Along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling is known worldwide as a highly popular white wine grape variety.
While Germany, Alsace, and Austria are famous for Riesling, high-quality wines are also made from Riesling in Japan.
Riesling is a unique grape variety that produces wines combining freshness with brilliance, spanning a wide range of styles from dry to sweet.
This time, we introduce dishes that pair well with dry and sweet Riesling wines.
Created by culinary expert Kinuko Oda, these are easy-to-make recipes pairing with Riesling, even for beginners.
What is Riesling?
Originating in Germany, Riesling is a white grape variety that yields a wide range of wine styles, from dry to sweet and "long-term aging."
Riesling is cultivated mainly in Germany, Alsace, Austria, Australia, and northern Italy, with Germany accounting for the vast majority.
Because it is difficult to cultivate, its acreage in Japan is small; however, there are many excellent crossbreeds adapted to the Japanese environment, such as "Riesling Lion," "Riesling Forte," and "Shinano Riesling."
A key characteristic of Riesling is its broad spectrum of aromatic elements.
Dry-style Riesling reveals citrus aromas such as green apple and lime, stone fruit aromas, floral notes, as well as mineral nuances. (Some Rieslings give off a petroleum-like aroma derived from a compound called TDN, which is said to be proof of a fine Riesling.)
Sweet styles feature aromas of honey, apricot, and tropical fruits, with natural sweetness on the palate.
Above all, the most prominent feature of Riesling is its sharp acidity.
Because crisp, refreshing acidity can be felt in sweet styles as well as dry ones, it leaves an impression that is both vibrant and sophisticated.
Another appeal of Riesling is that it allows you to enjoy a wide variety of pairings.
As a wine with sharp acidity and fresh fruit flavors, it is considered to pair well with fatty fish, making it an outstanding match for Japanese cuisine such as sashimi, sushi, and tempura.
Its citrus mineral nuances and refreshing aroma also make it a great match for general vegetables and aromatic herbs with unique flavors, such as shiso (perilla).
Sweet styles pair well with spicy dishes, making matches possible with dishes that are not usually paired with wine, such as spicy Asian food and blue cheese.
If you are a Japanese wine lover who usually enjoys standard white grape varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Koshu, why not take this opportunity to try Riesling?
Recommended Recipes to Pair with Riesling
Riesling shows its true charm when combined with dishes that match it well.
Here are the "Recommended Recipes to Pair with Riesling" created by culinary expert Kinuko Oda.
Tomato and Shiso Fritters ~with Dill Cheese~ (Dry)
- Serves 2
Ingredients (Serves 2-3)
Tomato: 1 (cut into wedges, halved)
Shiso leaves: 10 leaves
Potato starch: 20 g
Flour: 20 g
Carbonated water: 30 ml
Salt: 2 pinches
Frying oil: Appropriate amount
A
Cream cheese: 1 tbsp
Mayonnaise: 2 tsp
Lemon juice: 1 tsp
Chopped dill: 1 tsp
- Wipe away moisture completely and wrap in shiso leaves.
- Mix potato starch, flour, and salt, then add carbonated water and mix. Dip step 1 into the batter and fry quickly in 180°C oil (until the coating turns crispy).
- Place ② in a bowl and pour the soup from ①.
- Mix A together and serve alongside.
- Point
★Cooking tomatoes enhances their sweetness, matching the refreshing acidity and concentration of Riesling. While delicious eaten as-is with just salt, changing the flavor with cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, and lemon to match the acidity of Riesling is also good!
- Pairing
★The refreshing flavor of shiso harmonizes with the crisp nuances of Riesling. The sweetness and acidity of heated tomatoes match the characteristics of Riesling, offering a pairing that is thoroughly satisfying on its own. Furthermore, since the acidity and creamy nuances of cream cheese also go well with dry-style Riesling, you can likely enjoy pairings with fritters other than tomatoes as well.
Steamed Chicken and Cabbage "White Miso Yogurt" Ethnic Toss (Sweet Riesling)
- Serves 2
Store-bought salad chicken (plain): 1 piece (shredded finely by hand)
Cabbage: 1/6 head (shredded)
Salt: 2 pinches (for rubbing cabbage)
Crushed nuts: 15 g
Cilantro: For garnish
A
Plain yogurt (sugar-free): 2 tbsp
White miso: 1 tbsp
Fish sauce (nam pla): 1 tsp
Lemon juice: 1 tsp
Toban djan (chili bean paste): 1 tsp
- Sprinkle salt over the cabbage, massage lightly, let sit for 5 minutes, and squeeze out excess moisture thoroughly.
- In a bowl, mix sauce ingredients A thoroughly until smooth.
- Add the shredded salad chicken and squeezed cabbage into the bowl from step 2, and toss everything together well.
- Arrange on a serving dish and scatter crushed nuts on top to finish. Garnish with cilantro.
- Point
Arranging cabbage inspired by the traditional German pickle "sauerkraut." Shred the cabbage, salt-massage it, and mix it by hand with the salad chicken. The seasoning adds white miso, fish sauce, and the acidity of unsweetened plain yogurt to complement Riesling. With toban djan adding a spicy kick to the sweetness of white miso, this is an appetizer that combines Japanese and ethnic styles.
- Pairing
The bold flavor of cilantro matches seamlessly with sweet Riesling. In addition, combining white miso and fish sauce with the acidity of not just yogurt but also Riesling produces a refreshing, summery taste. The sweetness of the cabbage balances well with the heat of the toban djan, and while offering complex flavors, the finish remains crisp thanks to the wine. When paired with sweet Riesling, it highlights a sweet-and-sour profile like sweet vinegar sauce, making for an even more delicious pairing.
Summary
Although a classic white wine variety, Riesling is surprisingly not widely known.
Because it is a grape variety that can be enjoyed in both dry and sweet styles, it broadens the scope of pairings and enriches your daily dining table.
Please take these recipes as inspiration and enjoy pairing Riesling with a variety of dishes.
Reference
Culinary Expert / Molecular Nutrition Advisor
Olive Oil Sommelier
Kinuko Oda
As a culinary expert and olive oil sommelier, she has created numerous tapas and home-cooked dishes that bring out the personality of wine.
Currently, she mainly conducts small-group events pairing wine with tapas.
Valuing the philosophy that "being easy to recreate at home and genuinely delicious is more important than complicated theory," she conveys the joys of wine in easy-to-understand terms for beginners.
Based on molecular nutrition, she is also well-regarded for "dietary ideas that care for the body while enjoying wine," proposing "wine moments that lighten the mind and body" for adults.