acres of land planted with wines (81% Riesling) is farmed by some of the world’s oldest wine-growing families. This region is one long hillside topped by the thick forests of the Taunus Hills to the north and bordered by the Rhine river to the south.

It’s soils and micro climate affords optimal growing conditions for noble grape Riesling that ripens here into rich flavors. The estate cultivates ca. 14 ha/35 acres of vines, 98% of which are planted with Riesling and 2% Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).

Since 1994 the Rheingau is the first German region to have a semi official vineyard classification, drawn up by the Charta organization and the VdP Rheingau. The best sites will be allowed to carry the designation “Erstes Gewächs” (first growth).

The season of 2009 was excellent in quality, less in quantity of the wines. The vines were blossoming early, good rainfall helped growing and warm summer with a dry fall helped developed a rich flavors and brilliant complexity in Riesling.

Tasting notes:
Lemony a wild flowers flavors on the nose, this sunny gold in the glass is a living proof that not all Rieslings are created equal. This is a lovely, dry, rich white wine, with crispiness and freshness. Light hints of orange zest, honey and lemon.

Minerality and great amount of acidity compliments the ripe fruit all the way to the long finish.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: about $ 19.00

Ideal food pairing:
Spicy food, Seafood salad, Shrimp Criolli, Tilapia with a spicy sweet potato hash,  Angel hair pasta with spicy seafood, Shrimp in mustard sauce, Pan seared scallops with creamy corn, and many more….

Germany, Riesling, White wines

Dr. Thanisch Estate Riesling 2009

Vera C.

Winemaker: Sofia Thanisch
Grape: Riesling
Region: Mosel, Germany

See other wines from this estate:
Thanisch Sofia’s Riesling

Wwe.Dr.H. Thanisch-Erben Thanisch is one of the most beautiful wine estates in Mosel region of Germany. This family owns some top quality vineyards for generations. The most unique of their properties is a vineyard called ‘Berncasteler Doctor’. The commercial value of this land is among highest in the world, but the family is not selling.

The great potential the estate lets Sofia produce the top German Rieslings and highly rated wines for years. According to a legend of the 14th century, Bishop Boemond II (1354-1362) cured himself by drinking wine from Thanisch’s most famous vineyard and gave it the name “Berncasteler Doctor”.


The classic wine label with a picture of the estate is the same for Thanisch’s wines, with an exception of designation of vineyards on their other wines.

Wine tasting notes:
Beautiful, floral aroma and golden shine in the glass reminded me of the beauty of Thanisch’s wines. Why didn’t I drink Rieslings for quite a few years? This freshly released wine shows crisp minerality, flavors of ripe green apple and hints of honey.

Medium body, rich and complex, very well balanced with a great acidity. The long aftertaste makes you craving for more, I promise. Beautiful wine, as always from this estate.

Dry – Off dry- Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: about $ 18.00

Ideal food pairing:
Shrimp Criolli,  Tilapia Loin with Spicy Sweet Potato Hash, Turkey sacks with tropical fruit, and many more

Riesling, Washington State, White wines

Pacific Rim Dry Riesling 2009

Vera C.


Winemaker: Nicolas Quille
Grape: 100% Riesling
Region: Washington State & Mosel, Germany

“Riesling is to white wine what Cabernet is to red.” Jancis Robinson

Randall Grahm, a founder of Boony Doon vineyard, loved to create a Californian perfection of Rhone varieties. His Le Cigare Volant or exquisite Syrah had a reputation long before his commercially successful Big House Red. Actually, when the Big House brand became later too demanding, Randall split his operations and returned to his specialty wines.

His love for reds changed when he met Alsatian winemaker Andre Ostertag. During their conversation back in 1991 he was teasing Randall that making red wine, inspired by southern Rhone was all well and good – but the real winemakers make Riesling, not that “Mediterranean junk”. The Randall’s obsession with Riesling was born.

Looking for the best possible terroir for growing Noble grape Riesling, he is now farming in Pacific Northwest, in Eastern Washington. For Dry Riesling, he blends 20% of German Riesling wine – selected by Johannes Selbach in the famous Mosel region – and 80% of their own Washington state Riesling. The German Riesling lends great depth and acidity as well as low alcohol.

