Guten Tag! Ich heiße Riesling.

You've heard of me, ya? But how much do you really know? A few things to consider next time my name catches your eye on the shelf or wine list:

1. Chardonnay stole my spot as the darling of white wines. Back in the Victorian era, I was on all the royal tables.

2. You might call me tart because of my high acidity, but I have enough sugar to balance out my bite--look for flavors of white peach, lemon, honeysuckle, apricot, and melon. What a harmony.

3. Unlike the early-ripening Chardonnay (so eager), I am a late bloomer. The longer you leave me hanging, the sweeter I get. Trust me – I am worth the wait. In Germany, they call this late-harvest wine and rank it on the Pradikat system.

4. I am a survivor. I can live much further north than any other naturally-occurring white grape variety.

5. Even though I am independent in the bottle (I hate being blended with other grapes), I am über-tasty with food. Pair me with sushi, spicy food, and most Asian dishes--some of the hardest foods to find wines for. Now you have something to try.

For more information on Riesling visit winecyclopedia.com