Riesling wines are often consumed when young, when they make a fruity and aromatic wine which may have aromas of green or other apples, grapefruit, peach, gooseberry, honey, rose blossom or cut green grass, and usually a crisp taste due to the high acidity.

Sales of Riesling, the fourth-largest white wine sold in the ACNielsen*-tracked marketplace, are booming. 

Sales of Riesling are so strong that some believe the varietal may eventually challenge Sauvignon Blanc's place as the third-largest white varietal sold in food stores. While Sauvignon Blanc sales are currently double that of Riesling, the growth rate is only about two-thirds that of Riesling. If these growth rates were to continue, Riesling sales would, indeed, eventually surpass Sauvignon Blanc.