Riesling is a light, high-acid summer refresher and can be a great pairing with the right food. Some people avoid Riesling, believing it is only a sweet wine. While it can be made sweet, most Riesling is bone dry. Today we will taste these three Rieslings.

1. 2023 Joseph Handler Riesling ($5.99) from Trader Joe’s. This wine is off-dry, with notes of Green-apple, pear, and apple.

2. 2022 Poet’s Leap https://longshadows.com Long Shadows Vintners Collection Riesling ($22.99) from our local Wall to Wall Wine Store. This wine is 100% barrel-fermented in a 360 gallon French oak cask. The wine remains on lees for four months after fermentation. Jasmine and slate aromatics, Gauva hints with citrus and stone fruit flavors. Bright acidity, good minerality. Long finish. It has 0.13 g/100 ml of residual sugar and is very acidic with a 2.97 ph.

3. 2021 Loosen Dr L https://drloosen.com ($9.49) from Costco. Crisp, fruity and refreshing. From steep hillsides with slate soils. Peach, citrus, mineral. It has 44.5 grams/liter residual sugar.

Next week we will be tasting Chianti. Our three wines will include:

1. 2021 Kirkland Riserva Classico from Costco $8.99.
2. 2021 Gabbiano Calvaliera D'Ore from Wall to Wall Wine $11.99.
3. 2020 Peppoli Chianti Classico from Wall to Wall Wine $24.99.