8. Riesling Flashcards
What level of acidity does Riesling have?
High acidity
What climate does Riesling grow in?
Cool to moderate
What fruit flavours does Riesling usually exhibit dependent on ripeness?
Just ripe: green fruit (apple, pear), citrus (lemon, lime)
Ripe: stone fruit (peach, apricot), tropical fruit (mango, pineapple)
Extra-ripe: dried fruit (dried apricots, raisins)
What level of sweetness does Riesling have?
Dry to sweet
What level of body does Riesling have?
Light to full body
How can Riesling create sweet wines?
Late harvesting
Botrytis
Frozen grapes
How are off dry and medium Rieslings made?
Fermentation is interrupted by removing the yeast
Addition of grape juice
What flavours may Riesling develop with bottle ageing?
Honey
Petrol/gasoline
Is oak used in Rieslings?
No, due to the aromatic, floral characteristics
Where is Riesling commonly found?
Germany - Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz
France - Alsace
Australia - Eden Valley, Clare Valley
Where is Rheingau?
Germany
Where is Pfalz?
Germany
Where is Alsace?
France
Where is Eden Valley?
Australia
Where is Clare Valley?
Australia
Where is Mosel?
Germany
What is the most important grape variety in Germany?
Riesling
What wine has the following characteristics: Medium sweetness High acidity Citrus/floral flavours Low alcohol?
Riesling from Mosel
What are the differences between key German Riesling regions?
Mosel - lightest style, citrus/floral
Rheingau - medium bodied, riper stone fruits
Pfalz - fullest bodied, richest style, stone/tropical fruits
What moderating factors affect Alsace?
Vosges mountains protect vineyards from rain and winds
SE facing foothills allow long periods of sunlight
What wine has the following characteristics:
Pronounced aroma and flavours
Ripe citrus and stone fruit flavours
Vibrant blossom aromas
Medium bodied with high acidity
Can develop honey and dried fruit flavour in bottle?
Alsace Riesling
What is Landwein?
PGI wine in Germany
What is Trocken?
A dry German wine
What is Halbtrocken?
A German wine with some sweetness
What is the hierarchy for German Rieslings?
Landwein
Qualitatswein
Pradikatswein
What is Qualitatswein?
PDO wine in Germany from 1 of 13 regions
Higher level of grape ripeness
Intense flavour and fuller body
What is Pradikatswein?
PDO wine in Germany
Highest level of sugar required
Must be from a single region
6 categories dependent on sugar content
What are the six categories of Pradikatswein in ascending minimum sugar levels?
Kabinett Spatlese Auslese Eiswein Beerenauslese Trockenbeerenauslese
What is a Kabinett wine?
Pradikat wine, lightest and most delicate
Light body, low alcohol
Green apple, lime, floral blossom, minerality aromas
What is Spatlese wine?
Pradikat wine produced by late harvest
Riper citrus fruit and some peach flavours
What is Auslese wine?
Pradikat wine from selected harvest of extra ripe grapes
Apricot, mango and dried fruit flavours
What is Eiswein?
Pradikat wine made from grapes frozen on the vine
Peach, apricot, mango and pineapple flavours
What is Beerenauslese?
Pradikat wine from selected grapes concentrated by botrytis
Apricot, mango, dried fruit and honey flavours
What is Trockenbeerenauslese?
Pradikat wine made from selected grapes dried by the effects of botrytis
What is the moderating factor in Eden Valley?
High altitude
What is the moderating factor in Clare Valley?
High altitude
What wine has the following characteristics:
Dry
Aromas of lime, peach, blossom and petrol?
Australian Riesling
