3.8 Riesling

Question 1

Is Riesling a neutral or an aromatic grape?

Answer 1

Aromatic

Question 2

What is the aromatic intensity of Riesling?

What aromas/flavors does it exhibit?

Answer 2

Pronounced fruity and floral aromas

The specific flavors vary depending on climate/level of ripeness:

Just ripe: green fruit (apple, pear) and citrus (lime, lemon) and blossom.

Extra ripe: stone fruit (apricot, peach), tropical (pineapple, mango) and occasionally even dried fruit

Question 3

Is Riesling naturally high or low in acid?

Answer 3

High

Question 4

What styles is Riesling produced in?

Answer 4

Dry
Off-dry
Medium sweet
Sweet
Light bodied-full bodied

Question 5

Is Riesling suitable for production of late-harvest wines? Botrytized wines?

Answer 5

Yes and yes!

Question 6

Name 3 methods of concentrating grape sugars

Answer 6

Botrytis
Late-harvesting
Freezing the grapes on the vine

Question 7

How are off-dry and medium sweet styles of Riesling made?

Answer 7

By interrupting fermentation and removing the yeast or by the addition of Sussreserve (unfermented grape juice).

Question 8

Why is Riesling suitable for late-harvest wines (when there are appropriate dry, sunny Fall seasons)

Answer 8

Because Riesling retains acidity and flavors and sugar levels increase slowly

Question 9

How are the sweetest styles of Riesling made?

Answer 9

By using extra-ripe or Botrytized grapes

Question 10

Is quality Riesling age-worthy?

Answer 10

YES! for decades.

Question 11

Is Riesling generally fermented/stored/matured in inert vessels or oak?

Answer 11

Inert vessels (preserves floral aromas)

Question 12

What aromas/flavors does Riesling develop with age?

Answer 12

Honey and petrol (vaseline)

Question 13

What balances the high sugar levels in sweet Riesling?

Answer 13

Acid

Question 14

How many wine regions (anbaugebiete) are there in Germany?

Answer 14

13

Question 15

What’s Germany’s climate type?

Answer 15

Cool

Question 16

True or false: Some German vineyards are north of 50 degree latitude (remember the latitudinal “sweet spot” for ripening wine grapes successfully is 30-50 degrees)

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Name 3 regions in Germany known for making great Riesling.

Answer 17

Mosel
Rheingau
Pfalz

Question 18

Which wine region in Germany produces some of the lightest-bodied Rieslings and why?

Answer 18

Mosel

Its Northern latitude - the grapes struggle to ripen.

Question 19

Describe the character of Mosel Rieslings

Answer 19

Usually- Off -dry to Medium Sweet
Lime and floral aromas/flavors
Pronounced aromas
Steely minerality
“Purity” of fruit
H acid

Question 20

What factors help Riesling ripen in the Mosel Valley?

Answer 20

Aspect: Steep south or southwest facing slopes (the southern aspect reflects sunlight from the river)

Stony soils

Question 21

Are Rheingau vineyards on the north or south side of the river?

Answer 21

North (South facing hillsides)

Question 22

Describe the style of Rheingau Riesling

Answer 22

Drier and fuller bodied than those from Mosel

Question 23

Describe the climate of Pfalz

Answer 23

Sunny and dry with a long growing season (rain shadow of the Vosges Mountains)

Almost a climatic extension of France’s Alsace region (and the wines are similar!)

Question 24

What is rain shadow?

Answer 24

A rain shadow is a dry, arid area of land that occurs on the leeward side of a mountain range, where precipitation is significantly reduced

Question 25

Describe the style of Pfalz Riesling

Answer 25

Medium-bodied and dry

Question 26

What motivated Germany's focus on ripeness/sweetness in its labeling laws?

Answer 26

Its cool climate makes ripeness challenging

Question 27

In Germany, how is ripeness measured for purposes of labeling?

