Riesling

Question 1

Name the general characteristics of Riesling.

Answer 1

• pronounced fruity character
• floral
• aromatic
• ranges from dry to medium to sweet

Question 2

What are the characteristics of cool climate Riesling?

Answer 2

• floral
• green fruit (apple, grape)
• citrus fruit (lemon, lime)

Question 3

What are the characteristics of moderate climate Riesling?

Answer 3

• citrus fruit (lemon, lime)

- stone fruit (white peach, apricot)

Question 4

What are the characteristics of aged Riesling?

Answer 4

• smoky, petrol-like aromas
• develops honey, toast flavors
• new oak almost never used

Question 5

Why is Riesling good for bottle aging?

Answer 5

• high acid

- intense fruit

Question 6

What are the characteristics of a Qualitatswein Riesling?

Answer 6

• basic
• light body
• dry
• fruity
• refreshing

Question 7

What is Qualitatswein?

Answer 7

A classification system

• requires minimum ripeness
• 13 regions permitted

Question 8

What is Pradikatswein?

Answer 8

A classification system where wines are categorized by sugar level in the grapes.

Question 9

List the qualities of a Kabinett Riesling.

Answer 9

“Kabinett” = “harvested first”

• light body
• high acid
• green fruit (apple, grape)

1. medium sweetness, light alcohol
   OR
2. dry, medium alcohol

Question 10

List the qualities of a Spatlese Riesling.

Answer 10

“late harvest”

• more body
• citrus (lemon)
• exotic fruit (pineapple)

Question 11

List the qualities of an Auslese Riesling.

Answer 11

“harvested later”

• even more body
• more exotic fruit (pineapple, mango)
• typically medium sweet or sweet but could still be dry

Question 12

Beerenauslese/Trockenbeerenauslese

Answer 12

Sweet wines made from noble rot-affected grapes

Question 13

Eiswein

Answer 13

Sweet wines made from frozen grapes

Question 14

Mosel Riesling

Answer 14

• lightest body
• Kabinett & Spatlese (medium sweetness balanced with high acidity)
• steep slopes surrounding Piesport & Bernkastel

Question 15

Rheingau Riesling

Answer 15

• smaller region
• Kabinett, Spatlese & Auslese
• drier in style
• medium bodied

Question 16

Pfalz Riesling

Answer 16

• large, southerly region (close to Alsace)
• Forst
• Deiesheim
• off-dry
• medium bodied

Question 17

Rheinhessen Riesling

Answer 17

• largest region

- fuller body

Question 18

Alsace Riesling

Answer 18

1. • dry
   • medium body
   • green fruit
   • citrus fruit
   • stone fruit

2.

• fuller body
• late harvest
• intense flavors
• hint of sweetness

Can be bottle-aged for decades:

• honey
• smoke
• petrol-like

Question 19

Describe the climate/land of Alsace.

Answer 19

• Vosges Mountains to the west (shelter from wind and rain)
• Vines are planted on eastern foothills (morning sun)
• Long, dry, warm autumns

Question 20

New Zealand Riesling

Answer 20

-South Island

• dry or off-dry
• high acid
• intense green fruit (grape, apple)
• citrus fruit (lime)
• most best consumed young
• some age: honey

Question 21

Australian Riesling

Answer 21

• Clare Valley
• Eden Valley

1.

• dry
• medium body
• high acid
• pronounced citrus fruit (lemon, lime)
• age well: honey, toast, smoky, petrol

2. sweet wines

Question 22

Austrian Riesling

Answer 22

• medium-to-full body
• medium-to-high acid
• dry
• citrus
• stone fruit
• smoky
• mineral aromas
• age: complexity

Question 23

Grosses Gewachs

Answer 23

• Erstes Gewachs (Rheingau)
• high quality dry wine made from riper grapes (equivalent to Spatlese but Qualitatswein)
• grapes must come from one of the best individually named vineyards
• red wines = Pinot Noir
• best white wines = Riesling
• private labeling system set up by German wine producers to indicate top sites

Question 24

Bulk Production Regions for Inexpensive Riesling

Answer 24

• not common
• Germany (inexpensive, dry, fruity)
• Australia

Question 25

Riesling in Blends

Answer 25

• Almost never blended in premium quality wines
• Germany
• Australia: Gewurztraminer & Riesling (fruity, off-dry)