Wine Wednesday: Summer of Riesling

Summer officially starts this weekend, which means it’s a great time to kick off your own Summer of Riesling! Summer of Riesling is a movement for restaurants and wine bars to serve Riesling by the glass all summer long. You can find more out about Summer of Riesling on their website. Keep an eye out for restaurants serving Riesling all summer long.

I recently received some Riesling samples from Chateau Ste. Michelle, a winery I have worked with in the past for wine reviews, giveaways, and events, and one from Anew Winery. Both wineries are in Washington state; I can’t wait to visit someday! With Summer so close, I thought it would be a perfect time to tie together these wines with Summer of Riesling.

A little about the Eroica line from the Chateau Ste. Michelle website –

Eroica wines are a testament to our commitment of combining Old World philosophy and technique with New World attitude. It is a winemaking collaboration between Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Bob Bertheau and famed Mosel winemaker Ernst Loosen, from the vineyard to the bottle. The widely acclaimed and uniquely ageable Eroica Riesling sets the bar for Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Riesling Leadership.

The Eroica Riesling is a perfect wine to sip on a briny, beachy night. It’s full of ripe peach notes with a hint of sweetness that is balanced by acidity, perfect for pairing with summery foods. A bit of salinity rounds it out, making it a flavorful journey across the palate.

The Anew Riesling is more floral and has a nice effervescence that I did not expect. The acidity in this wine left my mouth watering long after I had finished tasting.

I enjoyed the Eroica at the beach in Truro with a lobster dinner, pretty much one of the most blissful places to have a glass of wine. Sand under the feet, sun setting over Provincetown, and a lobster dinner being cooked up made for the perfect backdrop for this summery wine.

Riesling is great with more mild seafood; buttery lobster went nicely with the acidity and fruity notes. Riesling is also fabulous with spicy foods; I would love to pair it with a spicy jerk grilled salmon with a side of grilled peaches, but it would be also be great with  a simple curry or Thai or Indian takeaway.

No matter what food you decide to pair it with, remember that Riesling pairs perfectly with Summer, relaxation, and your favorite people. Open a few different bottles and discover how Riesling varies from sweet to super dry. Sip, savor, repeat!