IT'S THE SUMMER OF LOVE - RIESLING

With the advent of the publishing of Even Dawson’s instant classic SUMMER IN A GLASS and John Hartsock’s SEASONS OF A FINGER LAKES WINERY, it is without question the Summer of Love - Riesling, especially in the Finger Lakes region.

However just the other day, I pulled out a bottle of Macari’s newest release the 2010 Riesling Finger Lakes. Macari is one of my favorite producers. The grapes are grown in the Finger Lakes, but the producer is Macari on the North Fork of Long Island. Theirs is a light, refreshing white wine, with tangerine and honeysuckle on the nose, and a big mouthful of a fresh, tart Granny Smith apple with a citrus ending. I had it with Thai food; it was extraordinary.

And this got me to thinking that there are lots of great Rieslings all over the east coast, many of which are worth trying. Don’t get me wrong, Finger Lakes Rieslings are wonderful, but there are many good Rieslings being made elsewhere worth drinking. So I compiled a list of other wineries, some estate grown, some using Finger Lakes fruit, to try and savor if you can’t make it to the Finger Lakes. These wines are worth searching for and worth drinking.

Riesling is a tremendous food wine, tangy and zippy, with a life of its own, able to stand up to a lot of spicy foods like Thai, Chinese, sushi, and great with salads or cheeses, and great for sipping during a hot summer’s day.

Try some, I’m sure you’ll love it.

New York
Paumanok Riesling
Lenz Riesling
Lenz Gewurztraminer
Corey Creek Gewurztraminer
Osprey’s Dominion Riesling
Peconic Bay Riesling
Pellegrini Vineyards Gewurztraminer
Anthony Nappa Luminous
Suhru Wines Riesling
Vineyard 48 Riesling
Brotherhood Riesling
Whitecliff Riesling
Warwick Valley Riesling
Hudson-Chatham Riesling
Hudson-Chatham Gewurztraminer

New Jersey
Alba Vineyards Riesling
Silver Decoy Riesling
Unionville Riesling
Cape May Riesling

Connecticut
Haight-Brown Riesling
Priam Vineyards Riesling
Priaam Vineyards Gewurztraminer

Massachusetts
Nashoba Gewurztraminer
Furnace Brook Riesling
Westport Rivers Riesling

Virginia
Afton Mountain Riesling
Afton Mountain Gewurztraminer
AmRhein Riesling
Barboursville Riesling
Brunley Vineyards Riesling
Cardinal Point Riesling
Grey Ghost Riesling
James River Riesling
Naked Mountain Riesling
The Winery at La Grange Riesling
Williamsburg Riesling
Willocroft Farm Riesling
Veramar Vineyard Riesling/Vidal Blanc
Pearmund Cellars Riesling
Willowcroft Vineyard Riesling Muscat Ottonel
Wintergreen Vineyard & Winery Riesling
Linden Vineyards Vidal Riesling
Whitewater Riesling
Oasis Winery Riesling
Abingdon Riesling
Tomahawk Mill Winery Riesling
Naked Mountain Vineyard & Winery Chardonnay/Riesling
Swedenburg Estate Vineyard Riesling Blanc

West Virginia
Forks of Cheat Winery West Virginia Riesling Forks of Cheat Winery Airmail Jones

Pennsylvania
Kog Hill Winery Riesling Blanc
Blue Mountain Vineyards Riesling
Naylor Wine Cellars Riesling
Hunters Valley Winery Riesling
Allegro Vineyards Riesling
Sand Castle Winery Johannisberg Riesling Dry Estate Grown
Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery Stone Cellar Riesling
Amoré Winery Riesling
Flickerwood Wine Riesling
Starr Hill Vineyard & Winery Riesling

Rhode Island

Newport Vineyards Riesling

This is not a comprehensive list, and I apologize if I've left anyone off. It certainly was not intentional. These are great wines, time to enjoy the summer of Love - Riesling style.