Around the world in 12 months: Germany

May 23, 2011 at 11:18 pm John Davis Leave a comment

Stop # 2 on our travels to the world’s great wine regions is Germany, where we’ll visit the Rhine  and Moselle river valleys.

These beautiful valleys are home to the majority of the world’s growers of Riesling, considered, together with Chardonnay, the premo white wine grapes.

What makes this storybook German landscape ideal for vineyards also makes it ideal for tourists.  You can travel the winding roads linking picturesque villages by car, bike or on foot.  Or, my favorite, via barge down the river valleys.

Along the way you’ll discover some of the world’s most spectacular vineyard settings.  These hillsides are so incredibly steep it’s a miracle that the grape pickers can keep their balance.

In the past Americans have shied away from Riesling wines because of the misperception that all Rieslings were ultra sweet.  In truth, Rieslings range from sweet to fruity to dry.  Today Rieslings are fast becoming one of the world’s most popular white wines, and one reason is that these light wines are friendly with so many kinds of foods. They go with dishes on the lighter side, like seafood, and just as easily pair with heavier items like roast chicken and baked ham. Rieslings also go beautifully with international cuisine: Asian, Mexican, Middle Eastern and American Cajun.

While Riesling labels can be confusing, they are worth figuring out.  If you’re interested in learning more, visit this site: German Wines.

Though I probably drink more Chardonnays than anything, I’d opt for a Riesling stash if I was headed for a desert island.

Check out the first stop in our wine travels, a visit to Spain.

Kind regards,

John Davis, founder, Wine Insiders

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