Riesling

Question 1

What are the characteristics of Riesling ?

Answer 1

• Aromatic variety with character expressed wherever and whatever the style
• Different ripeness emphasise different aspects
• Can express nuance of vineyard site as Chardonnay (hence mention of the vineyard on the label)
• Susceptible to noble rot
• Fruity and floral
• New oak almost never used
• Almost never blended (seldom with Gewurz)
• Malolactic fermentation almost never done
• Can age well
• Styles range from dry to sweet
• It can grow in cool to moderate climate
• Price and quality ranges from mid-priced to premium and good to outstanding

Question 2

What climate, styles and flavours can we expect from Riesling in Germany ?

Answer 2

Climate: Cool
Style : Made in a range of styles from dry through to sweet, light to medium bodied with high acidity. New oak is almost never used.
Flavours : Flavours of green fruit – green apple and grape with floral notes of blossom and a hint of citrus – lemon and lime. Riper fruit can have pronounced lime and white peach on the nose. Late harvest wines develop flavours of peach, apricot and melon. As the wine ages it can develop flavours of honey and toast and some petrol-like aromas can appear in old Riesling.
High acidity levels and intense fruit help many Riesling wines to age in bottle. The key regions in Germany for top quality Riesling are the Mosel, Pfalz and Rheingau. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.

Question 3

What climate, styles and flavours can we expect from Riesling in France ?

Answer 3

• Climate: Cool
• Style: Dry to off-dry, medium to full bodied, with medium/high alcohol and high acidity.
• Flavours: Green apple, pear, lemon and lime with peach and apricot fruit notes and a pronounced flinty mineral character.
  Alsace is the key region in France for Riesling; the characteristics of this variety can differ markedly from one site to another, even when the same winemaking techniques are used. Some of the best wines can benefit greatly from bottle age and can last for decades. These wines can fetch up to premium prices.

Question 4

What climate, styles and flavours can we expect from Riesling in Austria ?

Answer 4

• Climate: Moderate
• Style: Dry/off dry, medium to full body with medium to high acidity.
• Flavours: Lemon and lime with ripe peach fruit character. Some wines can have a smoky mineral aroma.
  Riesling is not widely planted in Austria but some of the wines produced are of outstanding quality. Many are bottled to reflect the characteristics of a single, named vineyard like Alsace and Germany. These wines can develop great complexity as they age and can fetch up to premium prices

Question 5

What climate, styles and flavours can we expect from Riesling in Australia ?

Answer 5

• Climate : Moderate
• Style : Dry, medium body with high acidity. The wines are unoaked.
• Flavours : Pronounced citrus fruit of lime and lemon in youth. The wines age well developing notes of honey. Some wines develop smoky aromas that are similar to petrol.
  Riesling now makes some of Australia’s finest white wines, particularly in the Clare Valley and Eden Valley in South Australia. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.

Question 6

What appellation can we find in Alsace ?

Answer 6

• Alsace Grand Cru

- Alsace

Question 7

What is the classification of Pradikatswein in Germany and what they mean for Riesling ?

Answer 7

• Kabinett (Light body, high acidity, green fruits such as apple an grape)
• Spatlese (Late harvest, more body, notes of citrus and exotic fruit (lemon, pineapple)
• Auslese (More body than Spatlese and exotic fruits (mango and pineapple))
• Beerenauslese (Sweet wine, noble rot)
• TrockenBeerenauslese (Sweet wine, noble rot)
• Eiswein (Sweet wine made of frozen grapes)