Riesling with what dish? Our best food and wine pairing ideas
Riesling: What Dish to Pair It With?
Riesling is one of the great nobles of the wine world, a chameleon grape capable of expressing a multitude of styles: from dry to sweet, including sparkling cuvées and age-worthy whites. But which dishes pair best with it? Follow the guide.
Characteristics of Riesling
Riesling stands out for:
• A bright, often pale color with green reflections
• An expressive nose: lemon, white peach, green apple, white flowers, petrol (in older vintages)
• A lively palate, tightened by a beautiful acidity, often marked by a mineral salinity
It is ideal to accompany dishes where acidity and freshness are allies.
Golden Rules for Pairing Riesling
• Bet on contrasts: Riesling’s acidity works wonders with rich, creamy, or sweet-and-salty dishes
• Surf on minerality: perfect with marine and iodine flavors
• Adapt the wine style: a dry Riesling pairs differently than a sweeter one
Best Pairings with Riesling (and Why They Work)
Sushi and Sashimi
The acidity and purity of Riesling amplify the freshness of raw fish and complement the saltiness of soy sauce.
Alsatian Choucroute
Classic pairing: the fat of pork and charcuterie is lightened by the wine’s tension, and the lemony aromas enhance the flavors of fermented cabbage.
Thai or Indian Curry (mildly spicy)
The residual sugar in a semi-dry Riesling softens the curry’s heat, and the exotic aromas find an echo in the wine’s aromatic bouquet.
Washed-rind Cheeses (Munster, Maroilles)
Riesling cuts through the richness and invigorates, while echoing the powerful aromas of the cheese. A pairing full of character!
Salmon Tartare, Ceviche
The lively acidity and subtle salinity of Riesling perfectly accompany the tender texture of marinated raw fish.
Fruit Desserts or Foie Gras with Ice Wine
The sweet intensity and sharp acidity of a late-harvest Riesling or Canadian ice wine elevate fruity desserts while creating a voluptuous contrast with foie gras.
Great Rieslings of the World
Germany (Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz)
Delicate Rieslings, often with a bit of residual sugar, and very high minerality. Perfect with sweet-and-salty dishes or smoked fish.
Alsace
Dry, sharp, saline Rieslings crafted for gastronomy. Ideal with regional dishes, fish, seafood, white meats.
Australia (Clare Valley, Eden Valley)
Ultra lively, lemony, tonic, and very pure Rieslings. Perfect for exotic, Asian cuisines or oysters.
United States (Finger Lakes, Oregon, Washington)
Rieslings from the Finger Lakes region are straight, mineral, perfect with vegetarian dishes or grilled fish. Those from Oregon tend to be more expressive and rich, while Washington offers a rounder style.
China (Ningxia, Shandong)
Still rare but promising: very varied styles, from fruity dry to mineral semi-dry. Worth watching!
Canada (Ontario, British Columbia)
Canada offers some of the world’s best ice wines. Ultra-acidic, intense Rieslings that shine at the end of a meal with desserts or foie gras.
New Zealand (Marlborough, Central Otago)
Aromatic and slightly sweet Rieslings, very digestible, that pair well with Thai cuisine or raw fish.
Our Vinodelice Selection of Rieslings from Around the World
Three cuvées to explore Riesling in its many expressions:
• Rockbare Clare Valley Riesling 2022 – Australia
A sharp white, ideal with seafood and ceviche.
• Mulando M365 Riesling 2021 – China
Expressive and modern, perfect with spicy Asian cuisine.
• Poderi Colla Langhe Riesling Ranera 2021 – Italy
A mature and balanced style, to pair with characterful cheeses or creamy sauced fish.
