What Kind of Wine Is Blüfeld Riesling?
Blüfeld Riesling is a semi-sweet white wine from Mosel in Germany. Produced by a renowned producer of German Riesling, the wine is weighty but refreshing, combining notes of apples, peaches, oak, and honey. Germany produces the highest concentration of world-class Rieslings. Whether dry and steely, medium-sweet and floral, or lusciously sweet, German winemakers are undeniable masters of this varietal. Riesling is also the superstar of the white wine world.
The Riesling grape originated in the Rhine region of Germany, with the best of them growing along the banks of the Mosel River on the steep, south-facing hills. With a cool continental climate, summers are wet, and rainfall is low in autumn during the final stage of grape ripening. This cool ripening period offers the grapes time to reach high sugar ripeness while maintaining their acidity. In this way, the produced Rieslings are crispy but sweet.
Blüfeld Riesling Medium Sweet Review
- Winery — Blüfeld
- Country/Region — Germany, Mosel
- Type — German Riesling
- Aroma — Honeysuckle, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Butterscotch, Toasted Oak, Thyme
- Grapes — Riesling
- Taste — Honey, Peach, Clove, Watermelon, Cinnamon Spice, Guava, Mango, Brioche Bread, Flint, Stone, Grapefruit
- Alcohol Content — 10.5%
- Sugar — Semi-Sweet
- Pairing — RSzechuan Chicken, Roast Sea Bass, Fried Calamari, Roast Pork Chops, Goose, Brie, Camembert, Havarti
Compelling and gratifying, the wine combines crispiness with honeyed notes creating an ideal drink choice for a summer evening. Coming from the prestigious Mosel, and considering its attractive price, Blüfeld Riesling is of great value. Expressive and dynamic, the character of the blue slate soil vineyards, where the Riesling grapes grow, is prevalent in every sip. To sum it up, we hope that our review indicated that this Riesling is one of the best medium-sweet wines. So try a Blüfeld Riesling now!
Tasting Notes
Creamy with a good balance and depth on the palate, Blüfeld Riesling is definitely approachable and easy to drink. The nose is packed primarily with aromas of green and stone fruits, alongside hints of white flowers. As to the mouth, it is juicy and fulfilling, with elements of minerals and toasted oak. The acidity is bright and drives into a lengthy and palatable aftertaste.
Appearance
Blüfeld Riesling wine starts with a medium lemon color with orange-green reflections. As expected, the center is translucent and clean. At the same time, the legs are long and watery, offering a refreshing impression. In fact, the wine’s appearance is captivating, representing a true Mosel Riesling. Undoubtedly, therefore, wine enthusiasts will enjoy the look of Blüfeld Riesling and be enchanted by its beautiful hues.
Aroma
As you uncork the bottle, vibrant aromas of honeysuckle emerge and join scents of pears, apples, and grapefruits. The pronounced bouquet also shows traces of slate and flint, accentuated by subtle touches of butterscotch, toasted oak, and thyme. Blüfeld Riesling, consequently, is very aromatic with a good balance of secondary, more complex fragrances. The wine has a lovely perfume, entertaining wine fans before tasting a drop.
Taste
Blüfeld Riesling is semi-sweet in the mouth, with ample creaminess and ripeness. Expect to taste ripe apples, honey, and peaches, as well as pineapples, apricots, and crushed clover leaves. Notes of watermelon, cinnamon spice, guava, and mango are also present on the palate, forming the rounded texture as they dominate the mouthfeel. In addition, an uplifting minerality accentuates everything. The brisk, racy acidity offers a pleasant effervescence, with a long finish.
Finish
The wine concludes the tasting profile with a lengthy and honeyed finish. Soft, buttery, and creamy, the aftertaste remains fruity, for the most part. However, it also exhibits lingering tastes of minerals, brioche bread, and citrus. Some slight bitterness is discernible, but instead of taking away from the pleasure, it enhances the drinking experience. This extra frame of complexity is welcomed, therefore, counterbalancing the creaminess of the back-palate.
Rating
Blüfeld Riesling is a fine white wine from a large-volume producer. With a bright nature and good depth, it is not a punch of sweetness on the palate. The refreshing acidity is enjoyable and helps tone things down, too. From the first sip to the last, Blüfeld Riesling is perfect poolside, great to enjoy on a hot summer’s day.
Blüfeld Riesling Food Pairing
Blüfeld Riesling goes great with spicy foods and all-things seafood. Serve it alongside Szechuan chicken, roast sea bass, or a plate of grilled or deep-fried calamari. Additionally, Blüfeld Riesling is particularly tasty when combined with red snapper or grouper as well as coconut rice. On top of this, Chinese food, Tex-Mex, roast pork chops, and roast goose are some other excellent pairing choices. The reason for this is that the wine’s sweetness offsets the hotness and juiciness of the above dishes.
As to the Blüfeld Riesling cheese pairing, the wine is super tasty with soft cheeses such as Camembert, Brie, and Gorgonzola. In fact, the wine’s green and stone fruit flavors pair incredibly with the smoothness and nuttiness of these cheeses. Other great cheese options are Havarti, Jarlsberg, and Monterey Jack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Blüfeld Riesling?
