Chapter 8 - Riesling Flashcards
1
Q
What are general characteristics of Riesling?
A
- White grape variety that prefers cool to moderate climates
- High acidity
- Susceptibility of botrytis/noble rot
- Produced across the world at all sweetness levels
2
Q
What are the aromas of Riesling?
A
- 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)
3
Q
What are the styles of Riesling?
A
- Dry to sweet
- Light to full in body
- Suitable for late harvesting in dry, sunny autumn conditions
- Perfect for balancing acidity with sweetness
4
Q
How is Riesling produced?
A
- 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
5
Q
What are the biggest Riesling producers?
A
- Germany: cool climate
- France
- Australia
6
Q
What are characteristics of Mosel wines?
A
- 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
7
Q
What are characteristics of Rheingau wines?
A
- Typically drier and more body than Mosel Riesling
8
Q
What are characteristics of Pfalz wines?
A
- Dry, sunny climate with long growing season
- Climatically extension of France’s Alsace region
- Typically dry and medium-bodied wines
9
Q
What are characteristics of Alsace AOC Riesling wines?
A
- Vineyards protected from Vosges mountains
- Driest and sunniest wine-producing regions in France
- Extended growing season allows grapes to ripen slowly and gradually
10
Q
What is the taste of Alsace AOC Riesling wines?
A
- 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
11
Q
What are the key labelling terms in Germany?
A
- 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
12
Q
What are the 6 German Prädikat categories?
A
- Kabinett
- Spätlese
- Auslese
- Beerenauslese
- Trockenbeerenauslese
- Eiswein
13
Q
Characteristics of Kabinett
A
- Kabinett: delicate, light-bodied, green fruit (green apple), citrus fruit (lime), floral aromas (blossom)
14
Q
Characteristics of Spätlese
A
- Spätlese: more concentrated flavours, fuller body, riper citrus-fruit (lemon, lime), some stone fruit (peach)
15
Q
Characteristics of Auslese
A
- Auslese: extra-ripe bunches, stone fruit (apricot), tropical fruit (mango) and dried fruit. Most have some sweetness
16
Q
Characteristics of Beerenauslese
A
- Beerenauslese: concentrated by botrytis, fresh stone fruit (apricot), tropical fruit (mango), dried fruit, honey
17
Q
Characteristics of Trockenbeerenauslese
A
- Trockenbeerenauslese: selected berried that have been tried through botrytis, rare wines, similar, but more intense flavours and Beerenauslese
18
Q
Characteristics of Eiswein
A
- 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
19
Q
What are characteristics of Australian wines?
A
- 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)
20
Q
What is important about Riesling today?
A
- Cheaper low-quality sweet wines (Liebfraumilch) less relevant today
- Riesling held high in regard due to versatility and ability to age
