With entertaining season here—whether you’re hosting a party or going to one—it’s never a bad idea to have an all-purpose white wine chilled and at the ready.

The Schmitt Sohne 2009 Mosel Riesling—$8.99—is just that wine.

It’s a German white wine which comes in a distinctive blue bottle bearing a picture of a man in lederhosen on the label saying, “Pick me.”

Not bad advice, really. It would make a great hostess gift.

This Riesling is on the drier side of sweet, but its fruitiness makes it easy enough to drink by itself and it would complement nearly any food. Appetizers and finger food would be right at home with this wine. It would be equally appealing just to sip in front of a fireplace.

The recommended serving temperature is about 45 degrees for most white wines. Considering refrigerators are generally set at 35 degrees, taking out the wine a half an hour before serving should be about right. Like all wines, the flavor will emerge as it warms.

Don’t let the screw top put you off. That’s no longer the hallmark of an inferior wine. Real corks rot and they are going by the wayside because they don’t preserve the wine as well as plastic corks and screw tops.

On the label is the word, “Qualitatswein.” Literally translated, it means, “Quality Wine.” This is a designation by German wine law that the wine was made in one specific region from grapes of approved varieties which are sufficiently ripe. Riesling falls into this category.

There are seven classifications of German white wines, most of which refer to the ripeness and manner in which the grapes picked. However, the ripest grapes do not necessarily make the sweetest wines, as some are quite dry.

Germany is the northernmost wine growing region in the world. The Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wine region is the oldest in Germany, where they have 13 distinct regions. The Mosel region is known for producing fine Riesling wines, due to their climate and soil.

Schmitt Sohne is in its fourth generation of the Schmitt family, having been formally founded in 1919, although the family’s history with winemaking goes back over 200 years. Its vineyards are in the town of Longuich, on the Mosel River, in western Germany, near the border of France.

Over 2000 years ago, the Romans brought their vines to this region and began cultivation and winemaking during their occupation. It was easier to make the wine there than to transport kegs from home.

Just remember: There are no rules. Drink what you like.

Cheers!

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This wine was priced at $8.99 at the Cork and Barrel.