Answer 27

By the sugar level present in the grape at harvest

Question 28

Name the tiers in German wine production (from top to bottom)

Answer 28

Pradikatswein Qualitatswein Landwein

Question 29

What is Landwein?

Answer 29

German PGI wine Typically light-bodied & off-dry or dry

Question 30

What is Qualitatswein?

Answer 30

PDO wine Must be from 1 of Germany's 13 anbaugebiete and achieve higher ripeness levels than Landwein. Usually more intense and fuller-bodied than Landwein.

Question 31

Describe Pradikatswein

Answer 31

Must be from 1 of Germany's 13 anbaugebiete Grapes must have higher level of sugar than Qualitätswein (6 designated tiers of ripeness)

Question 32

Name the 6 Prädikatswein categories from lowest sugar level to highest.

Answer 32

Kabinett Spätlese Auslese Eiswein Beerenauslese Trockenbeerenauslese

Question 33

Describe Kabinett wine style

Answer 33

Typically light-bodied with delicate green fruit (green apple), citrus (lime) and floral aromas and flavors

Question 34

Describe Spatlese (late- harvest) wine style

Answer 34

More concentrated and fuller bodied than Kabinett Riper fruit: citrus (lemon) & stone fruit (peach)

Question 35

Describe Auslese (selected harvest) wine style

Answer 35

Made from hand selected extra ripe clusters stone fruit (peach/apricot), tropical fruit (mango) and dried fruits can be dry but most have sweetness

Question 36

Describe Beerenauslese (selected berry harvest) wine style

Answer 36

Made from selected clusters or berries that have been affected by botrytis stone fruit ( apricot), tropical fruit (mango), dried fruit and honey

Question 37

Describe Eiswein (ice wine) style

Answer 37

Made from grapes that are frozen on the vine stone fruit (peach/apricot), tropical fruit(pineapple, mango) Requires specific weather conditions that do not occur every year. The wines are labor intensive, and yields are small, commanding high prices

Question 38

Describe Trockeneerenauslese (selected dried berry harvest) wine style

Answer 38

Produced from individually selected botrytized berries, these wines are extremely concentrated and more intense than Beernauslese wines

Question 39

What does Trocken mean? Halbtrocken?

Answer 39

Dry Off-dry (half dry)

Question 40

Which 3 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories may be made dry in style?

Answer 40

Kabinett Spätlese Auslese

Question 41

Which 2 of the 6 Prädikatswein categories must have Botrytized grapes?

Answer 41

Beernauslese Trockenbeerenauslese

Question 42

Which French Wine region's famous for Riesling production?

Answer 42

Alsace

Question 43

Where is Alsace located?

Answer 43

North-eastern France, East of the Vosges

Question 44

What's the climate of Alsace? What creates this climate?

Answer 44

Rain shadow from the Vosges Mountains - Alsace is one of the sunniest and driest wine regions in France

Question 45

What vineyard sites are preferred in Alsace?

Answer 45

East or Southeast facing slopes (mountain foothills) which benefit from morning sun.

Question 46

How are the top vineyards in Alsace designated?

Answer 46

Grand Cru

Question 47

Late-harvested grapes in Alsace carry what term on the label?

Answer 47

Vendages Tardives

Question 48

Describe the style of Alsatian Riesling

Answer 48

Pronounced aroma/flavor intensity citrus and stone fruit flavors high acid and medium body

Question 49

When did Australia begin growing Riesling?

Answer 49

19th C.

Question 50

Name 2 regions well known for production of high quality Australian Riesling

Answer 50

Eden Valley Clare Valley (both located in South Australia )

Question 51

Why are the Eden and Clare Valleys well suited to quality Riesling production?

Answer 51

Higher altitude - cooler climate relative to neighboring areas

Question 52

Describe the style of Clare and Eden Valley Rieslings

Answer 52

DRY with pronounced aromas of lime and sometimes petrol (vaseline)