Red Tail Ridge Good Karma Riesling 2024

Red Tail Ridge, a LEED-gold certified winery on the western shores of Seneca Lake, has been a longtime favorite of ours for their precision and commitment to the Finger Lakes terroir. Their “Good Karma” bottling is a perennial staff pick, not just because a portion of the proceeds is donated to food banks, but because it is quite simply a joy to drink.

The 2024 vintage is a vibrant, off-dry expression that hits that Goldilocks zone of balance. On the nose, it’s a bouquet of honeysuckle, orange blossom, and a distinct note of pear juice with just a whisper of ginger spice. The palate is where the fun starts: there’s a playful, slight prickle of dissolved CO2 that carries flavors of ripe peach, Meyer lemon, and a touch of tropical papaya.

While there’s a gentle sweetness here, the Racy Finger Lakes acidity keeps everything clean, linear, and remarkably refreshing.