A dry Riesling is a white wine made so that the grape's sugar is fermented out, leaving a crisp, citrusy, mineral wine instead of a sweet one. You can browse the full Riesling selection at CBC Liquors in Westford, and the rest of this guide shows you how to tell the dry bottles from the sweet ones before you buy.
What makes a Riesling dry?
Riesling is a grape that holds a lot of natural sugar and a lot of acidity at the same time. What the winemaker does with that sugar decides the style. If the yeast is allowed to ferment nearly all of it into alcohol, the wine finishes dry. If fermentation is stopped early, or the wine is blended with a little unfermented juice, some sugar stays behind and the wine tastes sweeter.
That is why Riesling has a reputation for being sweet and also a reputation among wine drinkers for being one of the great dry whites. Both are true. The grape itself is not sweet. The style is a decision made in the cellar.
A dry Riesling usually tastes of lime, green apple, white peach and wet stone, with a high, bright acidity that makes it feel clean on the finish. It is lighter in body than a Chardonnay and rarely has any oak influence, so what you taste is fruit, acidity and minerality.
How can you tell a dry Riesling from the label?
Labels are the hardest part of buying Riesling, because the word dry does not always appear on the front. A few cues help.
First, look for the word dry itself, or the German word trocken, which means dry. A Riesling from Germany labeled trocken has been made to finish with little residual sugar. Words such as halbtrocken or feinherb point to off-dry, and Spätlese, Auslese or late harvest usually point to a sweeter wine, though German labeling has exceptions.
Second, check the alcohol by volume. As a rule of thumb, a Riesling at around 12 percent or more has had more of its sugar fermented, so it tends to be drier. A bottle at 8 to 10 percent usually has sugar left in it.
Third, look for a taste scale on the back label. Many Riesling producers print a small dry-to-sweet scale, often following the International Riesling Foundation profile of dry, medium dry, medium sweet or sweet. If you are unsure, bring the bottle to the counter and ask. That is a normal question at a wine shop.
Riesling we stock
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Which Rieslings can you find at CBC Liquors?
The shelves at 142 Littleton Rd carry a group of Rieslings, and the Riesling category page lists what is in stock today. Among them are CLEAN SLATE Mosel Riesling, CHATEAU STE MICHELLE RIESLING, SeaGlass Riesling, A TO Z Riesling and BOUNDARY BREAKS Riesling.
These bottles are not all the same style, which is the point of checking before you buy. Mosel is a German region known for light, high-acid Riesling, and its wines range from dry to gently sweet. The CHATEAU STE MICHELLE HARVEST SELECT SWEET RIESLING is, by its own name, the sweeter style, so leave that one aside if dry is what you want.
For the others, read the back label for the dry cue words and the alcohol level described above, or ask the staff in the store which way each one leans.
How cold should you serve dry Riesling?
Chill it, but not to the point of numbness. A temperature of roughly 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit shows the fruit and the acidity at their best. Straight from a cold refrigerator, a Riesling can taste tight and muted, so give it ten or fifteen minutes on the counter before you pour.
If the bottle is warm when you bring it home, an hour or two in the refrigerator is enough. An ice bucket with water and ice works faster, in about twenty minutes.
Use a standard white wine glass. A slightly narrower bowl keeps the citrus and floral aromas concentrated, which is much of the appeal of Riesling. Once opened, a bottle will keep in the refrigerator with a stopper for a few days, though the fresh fruit character is best in the first day or two.
What food goes with dry Riesling?
High acidity and moderate alcohol make dry Riesling one of the more flexible white wines at the table. It cuts through richness the way a squeeze of lemon does.
Shellfish and white fish are a natural fit: shrimp, scallops, clams, baked haddock or a simple fillet with lemon. Roast chicken and pork, especially with a mustard or apple element, work well too, because the apple notes in the wine echo the dish.
It also handles food with some heat. Thai, Vietnamese and Indian dishes, or a mildly spicy stir-fry, sit comfortably next to a dry Riesling, since the wine is cooling and has no heavy tannin or oak to clash with the spice. Soft, tangy cheeses such as fresh goat cheese are another good match.
For a gathering of any size, the Party Planner page is a handy place to sort out what to pour with the menu.
What if you prefer something sweeter, or a different white?
If a dry Riesling turns out to be sharper than you like, step to an off-dry style. These keep the same fruit and acidity but with a touch of sweetness that softens the edges, and many people find them easier to drink on their own.
If you want a different dry white altogether, there are close neighbors on the shelf. Sauvignon Blanc is similarly crisp and zesty with a more herbal edge. Pinot Grigio is light and neutral. Chardonnay is rounder and fuller. The wider white wine category lets you compare all of them in one place.
If you would like to see how wines are grouped by style rather than by grape, the wine styles collection is another way in.
How do you buy it from CBC Liquors in Westford?
You can walk in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. The store is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The shop holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Google from 339 reviews.
If you would rather not make the trip, CBC Liquors offers pickup during store hours, delivery, and shipping. Delivery hours run slightly earlier than store hours, ending at 7:30 PM on Sunday, 8:30 PM Monday to Thursday and 9:30 PM on Friday and Saturday.
The store also serves customers in nearby towns, including Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Lowell and Billerica. If you would like help choosing between bottles, the guide on wine choices at a Westford liquor store explains how the shop approaches it.
Common questions
Is Riesling always sweet?
No. Riesling can be made dry, off-dry or sweet. The grape is naturally high in sugar and acidity, and the winemaker decides how much sugar is fermented out. Many Rieslings, particularly those labeled dry or trocken, finish with very little sweetness.
What does dry Riesling taste like?
Typically lime, green apple, white peach and a mineral, stony note, with high acidity and a clean finish. It is lighter-bodied than most Chardonnay and is not usually oaked.
How do I know if a Riesling is dry?
Look for the word dry or trocken on the label, check for a dry-to-sweet scale on the back label, and note the alcohol level. Around 12 percent or higher often signals a drier wine, while 8 to 10 percent usually means sugar remains.
What temperature should dry Riesling be served at?
Roughly 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Chill it in the refrigerator, then let it sit for ten or fifteen minutes before pouring so the aromas open up.
Does CBC Liquors offer pickup or delivery for wine?
Yes. CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup hours match the store hours, and delivery hours end half an hour earlier each day.
