Monday, 13 March, marked the birthday of Riesling wine, announced by Wines of Germany.
The date refers to the first written evidence of the grape, dating back to 1435. The Riesling grape is green skinned and prefers cooler regions such as the Rhine region of Germany, where it originally comes from.
Considered one of the top three white wines, it is a rare white wine that ages well. In fact, it can be drunk after bottling but the quality improves with time!
There is so much to celebrate when it comes to Riesling. It produces wines that are bright, lifted and aromatic and has been named Australia’s best-value grape.
It’s also very versatile and can be made in a range of styles from dry and off-dry to sweet late-picked and dessert/botrytis styles.
Key tasting characteristics can include flavours of lemon, lime and green apple, richer flavours of apricot, peach and pineapple, aged complexities of nuts, toast and honey, and sometimes notes of slate, blossoms and spice.
It may sound alarming but a petrol flavour coming from your glass is considered quite a good thing when it comes to Rieslings. The odour itself is described as kerosene or rubber. The essence is the result of a chemical compound in the grape itself. That chemical compound TDN, strengthens during the aging process, thus denoting a well-aged Riesling by odour alone.
Factors believed to play a role in the wine’s ability to produce TDN during the aging process include the ripeness of the grapes at harvest. With a late season harvest believed to be better, high sun exposure, high acid content and water stress.
Due to the high acidity and sweet bouquet, when you’re to pair a Riesling with food, think spice! The spice flavours of Indian food, or Thai food, make the perfect complement for Riesling.
Also, Australian style chicken, pork, prawn and crab dishes go well, my favourite is a Thai Duck dish with Riesling. When these meats and their accompanying vegetables are seasoned with ginger, clove, curry, soy, teriyaki, or basil, things get interesting.
Riesling is very much appreciated by winemakers around the world for its versatility, delicate aromas and brilliant fruit characteristics which so accurately reflect its terroir.
The beautiful Clare Valley region in South Australia, is the home and the heart of Australian Riesling. With the perfect climate to produce world-class Riesling, clear, pure, unpolluted skies and nighttime temperatures that drop dramatically encouraging Rieslings with great flavour and natural acidity.
Three Rieslings to seriously consider from the Clare Valley are produced by Taylors Wines, Pikes Wines and Grosset Wines. A belated Happy Riesling Birthday to you.
