Many of you correctly answered this question from my previous blog and I thank you for submitting your answers.

Question 1) I am a White (wine) from many countries- zesty and dry. I am the most misunderstood wine since many think my only taste is very sweet. Who am I?

The correct answer is RIESLING (rees ling). Ask someone to name a sweet wine and many consumers will answer Riesling. But Riesling wines have a broad range of tastes – very sweet to very dry. The International Riesling Foundation (IRF) has developed a taste profile (http://drinkriesling.com/tastescale) that producers can voluntarily use on their bottle labels to identify sweetness level – dry, medium dry, medium sweet and sweet. Check the back bottle label for the IRF scale.

Riesling wines are now produced in many countries. Colder climates in Old World countries of Germany, Austria and France contribute produce much of the world’s Riesling wines but New World regions in Australia, Oregon, Washington, Finger Lakes (NY) also produce a variety of Rieslings. My selection of wines below represents a variety of these regions. I previously blogged about Finger Lakes Rieslings at this link https://bobthewineguy.net/2015/10/09/visit-to-finger-lakes-ny/

I have tasted the wines below which have a taste profile of dry to medium dry and they are a wonderful complement to the “big bird” at your Thanksgiving table.

WILLM Alsace Riesling Kirchberg de Barr 2012
Alsace, France $20
Wine Spectator 89 rating “Svelte and snappy, with a minerally underpinning and subtle notes of fresh-cut apple, melon, lemon wax and fleur de sel. Well-knit and fresh. Drink now through 2019.”

S.A. PRUM Riesling Dry Luminance 2013
Mosel, Germany $12
Wine Spectator 87 rating “Offers a crisp, savory herbal edge to the green apple and white currant flavors. The fresh finish features stony notes. Drink now.”

CHARLES SMITH Riesling Kung Fu Girl 2014
Columbia Valley, Washington $12
Wine Spectator 89 rating “Light and refreshing, with pretty pear, apple and floral flavors on a sleek frame. Shows a hint of green tea on the off-dry finish. Drink now.”

PEWSEY VALE Dry Riesling 2014
Eden Valley, Australia $16
Wine Spectator rating is #33 in 2015 top 100 wines “Taut, sleek, polished and distinctively spicy, with black pepper, white pepper, floral and citrus flavors on a lively frame. Best from 2019 through 2030.”