Chapter 8 - Riesling

Question 1

What are general characteristics of Riesling?

Answer 1

• White grape variety that prefers cool to moderate climates
• High acidity
• Susceptibility of botrytis/noble rot
• Produced across the world at all sweetness levels

Question 2

What are the aromas of Riesling?

Answer 2

• Pronounced fruity and floral aromas with high acidity
• Aromas vary according to ripeness
• Just ripe: green fruit (apple, pear) and citrus (lemon, lime)
• Extra-ripe: stone fruit (peach, apricot), tropical fruit (mango, pineapple), sometimes dried fruit (dried apricots, raisins)

Question 3

What are the styles of Riesling?

Answer 3

• Dry to sweet
• Light to full in body
• Suitable for late harvesting in dry, sunny autumn conditions
• Perfect for balancing acidity with sweetness

Question 4

How is Riesling produced?

Answer 4

• Off-dry or medium style wines are made interrupting fermentation by removing yeast. Leads to lower alcohol content
• Sweetest styles are so sweet that fermentation stops naturally
• Fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve flora aromas
• Riesling can age for years/decades thanks to natural acidity. Develops tertiary flavours

Question 5

What are the biggest Riesling producers?

Answer 5

• Germany: cool climate
• France
• Australia

Question 6

What are characteristics of Mosel wines?

Answer 6

• Northerly latitude, lighter in body, medium sweetness, very high acidity
• best vineyards are planted on steep south- or south-east-facing slopes on the banks of Mosel River
• Stony soils and reflected sunlight from river aid grape ripening

Question 7

What are characteristics of Rheingau wines?

Answer 7

• Typically drier and more body than Mosel Riesling

Question 8

What are characteristics of Pfalz wines?

Answer 8

• Dry, sunny climate with long growing season
• Climatically extension of France’s Alsace region
• Typically dry and medium-bodied wines

Question 9

What are characteristics of Alsace AOC Riesling wines?

Answer 9

• Vineyards protected from Vosges mountains
• Driest and sunniest wine-producing regions in France
• Extended growing season allows grapes to ripen slowly and gradually

Question 10

What is the taste of Alsace AOC Riesling wines?

Answer 10

• Dry
• Pronounced aroma and flavour intensity
• Ripe Citrus, stone fruit flavours, vibrant blossom aromas
• Medium-bodied with high acidity
• Can age for decades, developing tertiary flavours of honey and dried fruit
• Sweeter wines from Vendages tardives also exist

Question 11

What are the key labelling terms in Germany?

Answer 11

• Labelled according to sugar levels
• Landwein: light-bodied, dry to off-dry in style
• Qualitätswein: PDO wines come from one of 13 wine regions, high level of grape ripeness required, more intense flavour and fuller in body
• Prädikatswein: higher level of sugar, grapes must come from a single region
• Trocken: dry wine, halbtrocken: some sweetness

Question 12

What are the 6 German Prädikat categories?

Answer 12

• Kabinett
• Spätlese
• Auslese
• Beerenauslese
• Trockenbeerenauslese
• Eiswein

Question 13

Characteristics of Kabinett

Answer 13

• Kabinett: delicate, light-bodied, green fruit (green apple), citrus fruit (lime), floral aromas (blossom)

Question 14

Characteristics of Spätlese

Answer 14

• Spätlese: more concentrated flavours, fuller body, riper citrus-fruit (lemon, lime), some stone fruit (peach)

Question 15

Characteristics of Auslese

Answer 15

• Auslese: extra-ripe bunches, stone fruit (apricot), tropical fruit (mango) and dried fruit. Most have some sweetness

Question 16

Characteristics of Beerenauslese

Answer 16

• Beerenauslese: concentrated by botrytis, fresh stone fruit (apricot), tropical fruit (mango), dried fruit, honey

Question 17

Characteristics of Trockenbeerenauslese

Answer 17

• Trockenbeerenauslese: selected berried that have been tried through botrytis, rare wines, similar, but more intense flavours and Beerenauslese

Question 18

Characteristics of Eiswein

Answer 18

• Eiswein: small yields, only in certain years with climates conditions possible, fresh stone-fruit (peach, apricot), tropical-fruit (mango, pineapple). No botrytis part of the production

Question 19

What are characteristics of Australian wines?

Answer 19

• Produced in Eden Valley and Clare Valley
• Higher altitude with milder climate than nearby Barossa Valley
• Dry Riesling, refreshing style, pronounced aromas of lime, peach, blossom, petrol (gasoline)

Question 20

What is important about Riesling today?

Answer 20

• Cheaper low-quality sweet wines (Liebfraumilch) less relevant today
• Riesling held high in regard due to versatility and ability to age