Ria’s Grace Riesling 2024
We have -42 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
The Finger Lakes of upstate New York sit at roughly the latitude of northern France, their deep glacial lakes moderating an otherwise harsh continental climate into something capable of producing genuinely world-class Riesling. Seneca Lake — the largest and deepest — is the engine of its AVA, storing summer heat and releasing it slowly through the cold months. Ria’s estate vineyard sits just 1,000 feet from its shore, on a west-facing slope in Honeoye silt loam over mixed limestone and shale, with the oldest Riesling vines dating to the early 1980s. Elevation, glacial soils, old vines, and lake influence: the building blocks are all here.
The Wine
100% Riesling, whole-cluster pressed over six hours, settled overnight, and fermented slowly in stainless steel with a pied de cuve and native yeast. Six months on lees with occasional stirring adds texture without obscuring the wine’s clarity. At 12% ABV and 1.8g/L RS, which is totally dry — the wine’s bright acidity really shines through. Ripe citrus, white peach, and bergamont on the nose; pear, wet stone, and a long, faintly saline finish on the palate. Wine Enthusiast scored it 94 points.
The People
Ria D’Aversa and Mike Penn are friends of ours we have known for over 10 years, and Steven met Mike years before in 2008 in Walla Walla while studying enology and viticulture. Mike and Ria left Sonoma for the Finger Lakes in 2021, drawn by what they saw as New York’s most undervalued terroir. Ria teaches viticulture at Cornell and manages the farming; Mike’s winemaking résumé spans France, Italy, New Zealand, and California. Their approach is restrained by design — spontaneous fermentations, no fining, no additions beyond minimal sulfur. In 2025 they began transitioning to regenerative farming, targeting Regenified Certification by 2028. Grace, at 342 cases, is their flagship white and one of the more compelling young-producer Rieslings in the region.
Food Pairing:
Best with spicy Southeast Asian flavors, lighter seafood, fresh herbs, and dishes with ginger, lime, or a little heat. Its dry style, bright acidity, and limey, mineral profile make it especially strong with aromatic food.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Riesling is a truly noble grape, known for its incredibly high acidity and a flavor profile that can range from bone dry to lusciously sweet. Germany is its heartland, and it's responsible for some of the world's most age-worthy examples, but Riesling also thrives in Austria, where it usually is dry. In Alsace, it takes on a slightly richer texture, while in parts of Australia, like the Clare and Eden Valleys, it displays a uniquely powerful and lime-tinged aromatic profile. This is a grape that has no problem showcasing its origins, and it's a fantastic example of how one variety can show many different expressions, each with its own unique appeal.
