5 Best Cheap Riesling Wines [Tasted & Rated]

I reviewed this wine recently and I was really impressed with its evolution over the last few years. It was previously a bit too sweet and lacked sufficient acidity to balance. But, cue the latest 2021 release (available at Costco) and Charles Smith Wines have got this just right.

The slight sweetness remains but it is welcome this time with the accompanying bright acidity giving the wine vibrance and life.

Stone fruit notes of peach and apricot are on display with a little lime. It's a simple fruit driven wine that pairs amazingly well with lightly spiced Asian food. Grab a bottle of this with your next Thai or Chinese takeout and have a divine feast in front of the TV.

You can read my full review for more details or watch my Youtube video below.

2) Zind-Humbrecht Riesling 2015

Variety: Dry

Region: Alsace, France

Alcohol level: 12.5%

Coming from the Alsace region of France it’s no surprise that this is a dry Riesling, but the tiny touch of residual sweetness is a delicious complement.

The flavors that unfurl are complex and reveal themselves in layers in every mouthful.

A zesty start with grapefruit tones swirls around the palate with the first sip, which then develops into full, ripe flavors of peach and pear, offset by smoke and quince. This combination provides a background spice to the clean citrus flavors which are so typical of a Riesling.

Carbon dioxide bounces around the palate giving a good fizz which is fun. The finish is undeniably lemony with enduring fruitiness leaving a longing for the next mouthful.

The price of this Riesling is quite a bit higher than the Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl, but there's a depth of character here that the latter doesn't have.

This French white wine will happily remain at its best until 2035 - if you can keep your hands off it for that long.

The vines for this particular vintage were planted in 1994 on average, on a steep hillside facing south to west.

A limestone vineyard with a low yield, the harvesting of such tall vines can be challenging. In 2015, the conditions combined to create a Riesling that was wonderfully dry.

Complex, delicious and refreshing, the Zind-Humbrecht is worth the extra dollars.

3) Weingut Winter Dittelsheim Riesling

Variety: Dry (Trocken)

Region: Rheinhessen, Germany

Alcohol level: 12.5%

Wonderful citrus flavors play over each other in the opening impressions of this Riesling with lime and lemon fusing with green apple and a hint of baking spice.

More fruitiness develops on the palate with a vigorous degree of acidity and a hint of sweetness. The finish is crisp and tart with a surprise reappearance of the baking spice.

This German white wine pairs particularly well with fish and shellfish dishes as well as classic cuisine. The subtle sweetness also provides a good background for spicy pepper dishes with white meat such as turkey tacos.

The Rheinhessen region is one of the largest for wine-producing in Germany, and the Weingut Winter vineyards are located right in the center. The family winery has been growing in the limey soils for generations, situated just outside the village of Dittelsheim.

The winery became a member of the prestigious German Prädikatsweingüter, a body which is internationally recognized for quality, several years ago. The lime and clay soils in tandem with the microclimate of the region deliver an incredible array of flavors in every glass.

The harvesting for the 2015 vintage began at sunrise, with the fruit stretched out for a number of hours on the mush to gather the maximum flavor from the skins. Following fermentation, the process is finished by aging the wine in stainless steel tanks.

What we think: This is another extremely well-priced quality Riesling. Clean and crisp with a refreshing yet dry finish, this white wine is a bargain pick.

4) Eroica Gold Riesling 2013

Variety: Dry

Region: Washington

Alcohol level: 11%

Scoring between 89 and 93 by wine experts, the Eroica Gold Riesling 2013 is an excellent white wine with a mid-range price.

This winery is really something special, bringing together the traditions of the old world in Germany with the modern wine-production of Washington. The fusion of two incredible producers to create the Eroica brand is what sets this Riesling apart.

In 2013 the bud break was early enough to break all records, leading to a summer that was consistently warm, the very best conditions for optimum ripening of the vines.

A trio of vineyards were used for this vintage: one in Yakima Valley, one on the Royal Slope and a third next to the Columbia River.

Harvest took place between August and November with the collection completed at night in cool conditions to ensure the very best fruit. Pressing took place instantly after harvest followed by a gentle fermentation which was slowed with yeast to produce more rounded fruit flavors.

This process of careful harvest and fermentation has created a white wine with pronounced fruity flavors which delivers orange marmalade notes. Juicy peach and the ripest of pears are paired with a deliberate background of botrytis for an earthier touch.

Alongside the fleshy flavors of the fruit lies saffron and orange peel, and it’s this which is used to add greater depth rather than relying on sweetness.

Finishing clean, this Riesling works very well with Thai cuisine and curries, as well as fish.

If you want to avoid a Riesling with too much sweetness but still yearn for a complex layered flavor, this is a top pick. The price isn’t too bad either, sat slap bang in the middle of the others on this list.

5) McGuigan Shortlist Eden Valley Riesling 2017

Variety: Dry

Region: Eden Valley, Australia

Alcohol: 12.5%

This winery has won the coveted International Winemaker of the Year Award no less than four times, an achievement that places McGuigan firmly on the world stage.

They have also won an impressive array of other awards, including many for the Riesling they have produced over the years.

The grapes for their 2017 Riesling were grown in a vineyard in Eden Valley, an area within the southern Australian Barossa zone. The elevation of this site together with the cooler climate helps to create fruit which offer an intense flavor.

The 2017 Riesling, along with other Riesling vintages grown on this site are often said to be comparable to some of the top Riesling produced in Germany. This quality is borne out by the exceptional score of 93 handed out by wine critics.

A straw color with a green tinge, this Riesling offers aromas of jasmine with grapefruit notes that hit the front of the palate. This develops into a zesty mix of lime and green apple backed by slate, a classic Riesling presentation.

The finish delivers more minerals as well as a healthy shot of acid, leaving the mouth feeling clean and alive. Serve with delicate seafood flavors, oysters and shellfish for maximum appreciation. The quality of this Riesling allows it to be cellared for the medium to long term.

Another Riesling which is priced in the center, it’s hard to ignore the high scores and armfuls of awards this white wine has won.

Conclusion

The above collection of affordable Riesling offer a sublime choice which is almost impossible to rank. All have scored well from wine critics and have proven to be white wines with real staying power.

For sheer economy, the Weingut Winter Dittelsheim Riesling is impossible to beat, offering incredible value with an exquisite flavor. The only downside is that it won’t keep for too long.

However, when it comes to very affordable Riesling wine taking all factors into account it has to be the McGuigan.

From an award-winning winery and with a vintage that is rocketing in popularity, you can either drink this beauty now or keep it for as long as you fancy.

What's your favorite Riesling that offers great value for money?