Riesling is very versatile grape. By adjusting the levels of acidity and sugar, it could be made from bone dry to very sweet wine. The richness of aroma and flavors is unique to Riesling. The wine ages 5 months “sur lie”. No oak, no malolactic fermentation – just pure expression of Riesling. As pure as it gets.

Of all the grapes, Riesling is the most innately fine and noble. Terry Theise

Tasting notes:
Lovely, rich aroma of tropical fruit, flowers and lime. Crisp, dry wine with complex fruity flavors of pear, apple apricot and cantaloupe. This isn’t light wine, yet it’s low alcohol level makes it super refreshing. Excellent complexity and long finish.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Sustainable farmed
Retail price: under $ 12.00

Ideal food pairing:
Seafood, Asian or fusion cuisine, salads

Germany, Riesling, White wines

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2005

Vera C.


Winemaker: Johannes Selbach
Grape: Riesling
Region: Mosel-Saar Rüwer, Germany

Don’t get discouraged with a difficult German labels (well, they are not difficult for them to understand) because the Riesling grape grown in Germany is the best in the world. Add a lot of hard work and an experience of Selbach family, owning their vineyards since 1660, great potential in old ungrafted vines, and you have a recipe for the success.

Let me brake the label down to make it easier:

Selbach-Oster is the name of the producer
Zeltinger – stands from the town it came from (it would translate from the town of Zeltingen)
Sonnenuhr – is the name of the river (Wehlener Sonnenuhr) that frames this very steep vineyard, going down to water surface of the Mosel River.

Spätlese – marks the level of the sweetness the grape had during the harvest.

Selbach family grows their Riesling (and a little bit of Pinot Blanc) on 50 acres of steep, south facing mountain slopes, that face Mosel River. Their vineyards are on some best land in the heart of Mosel wine country called “Mittelmosel”.

2005 was an excellent vintage for German wines. Spätlese, coming from their driest vineyard Sonnenuhr, is probably the best wine produced that year from this estate. If you never tried Riesling before, and you start with this one, I have to warn you. You might become an instant Riesling admire with the danger of never stopping to love this noble grape.

Tasting notes:
You will first notice a beautiful sunny yellow color of this wine, sparkling in the glass thanks to high minerality of Riesling from this region. Wonderful and rich aroma of young apple, peach and vanilla.

You will notice rich sweetness of Riesling with notes of ripe fruit, honey and vanilla, but excellently balanced with acidity. The longer you keep wine in your mouth, the more layers of creamy flavors you will discover. Never ending finish will just make you longing for more. This is wonderfully crafted wine.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 20.00
Sustainable farmed

Ideal food pairing:
seafood, spicy food, Magic chicken, Indian or Chinese cuisine, sushi, Chicken Dopiaza

Germany, Riesling, White wines

Thanisch Sofia’s Riesling 2008

Vera C.


Winemaker: Sofia Thanisch
Grape: Riesling
Region: Mosel, Germany

See other wines from this estate:
Dr. Thanisch Estate Riesling

Wwe.Dr.H. Thanisch-Erben Thanisch is one of the most beautiful wine estates in Mosel region of Germany. This family owns some top quality vineyards for generations. The most unique of their properties is vineyard called ‘Berncasteler Doctor’ The commercial value of this land is among highest in the world, but the family is not selling.

Potential of their vineyards lets them create top German Rieslings and highly rated wines for years. Sofia’s Riesling is a new project created by the owner of the estate, Sofia Thanisch. The idea was to offer attractive, affordable priced wine from their high quality, estate-grown fruit that doesn’t compromise the quality and standards of their family name.

The simple label, without confusing German terminology also helps to bring her wine closer to any wine drinker anywhere in the world.

According to a legend of the 14th century, Bishop Boemond II (1354-1362) cured himself by drinking wine from their most famous vineyard and gave it the name “Berncasteler Doctor”.

Tasting notes:
Very rich aroma of fruit, flowers and honey, bright yellow color. Sofia’s Riesling has the lovely sweetness of Riesling, but beautifully balanced acidity that wouldn’t leave you with overly sweet taste in your mouth. Mineral quality, that gives a freshness and feels almost like a tiny bubbles are topical for high quality German Rieslings.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 15.00

Ideal food pairing:
seafood, spicy food, Magic chicken, Indian cuisine