Riesling This is a wine made from the grape variety of the same name. Growing in Germany, Austria and northern France, this variety is one of the three most famous varieties of white wines. Yes, the Germans are known as the “nation of brewers”. But that doesn’t stop them from producing great wines.
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All shades of the sun
A distinctive feature of Riesling grapes is its unpretentiousness. Its vines thrive in the cold lands of Germany and are able to bear fruit even in the harshest conditions. Connoisseurs also note the versatility of its tastes. Depending on the time of collection and storage conditions, the winemaker can get wine of both dry and sweet varieties.
An important feature of the Riesling grape is its high acidity. As a result, a drink made from late-harvested berries gets a unique combination of sweetness and sourness, giving rise to a special, refreshing taste.
As for the wine itself, the Germans themselves divide Riesling into the following categories:
cabinet – the most dry variety. For it, the berries of the first collections are used, often not yet ripe.
Late harvest – For this variety, more mature grapes are harvested.
choice – third grade. Fruits that have reached full maturity are used here.
Beerenauslese – the next step. For her, overripe and beginning to wither grapes are selected.
Eiswein – semi-sweet wine from late harvest berries. Raw materials for it begin to be collected in late autumn.
Trockenbeerenauslese (aka TBA) is a dessert wine for which only wilted or moldy berries are chosen.
When choosing Riesling, you should pay attention to the markings. The presence of the mark “QmP” (Qualitätswein mit Prädikat) on bottles of German brands means “high quality wine”. For French producers, the best recommendation would be the mark “VDP” – the trade mark of the association of owners of the best vineyards. Austrian brands are marked with a green lizard badge.
Nordic wine for true gourmets
A unique feature of Riesling is the incredible variety of flavors and aromas. The leading role here is played by the time of collection of raw materials and the exposure time. Thus, young wines will please their tasters with aromas of freshly cut grass, ripe fruit or wildflowers. More aged varieties show notes of honey, wax or dried fruit.
But the most famous “Riesling” brought “petroleum” flavors of vintage varieties. Kerosene, tar, rubber. Not the most appetizing smells that can put an end to the career of any drink. But for the Germans, such a smell is a source of pride. There is even a special term “firn” (“compacted snow”). It is used to smooth over the unpleasant associations associated with “oil” analogies.
An important point is the “petroleum” aroma, this is the hallmark of European Rieslings. Wines made in America or New Zealand lack this trait.
The taste of the drink is also highly dependent on the time of collection. The later the collection occurs, the sweeter the drink will be. But even dessert varieties are distinguished by refreshing sourness. Also, the taste of young wines has a pronounced herbal tint. Aged varieties will greet you with the taste of juicy fruit.
Features of use
The company for Riesling is selected depending on its variety. Dry and semi-dry options are best served with hot meat dishes. The wine is perfect for game, roast or barbecue.
If fish or seafood is expected for lunch, then we recommend choosing Austrian Riesling. Unlike the German version, it is slightly salty, which will add some spice to the feast.
An interesting fact is that dry Rieslings fit perfectly into almost any kitchen. The main condition is that the food should be spicy or spicy. Thus, this wine is an excellent option for many dishes of the Far Eastern, Chinese or Indian cuisines.
Semi-sweet and sweet varieties are best suited for the role of dessert wines. The ideal company for them is a set of sweet pastries or a fruit plate.
But aged Rieslings require a special approach. Most gourmets prefer to drink them on their own, but if you want to serve it with something, opt for cheesecake or vanilla pudding. However, some originals believe that the best batch for them is creamy ice cream.
Conclusion
Riesling is not for everyone. Some will be scared off by excessive dryness, others – by the “oily” smell of noble varieties. But if you can find your variety, then love for him will remain for many years.
Sweet and semi-sweet varieties of German brands are also a great gift. They combine traditional quality, unique taste and aristocratic bottle design. Such a drink will perfectly decorate a home or office bar, and will give additional points of prestige to its owner.
Relevance: 10.09.2018
Tags: Wine and vermouths, Wine brands, Wine by grape variety