Which Is The King Of White Grapes

[Innkeeper]

Riesling has an interesting past as well as a great future. In the early '70s and before, Riesling was the most popular white. I remember paying a dollar or more for Mondavi Johannsisberg Riesling than for their Napa Valley Chardonnay; talking $3.95 versus $2.75.

All this changed when women switched from "Chablis" to Chardonnay. Generic California Chablis had been the favorite sipping wine for the distaff set. Guys drank beer. A good PR drive finally convinced the ladies that "Chablis" was swill, and that Chardonnay was much better. So they started drinking Chard, and soon the volumne soared past Riesling.

Those who preferred to dring their wine with food stuck with Riesling as well as many other whites. Most Chardonnays morphed into highly maled oak bombs, unsuitable for consumption with most foods.

These days the majority of wine drinkers have come to realize that wine tastes best with food, and not swilled on the patio. Because of this Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, and others from Italy, Spain, and Alsace are becoming more and more popular.