Blüfeld Riesling is a product of Blüfeld Riesling, a winery based in the prestigious Mosel region of Germany, where the best quality Riesling is produced. Blüfeld translates into blue field and refers to the blue slate soil vineyards, where the Riesling grape grows in Mosel. Mosel Riesling is renowned for being refreshing, aromatic, and elegant, and Blüfeld strives to produce such wines. Blüfeld sources the fruit from an exclusive group of great domestic growers, offering high-quality wine at an approachable, attractive price. Blüfeld Riesling is part of the Constellation Brands portfolio, including brands like Clos du Bois, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Estancia, Ravenswood, and Arbor Mist, too.
How Is Blüfeld Riesling Made?
After the Riesling grapes are harvested and picked, they are destemmed, crushed, and pressed to release their liquid. This liquid is then placed in stainless steel tanks to undergo cold fermentation. By doing so, the resulting wine manages to conserve its natural acidity and obtain a perfect balance that is refreshingly crisp.
To create medium-sweet wines in Germany, however, unfermented grape juice is added, the so-called Süssreserve. Before fermentation starts, Süssreserve is added to the tanks or they are dosed with carbon dioxide. Furthermore, Süssreserve is also added to dry wines when they are ready for bottling. So, when the fermentation is over, the wine is removed from the vessels, filtered, dosed with Süssreserve, and finally bottled.
Where Is Blüfeld Riesling Made?
Blüfeld Riesling is from the Mosel winemaking region in Germany, a zone dedicated to growing Riesling grapevines. Mosel, or Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, is the area that encompasses the River Mosel. The river joins the River Rhine (Rhein) to the German border and its two small tributaries, the Saar and the Ruwer.
As mentioned above, Riesling grapes dominate production. Saar and Ruwer are cooler regions and have great appellations, representing only a tiny percentage of the overall plantings in the Mosel. The best wines are typically light in body and alcohol but have high acidity, expressing a steely character. Medium-sweet and luscious wines are also produced but in even smaller numbers.
How to Serve Blüfeld Riesling?
For the best enjoyment, serve Blüfeld Riesling in medium-sized white wine glasses. The reason for doing so is that unlike flute glasses (which are also a good glassware choice), the large surface of the white wine glass offers more aeration and extra contact with the oxygen in the air. In this way, Blüfeld Riesling’s fruity and crispy character elevates. Strive to serve the wine chilled at 43-45°F (6-8°C). About 2 hours before uncorking the bottle, wrap a wet paper towel around it and place in the refrigerator.
After, remove the bottle and enjoy it with family and friends. Also bear in mind that you have to keep the wine cool during service. To do this, place Blüfeld Riesling in an ice bucket or wine cooler, filled three-quarters full with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. That said, do not leave the wine for a long time in the bucket. Over chilling can mute flavors in both white and red wines.
How Much Does Blüfeld Riesling Cost?
Blüfeld Riesling is one of those wines that everyone can obtain due to its very approachable price. Blüfeld Riesling price ranges from $8 to $14 per 750ml bottle, depending on the retailer. With that price point, Riesling fans should not miss out on the opportunity to buy a few bottles. So, if you are into Rieslings, go ahead and purchase as many Blüfeld Rieslings as you can for a distinctive wine-drinking experience.
How Long Does Blüfeld Riesling Last?
For the most part, Blüfeld Riesling is an open it now, drink it now, type of wine. So, within six months from the date of bottling, wine enthusiasts should have consumed it. However, considering that this is a medium-sweet Riesling and not bone-dry or even an off-dry one, Blüfeld Riesling does have aging potential. As the wine ages, it should develop notes of kerosene, ginger, mushroom, and hay, to name a few. To mature the wine, store the bottle horizontally in an environment with room temperatures that do not fluctuate (50-60°F or 10-15°C) and a portion of humidity.
Direct sunlight or artificial light should be kept at bay, as they might cause irreversible damage. Intense exposure to light changes the chemical compounds of the wine, such as oxygen and temperature, and causes wine faults, meaning that the wine ages prematurely, and its aromatic and flavor profile (including color) change for the worse. Wines affected in this way are known as light-struck. Odors also have to be kept at bay, as they might find their way inside the bottle and instill unpleasant aromas and flavors, like vinegar. As such, a dark cellar is an ideal place for storing wine for maturation. Aim to let this wine mature for about 3-5 years. Otherwise, it will lose its freshness and give way to undesirable tertiary flavors, like deep animal sweat.
How Many Calories Does Blüfeld Riesling Have?
Riesling wines are some of the lightest on the market. In fact, they can be recommended to people on a diet. Blüfeld Riesling is no exception to the rule, despite being sweet. There are approximately 22 calories in 1 fluid ounce of the beverage, amounting to 118 calories per glass serving. The total calorie breakdown is 0 grams of fats, 0 grams of sodium, 5 grams of total carbohydrate, 0 grams of protein, and about 7 grams of total sugars. So, Blüfeld Riesling calories are low, considering the sweetness of the wine, which is great for wine fans monitoring their calorie intake. Blüfeld Riesling alcohol content sits at 10.5% per 750ml bottle, an average alcoholic concentration for a medium-sweet Riesling.
Conclusion
Compelling and gratifying, the wine combines crispiness with honeyed notes creating an ideal drink choice for a summer evening. Coming from the prestigious Mosel, and considering its attractive price, Blüfeld Riesling is of great value. Expressive and dynamic, the character of the blue slate soil vineyards, where the Riesling grapes grow, is prevalent in every sip. To sum it up, we hope that our review indicated that this Riesling is one of the best medium-sweet wines. So try a Blüfeld Riesling now!
