Riesling Flashcards
Does Riesling prefer a cool to moderate or a warm to hot climate?
Cool to moderate
Riesling is naturally low or naturally high in acidity?
Naturally high
Riesling’s susceptibility to Botrytis/noble rot is high or low?
Riesling is highly susceptible to Botrytis/noble rot.
Describe Riesling’s general profile.
- Fruit-forward (apple, peach, citrus)
- Pronounced floral notes (honeysuckle, blossom)
- High acidity
- Can be made dry to lusciously sweet
- Can be light to full bodied
What is the greatest benefit of Riesling’s high acidity?
It balances both ripeness and high levels of sweetness (residual sugar).
What are the different fruit profiles found in just-ripe Riesling vs. extra-ripe Riesling?
Just-ripe:
- Green apples
- Green pears
- Sour citrus (lemon, lime)
Extra-ripe:
- Stone fruits (peach, apricot)
- Tropical fruits (mango, pineapple)
- Dried fruits (golden raisins)
Name 2 ways that off-dry or medium style Rieslings get their sweetness.
- Interrupting fermentation and filtering/removing yeast, leaving the wine with some residual sugar
- Adding sterile grape juice (Süssreserve) after fermentation
What is Süssreserve?
Sterile, naturally sweet grape juice
How do the sweetest styles of Riesling retain their sugar?
Fermentation stops naturally in the sweetest styles of Riesling.
Bascially, there is too much sugar for the yeasts to eat.
Why do winemakers typically ferment Riesling in stainless steel, or other inert vessels, rather than oak?
Oak imparts unwanted flavors that would obstruct Riesling’s delicate floral and fruity aromas.
Stainless steel helps Riesling retain those hallmark fruit and floral aromas and flavors.
What structural element helps Riesling age?
High acidity
Name some tertiary flavors that aged Riesling can develop.
- Honey
- Petrol (gasoline/Vasoline)
How many wine regions are there in Germany?
13
Name 3 regions in Germany known for making great Riesling.
- Mosel
- Rheingau
- Pfalz
“Pfalz” is pronounced like “false”.
Which wine region in Germany will have the lightest-bodied Rieslings and why?
Mosel because it is the most northerly and the grapes struggle to ripen.
What helps Riesling grapes ripen in Mosel?
stony soils
The soils reflect sunlight and retain warmth which help grapes ripen in this cool climate.
What kind of style are Mosel Rieslings likely to be?
Light bodied and off-dry/medium
Are Rheingau’s vineyards located on the north or south bank of the Rhine River?
North bank
The north bank is facing south so they can be exposed to as much sun as possible.
Are Rheingau Rieslings typically drier or sweeter than Mosel Rieslings?
Drier
What is the climate like in Pfalz?
Sunny and dry with a long growing season
Pfalz is in the rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains, which helps it produce medium-bodied, dry, and textural Rieslings.
Which region in France is known for its dry, intensely-flavored Rieslings?
Alsace
The Pfalz region in Germany is loosely known as an extension of which region in France?
Alsace
Both Alsace and Pfalz are in the rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains.
Fill in the blank:
Alsace is known to be one of the _____ and _____ regions in all of France.
sunniest, driest
Which direction do most vineyards in Alsace face?
East and southeast
Because the grapes in Alsace see mostly morning sun, which is more gentle than hot afternoon sun, the growing season tends to be long and steady, which helps build the flavor intensity in the grapes.
