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 brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, Beringer Vineyards holds the distinction of being California's oldest continuously operating winery, situated in the heart of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Pioneers of early Napa winemaking, the Beringer brothers engineered hand-dug limestone caves and gravity-fed cellars to craft refined, ageworthy wines. Today, owned by Treasury Wine Estates, the historic estate maintains an uncompromising dedication to site-specific viticulture across prime Napa Valley and Knights Valley terroirs. Beringer is internationally celebrated for its flagship Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, alongside complex single-vineyard expressions and botrytized dessert wines like Nightingale.