Wine Styles - Riesling

Question 1

German Riesling Climactic Factors

Answer 1

• Cool continental climate
• Summers can be wet
• Long cool ripening season - ripeness, clarity of fruit and high acidity
• High vintage variation
• Best vines on steep, south facing, often stony slopes which helps with heat retention and sunlight
• Rivers help sun reflection & air circulation helps minimise frosts

Question 2

German Riesling Styles

Answer 2

• Qualitataswein
• Pradikatswein
  
  • Kabinett
  • Spatlese
  • Auslese
  • Beerenauslese
  • Eiswein
  • Trockenbeerenauslese

Question 3

Describe Kabinett

Answer 3

• Light body
• High acidity
• Green fruit to citrus
• Sweet wines - 8-9% ABV
• Dry wines - 12% ABV
• Fermantatiion stopped before all sugar fermented

Question 4

Describe Spatlese?

Answer 4

• Hig acidity
• More concentrated
• More body & alcohol
• Riper
• Citrus and stone fruit (peach & apricot)

Question 5

Describe Auslese?

Answer 5

• Made from extra ripe bunches
• Richer and riper than Spatlese
• May be noble rot

Question 6

Describe Beerenauslese & Trockenbeerenauslese?

Answer 6

• Noble rot is essential for TBA but not always BA
• Sweet & low alcohol
• Honey / dried stone fruits / candied peel and flowers
• Not made every year

Question 7

Alsace Riesling Climactic Factors

Answer 7

• Cool to moderate continental climate
• Accross the border from Mosel so similar sunny and dry conditions - in the rain shadow of the Vosges mountains
• Drier years can be a problem
• Best vineyards on the steep east and south east slopes
• Plains less prestigious - produce cremant

Question 8

Alsace Riesling Tasting Note

Answer 8

Pale - medium lemon

Intensity: Medium+

Aromas & Falvours: Yellow apple, lemon, lime, ginger, honey, beeswax, honeysuckle, slate, grapefruit, pear, peach, nectarine, steely

Dry / Acidity - High / ABV - Med / Body - Full / Intensity - Med+ to Pronounced

Finish: Med - Med+

Question 9

Australian Riesling

Answer 9

• Clare Valley, Eden Vally, Franland River, Tasmania
• Cooler regions and in the case of Clare Valley at altitude (up to 570m)
• Pronounced lemon, lime, grapefruit which develop into honey, toasty, marmalade & petrol flavours and aromas with age
• Tassie & Frankland River less citrussy & more floral
• Dry / Acidity - High / ABV - Med / Body - Light / Intensity - Med + to Pronounced