Johannisberg Special Select Late Harvest Riesling
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 10 to 30 years from the vintage release, as its high residual sugar and natural acidity allow it to develop profound complexity over decades.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic blue cheeses such as Roquefort, fruit-based desserts like apple tarte tatin, and rich savory starters like foie gras or artisanal duck pâté.
✨ Technical Specifications
Beringer, established in 1876 by German brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, stands as Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating winery. A crown jewel in their historic portfolio, the Johannisberg Special Select Late Harvest Riesling is a testament to the European tradition of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) adapted to California's diverse microclimates. Sourced from cool-climate vineyards where morning mists encourage the development of botrytis, the grapes are left on the vine to dehydrate, concentrating their natural sugars, acids, and flavors. Legendary winemaker Myron Nightingale pioneered advanced botrytis research at Beringer, cementing the winery's reputation for world-class dessert wines. This golden nectar offers an opulent sensory profile of dried apricots, honeyed peaches, and candied citrus, all balanced by a vibrant, life-giving acidity that prevents the intense sweetness from cloying.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1876 by German immigrant brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, Beringer Vineyards holds the historic distinction of being the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley. Anchored in St. Helena, the estate spans prime viticultural land across northern California, drawing fruit from well-draining alluvial fans, volcanic benchlands, and cooler southern AVA pockets such as Oak Knoll and Carneros. Across its celebrated white wine portfolio, Beringer emphasizes balance, varietal purity, and stylistic diversity—from the mineral-driven tension of the Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs to the layered, barrel-fermented opulence of its Private Reserve and Luminus Chardonnays. Viticulture focuses rigorously on third-party certified sustainable farming practices, water conservation, and soil health across all estate vineyards. By bridging time-honored European cellar traditions with modern precision vinification, Beringer maintains an internationally revered benchmark status in contemporary California winemaking.