Oregon Public Broadcasting

You know how clothing styles go in and out of fashion.  The same thing happens with wine varieties.

The grape that is on the upswing, increasingly is Riesling, according to winemakers from around the world who are gathering in Seattle this weekend.

Chateau Ste. Michelle education director Joel Butler says sales of Riesling have grown faster than any other white wine in the U.S. over the past three years.

Joel Butler: “For most consumers, the image is that it’s a sweet, simple wine.  But in fact some of the greatest white wines in the world have been made from it for many centuries. We run the gamut from very dry to awfully sweet.”

Butler says the resurgence for Riesling is a good thing for the Northwest, because the grape grows better here than anywhere else in the country.

Sunday through Tuesday, Chateau Ste. Michelle is hosting what it calls the “Riesling Rendezvous.”

It’s a series of winemaker dinners, workshops, and industry discussions that aim to increase consumer awareness of Riesling wine.

Online:

Riesling Rendezvous