Riesling

Riesling (pronounced REEZ-LING) is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region. This grape is an aromatic variety that displays flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity.

Interestingly Riesling is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines.

Riesling wines are usually varietally pure and are rarely oaked.

Wines made from Riesling grapes are included in the world's top three white varieties - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.

The character of Riesling wines are significantly influenced by the soils and terrain of where they are grown.

In cool climates, especially in German wine regions, Riesling wines tend to exhibit apple and other tree fruit notes with high levels of acidity that are often balanced with residual sugar.

A later ripening variety that develops more citrus and peach notes is grown in warmer climates, such as Alsace and parts of Austria.

Whereas many European and some New Zealand Rieslings have fruity semi-sweet overtones, Riesling in Australia is noted for a characteristic lime note that emerges in wines especially from the Clare & Eden Valleys in South Australia which are seen as the best places for Riesling to be produced in our country.

In the 1960s and '70s many wines sold in Australia as Riesling were actually made from Semillon grapes.

Riesling grapes were first planted in Australia in 1838 by William Macarthur at Penrith in NSW.

Riesling was the most planted white wine grape in Australia until the early 1990s when Chardonnay greatly increased in popularity.

Most Australian Rieslings are fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks with no oxidation of the wine and early bottling.

Australian Rieslings are noted for an oily texture and citrus fruit flavours when they are young and a smooth balance of freshness and acid as they age.

As Australian Riesling ages it develops toasty, honeycomb and mineral flavours. Some people identity this mineral flavour as being like kerosine or even petrol. 

The Clare Valley has many great Riesling wine makers including Grosset, O'Leary Walker, Jim Barry, Watervale and Knappstein.

With such a wide variety of flavours and styles, Rieslings can be paired with many different types of food including fish, pork and hard cheese.

Riesling is also able to stand up well to the stronger flavours of Thai and Chinese food.

Late harvest, botrytized Rieslings have immense levels of flavour concentrations that at times have been compared to lemon marmalade. These are excellent dessert wines and are a match made in heaven with blue cheese.

Secret Message - if you would like a bottle of Tim Knappstein 2002 hand-picked Clare Valley Riesling send an email to the Editor at  jimyoung3@icloud.com no later than midday on Tuesday 7 April,  saying RIESLING DRAW.

All persons who email will go into a draw that will take place during our Club's weekly ZOOM meeting between 6.00 and 7.00 pm on Tuesday, 7 April.