Brandl Riesling "Terrassen" '20

First things first: this Riesling is dry. In fact, most Austrian Riesling is dry, which helps eliminate some of the confusion we’re all faced with when choosing a Riesling. For those of you who seek out minerality and precise acidity, the Brandl “Terrassen” Riesling firmly delivers both. Brandl is a small family-run winery founded in the 1950s in the village of Zöbing, in Kamptal, which is home to some of the country’s best Riesling sites planted on steeply terraced slopes. Compared with other regions in Austria, Kamptal is slightly warmer during the day, yielding denser wines, yet also benefits from cooling winds at night, which helps maintain freshness and acidity in the wines.

“Terrassen” shows Riesling’s characteristic fresh citrus notes of lemon and lime, as well as tropical notes like pineapple and lychee. While it has ample fruit and body, the finish is long and dry, driven by acidity and minerality. Pair it with seafood, cured meats, pork, and dishes with a range of spices. This is a delicious Riesling for any occasion, and a great one to try if you’re new to the dry Austrian style or want to introduce someone else to it and prove that not only is Riesling great, it’s also not all sweet.