Cultivar · Grape cultivar
Riesling
Vitis vinifera
Also known as: Rhine Riesling, Weisser Riesling, Johannisberg Riesling
Riesling is an aromatic white wine grape from the Rhine region of Germany, noted for high acidity, cold-hardiness, and a wide range of styles from bone-dry to intensely sweet. It is regarded as strongly expressive of site.
Record
Cultivar / variety- Variety of
- Grape
- Botanical taxon
- Vitis vinifera
- Type
- Cultivar (clonal)
- Breeding method
- Traditional selection
- Origin
- Rhine region, Germany
- Registry status
- Historical
- Registries
- Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) · Global · as of 2026-07-12Catalogued as a Vitis vinifera white wine-grape variety; the common name Riesling should not be confused with unrelated varieties that borrow the name.
- USDA GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System · United States / Global · as of 2026-07-12Germplasm accessions maintained in the US National Plant Germplasm System.
- Adaptation
- A cold-hardy, cool-climate variety that ripens late while retaining high acidity; it is grown in some of the coolest quality-wine regions.
- Intended use
- White wine (dry through to sweet styles)
Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.
Riesling is a green-skinned wine grape (Vitis vinifera) native to the Rhine valley of Germany. It is prized for aromatic, high-acid white wines that range from dry to lusciously sweet, and it is often cited as one of the varieties that most clearly reflects the character of the site where it is grown.
A clonal cultivar propagated from cuttings, Riesling is notably cold-hardy and is grown in cool climates including Germany, Alsace in France, Austria, and parts of North America and Australia. It typically ripens late but retains high acidity, which supports both dry wines and sweet wines made from late-harvested or botrytis-affected fruit.
Origin and naming
Riesling has been documented in the Rhine region of Germany since at least the 15th century and is central to German viticulture, particularly along the Mosel and Rhine rivers, as well as in Alsace across the French border.
Growing characteristics
Riesling is prized in cool regions partly because of its winter hardiness and its ability to ripen late while keeping fresh acidity. It is often grown on steep river slopes and on a range of soils, from slate to limestone and sandstone.
- Cold-hardy relative to many Vitis vinifera varieties
- Late-ripening while retaining high acidity
- Grown on diverse soils, including slate in the Mosel
- Suited to cool climates and, in places, steep vineyard sites
Wine style and use
Riesling is made in a wide range of styles determined largely by how much sugar is retained, from fully dry wines to sweet wines from late-harvested or botrytis-affected grapes. Its acidity is central to balancing sweeter styles.
Relationships
Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.
Adapted to climate
Scope & limitations
Geographic scope: Originating in the Rhine region of Germany and grown in cool-climate wine regions worldwide, including Alsace, Austria, and parts of North America and Australia.
Climate context: Cold-hardy, cool-climate variety; late-ripening with high retained acidity.
- Wine style depends heavily on terroir, vintage, and winemaking, especially the level of residual sweetness; the variety description is not a description of any individual wine.
- The name Riesling is used for several unrelated varieties, so labels do not always indicate true Rhine Riesling.
- Registry record identifiers and deep links are omitted where they could not be independently verified.
Sources
This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.
- [1]GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System (opens in a new tab)Authoritative
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Cited for: Cultivar/germplasm records and taxonomy for Vitis vinifera
- Type:
- Official registry
- Jurisdiction:
- United States / Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- [2]GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility (opens in a new tab)High
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Cited for: Taxonomic placement of Vitis vinifera
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- Moderate
Cited for: Historical background and varietal characterisation (secondary reference)
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12