3.8 Riesling Flashcards
Is Riesling a neutral or an aromatic grape?
Aromatic
What is the aromatic intensity of Riesling?
What aromas/flavors does it exhibit?
Pronounced fruity and floral aromas
The specific flavors vary depending on climate/level of ripeness:
Just ripe: green fruit (apple, pear) and citrus (lime, lemon) and blossom.
Extra ripe: stone fruit (apricot, peach), tropical (pineapple, mango) and occasionally even dried fruit
Is Riesling naturally high or low in acid?
High
What styles is Riesling produced in?
Dry
Off-dry
Medium sweet
Sweet
Light bodied-full bodied
Is Riesling suitable for production of late-harvest wines? Botrytized wines?
Yes and yes!
Name 3 methods of concentrating grape sugars
Botrytis
Late-harvesting
Freezing the grapes on the vine
How are off-dry and medium sweet styles of Riesling made?
By interrupting fermentation and removing the yeast or by the addition of Sussreserve (unfermented grape juice).
Why is Riesling suitable for late-harvest wines (when there are appropriate dry, sunny Fall seasons)
Because Riesling retains acidity and flavors and sugar levels increase slowly
How are the sweetest styles of Riesling made?
By using extra-ripe or Botrytized grapes
Is quality Riesling age-worthy?
YES! for decades.
Is Riesling generally fermented/stored/matured in inert vessels or oak?
Inert vessels (preserves floral aromas)
What aromas/flavors does Riesling develop with age?
Honey and petrol (vaseline)
What balances the high sugar levels in sweet Riesling?
Acid
How many wine regions (anbaugebiete) are there in Germany?
13
What’s Germany’s climate type?
Cool
True or false: Some German vineyards are north of 50 degree latitude (remember the latitudinal “sweet spot” for ripening wine grapes successfully is 30-50 degrees)
True
Name 3 regions in Germany known for making great Riesling.
Mosel
Rheingau
Pfalz
Which wine region in Germany produces some of the lightest-bodied Rieslings and why?
Mosel
Its Northern latitude - the grapes struggle to ripen.
Describe the character of Mosel Rieslings
Usually- Off -dry to Medium Sweet
Lime and floral aromas/flavors
Pronounced aromas
Steely minerality
“Purity” of fruit
H acid
What factors help Riesling ripen in the Mosel Valley?
Aspect: Steep south or southwest facing slopes (the southern aspect reflects sunlight from the river)
Stony soils
Are Rheingau vineyards on the north or south side of the river?
North (South facing hillsides)
Describe the style of Rheingau Riesling
Drier and fuller bodied than those from Mosel
Describe the climate of Pfalz
Sunny and dry with a long growing season (rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains)
Almost a climatic extension of France’s Alsace region (and the wines are similar!)
What is rain shadow?
A rain shadow is a dry, arid area of land that occurs on the leeward side of a mountain range, where precipitation is significantly reduced
Describe the style of Pfalz Riesling
Medium-bodied and dry
What motivated Germany’s focus on ripeness/sweetness in its labeling laws?
Its cool climate makes ripeness challenging
In Germany, how is ripeness measured for purposes of labeling?
By the sugar level present in the grape at harvest
Name the tiers in German wine production (from top to bottom)
Pradikatswein
Qualitatswein
Landwein
What is Landwein?
German PGI wine
Typically light-bodied & off-dry or dry
What is Qualitatswein?
PDO wine
Must be from 1 of Germany’s 13 anbaugebiete and achieve higher ripeness levels than Landwein.
Usually more intense and fuller-bodied than Landwein.
Describe Pradikatswein
Must be from 1 of Germany’s 13 anbaugebiete
Grapes must have higher level of sugar than Qualitätswein (6 designated tiers of ripeness)
Name the 6 Prädikatswein categories from lowest sugar level to highest.
Kabinett
Spätlese
Auslese
Eiswein
Beerenauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese
Describe Kabinett wine style
Typically light-bodied with delicate green fruit (green apple), citrus (lime) and floral aromas and flavors
Describe Spatlese (late- harvest) wine style
More concentrated and fuller bodied than Kabinett
Riper fruit: citrus (lemon) & stone fruit (peach)
Describe Auslese (selected harvest) wine style
Made from hand selected extra ripe clusters
stone fruit (peach/apricot), tropical fruit (mango) and dried fruits
can be dry but most have sweetness
Describe Beerenauslese (selected berry harvest) wine style
Made from selected clusters or berries that have been affected by botrytis
stone fruit ( apricot), tropical fruit (mango), dried fruit and honey
Describe Eiswein (ice wine) style
Made from grapes that are frozen on the vine
stone fruit (peach/apricot), tropical fruit(pineapple, mango)
Requires specific weather conditions that do not occur every year. The wines are labor intensive, and yields are small, commanding high prices
Describe Trockeneerenauslese (selected dried berry harvest) wine style
Produced from individually selected botrytized berries, these wines are extremely concentrated and more intense than Beernauslese wines
What does Trocken mean?
Halbtrocken?
Dry
Off-dry (half dry)
Which 3 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories may be made dry in style?
Kabinett
Spätlese
Auslese
Which 2 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories must have Botrytized grapes?
Beernauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese
Which French Wine region’s famous for Riesling production?
Alsace
Where is Alsace located?
North-eastern France, East of the Vosges
What’s the climate of Alsace? What creates this climate?
Rain shadow from the Vosges Mountains - Alsace is one of the sunniest and driest wine regions in France
What vineyard sites are preferred in Alsace?
East or Southeast facing slopes (mountain foothills) which benefit from morning sun.
How are the top vineyards in Alsace designated?
Grand Cru
Late-harvested grapes in Alsace carry what term on the label?
Vendages Tardives
Describe the style of Alsatian Riesling
Pronounced aroma/flavor intensity
citrus and stone fruit flavors
high acid and medium body
When did Australia begin growing Riesling?
19th C.
Name 2 regions well known for production of high quality Australian Riesling
Eden Valley
Clare Valley
(both located in South Australia )
Why are the Eden and Clare Valleys well suited to quality Riesling production?
Higher altitude - cooler climate relative to neighboring areas
Describe the style of Clare and Eden Valley Rieslings
DRY with pronounced aromas of lime and sometimes petrol (vaseline)
