3.8 Riesling Flashcards

1
Q

Is Riesling a neutral or an aromatic grape?

A

Aromatic

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2
Q

What is the aromatic intensity of Riesling?

What aromas/flavors does it exhibit?

A

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

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3
Q

Is Riesling naturally high or low in acid?

A

High

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4
Q

What styles is Riesling produced in?

A

Dry
Off-dry
Medium sweet
Sweet
Light bodied-full bodied

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5
Q

Is Riesling suitable for production of late-harvest wines? Botrytized wines?

A

Yes and yes!

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6
Q

Name 3 methods of concentrating grape sugars

A

Botrytis
Late-harvesting
Freezing the grapes on the vine

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7
Q

How are off-dry and medium sweet styles of Riesling made?

A

By interrupting fermentation and removing the yeast or by the addition of Sussreserve (unfermented grape juice).

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8
Q

Why is Riesling suitable for late-harvest wines (when there are appropriate dry, sunny Fall seasons)

A

Because Riesling retains acidity and flavors and sugar levels increase slowly

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9
Q

How are the sweetest styles of Riesling made?

A

By using extra-ripe or Botrytized grapes

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10
Q

Is quality Riesling age-worthy?

A

YES! for decades.

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11
Q

Is Riesling generally fermented/stored/matured in inert vessels or oak?

A

Inert vessels (preserves floral aromas)

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12
Q

What aromas/flavors does Riesling develop with age?

A

Honey and petrol (vaseline)

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13
Q

What balances the high sugar levels in sweet Riesling?

A

Acid

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14
Q

How many wine regions (anbaugebiete) are there in Germany?

A

13

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15
Q

What’s Germany’s climate type?

A

Cool

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16
Q

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)

A

True

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17
Q

Name 3 regions in Germany known for making great Riesling.

A

Mosel
Rheingau
Pfalz

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18
Q

Which wine region in Germany produces some of the lightest-bodied Rieslings and why?

A

Mosel

Its Northern latitude - the grapes struggle to ripen.

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19
Q

Describe the character of Mosel Rieslings

A

Usually- Off -dry to Medium Sweet
Lime and floral aromas/flavors
Pronounced aromas
Steely minerality
“Purity” of fruit
H acid

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20
Q

What factors help Riesling ripen in the Mosel Valley?

A

Aspect: Steep south or southwest facing slopes (the southern aspect reflects sunlight from the river)

Stony soils

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21
Q

Are Rheingau vineyards on the north or south side of the river?

A

North (South facing hillsides)

22
Q

Describe the style of Rheingau Riesling

A

Drier and fuller bodied than those from Mosel

23
Q

Describe the climate of Pfalz

A

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!)

24
Q

What is rain shadow?

A

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

25
Q

Describe the style of Pfalz Riesling

A

Medium-bodied and dry

26
Q

What motivated Germany’s focus on ripeness/sweetness in its labeling laws?

A

Its cool climate makes ripeness challenging

27
Q

In Germany, how is ripeness measured for purposes of labeling?

A

By the sugar level present in the grape at harvest

28
Q

Name the tiers in German wine production (from top to bottom)

A

Pradikatswein
Qualitatswein
Landwein

29
Q

What is Landwein?

A

German PGI wine
Typically light-bodied & off-dry or dry

30
Q

What is Qualitatswein?

A

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.

31
Q

Describe Pradikatswein

A

Must be from 1 of Germany’s 13 anbaugebiete

Grapes must have higher level of sugar than Qualitätswein (6 designated tiers of ripeness)

32
Q

Name the 6 Prädikatswein categories from lowest sugar level to highest.

A

Kabinett
Spätlese
Auslese
Eiswein
Beerenauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese

33
Q

Describe Kabinett wine style

A

Typically light-bodied with delicate green fruit (green apple), citrus (lime) and floral aromas and flavors

34
Q

Describe Spatlese (late- harvest) wine style

A

More concentrated and fuller bodied than Kabinett

Riper fruit: citrus (lemon) & stone fruit (peach)

35
Q

Describe Auslese (selected harvest) wine style

A

Made from hand selected extra ripe clusters

stone fruit (peach/apricot), tropical fruit (mango) and dried fruits

can be dry but most have sweetness

36
Q

Describe Beerenauslese (selected berry harvest) wine style

A

Made from selected clusters or berries that have been affected by botrytis

stone fruit ( apricot), tropical fruit (mango), dried fruit and honey

37
Q

Describe Eiswein (ice wine) style

A

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

38
Q

Describe Trockeneerenauslese (selected dried berry harvest) wine style

A

Produced from individually selected botrytized berries, these wines are extremely concentrated and more intense than Beernauslese wines

39
Q

What does Trocken mean?
Halbtrocken?

A

Dry

Off-dry (half dry)

40
Q

Which 3 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories may be made dry in style?

A

Kabinett
Spätlese
Auslese

41
Q

Which 2 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories must have Botrytized grapes?

A

Beernauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese

42
Q

Which French Wine region’s famous for Riesling production?

A

Alsace

43
Q

Where is Alsace located?

A

North-eastern France, East of the Vosges

44
Q

What’s the climate of Alsace? What creates this climate?

A

Rain shadow from the Vosges Mountains - Alsace is one of the sunniest and driest wine regions in France

45
Q

What vineyard sites are preferred in Alsace?

A

East or Southeast facing slopes (mountain foothills) which benefit from morning sun.

46
Q

How are the top vineyards in Alsace designated?

A

Grand Cru

47
Q

Late-harvested grapes in Alsace carry what term on the label?

A

Vendages Tardives

48
Q

Describe the style of Alsatian Riesling

A

Pronounced aroma/flavor intensity

citrus and stone fruit flavors

high acid and medium body

49
Q

When did Australia begin growing Riesling?

A

19th C.

50
Q

Name 2 regions well known for production of high quality Australian Riesling

A

Eden Valley
Clare Valley

(both located in South Australia )

51
Q

Why are the Eden and Clare Valleys well suited to quality Riesling production?

A

Higher altitude - cooler climate relative to neighboring areas

52
Q

Describe the style of Clare and Eden Valley Rieslings

A

DRY with pronounced aromas of lime and sometimes petrol (vaseline)