Riesling
Also known as: Johannisberg Riesling, Rheinriesling, Riesling, White Riesling
A vinifera white (Rhine/Mosel Germany, cool-continental).
Across the consideration criteria
What it makes
Aromatic family
Tasting notes
How it grows
- Cold hardiness
- -15°F
- Ripening
- Early-season
- Vigor
- Moderate
- Disease tolerance
- Low
- Drainage need
- Well
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Graft requirement
- Graft Required
- US availability
- Widely Available
Considerations
Primary buds start to die near -15°F. Handles a normal cold-climate winter, but a hard freeze is a risk.
Needs roughly 2100 growing degree-days to ripen, an early-season variety (Winkler I-II). Finishes early, well before a hard fall frost.
Foliar-disease pressure is heavy for this variety, a intensive spray program in a humid climate. Plan on a full, well-timed fungicide schedule.
Susceptible to Pierce's disease. Only a threat in the warm, humid South and parts of California; cold-winter regions cure it naturally.
Moderate vigor. Easier to balance; tolerates more fertile ground.
Low heat tolerance. Bakes and loses acid on hot sites; favors cooler ground.
Moderate water demand. Average moisture needs for a wine grape.
Prefers soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Outside the band, lime or sulfur brings it in range.
Phylloxera-susceptible: plant grafted onto resistant rootstock.
These are intrinsic to the grape. On a real property, Folia scores each against your site; here they're shown on their own.
Grows alike
similar to growScheurebe
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Gewürztraminer
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Aligoté
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Silvaner
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Kerner
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Melon
Same heat band (low) · Same Winkler band (I-II)
Climate-adapted alternatives
more resilient picksPrairie Star
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (6 pathogen-steps improved)
Louise Swenson
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (8 pathogen-steps improved)
Itasca
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (8 pathogen-steps improved)
Frontenac Gris
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (6 pathogen-steps improved)
Brianna
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + powdery mildew resistance (6 pathogen-steps improved)
St. Pepin
PIWI: bred for fungal pressure · Better downy mildew + black rot resistance (6 pathogen-steps improved)
Could Riesling grow on your land?
See how Riesling scores against your specific property, with local precedent, climate, and the tradeoffs for your ground.
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