From the Archives: Finger Lakes Riesling: The ABCs of Riesling ABV, or, All About Alcohol

From the New York Cork Report on November 4, 2009

Editor’s Note: This story by Evan Dawson first ran in November 2009 on my old New York Cork Report blog. I rarely focus on ABV when I’m tasting and drinking Finger Lakes riesling, but my sense is that fewer Finger Lakes producers are worried about hitting a certain alcohol baseline these days. There really was a time when every bottle seemed to be labeled 12.5%. Those days are gone, I think.

Are Finger Lakes wine producers insecure about alcohol?

It's a strange question, I realize. But it's one that came to mind when my wife and I were out to dinner recently. We ordered a bottle of Joh. Jos. Prum 2007 Riesling Kabinett from Germany's Mosel. The wine was beautiful — and it was only 9% alcohol by volume (ABV). Not long ago, we enjoyed a Fritz Haag from Mosel that came in at 7% ABV. 

So I wondered: Why don't we see Finger Lakes rieslings at lower alcohol levels like their German counterparts?