A Glass of Riesling and the Memory of Europe — Memorial Day in Rhode Island

A Glass of Riesling and the Memory of Europe — Memorial Day in Rhode Island

Riesling is a white grape variety loved worldwide, and is especially widely known as Germany's representative wine. Riesling, with its rich aroma and delicate aroma, has high acidity and is produced in various styles depending on the sugar content. It has a very wide spectrum from dry (fully matured and clean taste) to sweet (sweet and soft taste), which is one of Riesling's greatest charms.

On Memorial Day in Rhode Island, a glass of Riesling brings back memories of life in Germany—quiet cafes, art-filled streets, and the simple joy of slow living. A heartfelt reflection on cultural contrast and the forgotten rhythm of rest.

​This Memorial Day, I took a quiet trip to Rhode Island. And the Riesling I drank there came to me like an unexpected gift. Its fragrant and soft taste quietly brought back my life in Germany long ago. As if I had traveled back in time, in that one sip I was reminded of the small European city of Karlsruhe.

Rhode Island is a small and neat city. People who smile often, the streets are decorated with cute decorations, and the clean and quiet atmosphere. All of these things provided a warm comfort to the weary traveler. It didn’t feel unfamiliar. Rather, it felt familiar. This is because it overlapped with my memories of living in Germany, where I spent most of my 30s.

Germany was a place that taught me what leisure in life is. No matter which city you walk in, you will find an open-air cafe, streets decorated with flowers, galleries and bookstores, street performers, and even the laughter of children. Of course, not all European cities were such utopias, but Europe in my memories was always like that. A simple and fragrant life, like a leisurely Sunday afternoon with a glass of Riesling.

When you live in the US for a long time, you often miss that leisure. The US has beautiful nature and is technologically advanced. It is free and vibrant. However, life is equally busy and competitive. Culture and art are pushed back, and only endless movement seems to fill the air. In cities that seem to not know how to enjoy art, I often feel my heart dry.

Before this trip, I was quite tired. What Rhode Island gave me was a quiet space that relieved my fatigue. And a glass of Riesling showed me the rhythm of life that I had forgotten.

Art gives us rest. It makes us stop and think.
That leisure is not just a pleasant walk on a leisurely day, but a time for me to return to myself.

This trip was not a long trip.
But it was a real trip that went deep into a certain era of my heart.