There are a few things about riesling that we can count on for sure. One is that it is pronounced “REECE-ling,” with an “s” sound and not a “z” sound. Another is that not all of it is sweet, and in fact, the vast majority of it is dry. And finally, wine folks are enraptured by this classic white grape variety.
Why are so many people afraid of it? People of a certain age might associate riesling with the sweet German wines peddled in supermarkets decades ago, before good and varied wines were readily available to the average shopper. Having witnessed scrunched-up faces at the mention of riesling, younger drinkers might think of riesling as a red-flag word. They, too, might think of it as cheap, sweet wine with no pizzazz. Often, the complete opposite is true. Riesling, which is usually made into 100 percent varietal wines, offers pizzazz to spare. Its many iterations can turn the riesling-averse into devotees. All riesling needs is a chance.