The most popular white wine. Riesling: history, features, price

Along with Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay, Wine Riesling is considered one of the three kings of white varieties. In this article we will tell the story of the breeding of this vine. His victorious procession on the planet grape varieties "Riesling" began with the Rhine lands. Gradually, its vines began to penetrate those countries remote from Germany, where the climate does not differ in hot summer. What makes Riesling so popular? First, its acidity, which allows the wine to ripen and ennoble in bottles for decades. Secondly, Riesling very well conveys the peculiarities of the terroir - the area where the vines grew. And, finally, thirdly, this wine can be varied by the amount of residual sugar from very dry to dessert. In such northern countries as Germany, where there is a real risk to gather at the end of the season berries are not ripe, "Riesling" - a real wand-zashchalochka. The wine from this variety is successful both from the early harvest, and from the so-called "spatter". But we will describe all these subtleties below.

Birth of a variety

Who and when brought vines "Riesling" - just do not know. The first record of grapes is not found in the chronicle, but in the economic book. The Germans are a punctual people, and Count Katzelnbogen of Rousselheim (Rheingau) carefully kept in his archive the record that in 1435, the thirteenth of March, their ancestor acquired six seedlings of Riesling, paying 22 solidas. Fifty years have passed since the grape variety is mentioned in Alsace. The official Latin herbarium Hieronymus Boca lists "Riesling" along with other species of vines. What were the ancestors of this variety? This is explained by modern genetics. The "Riesling" grapes originated from an ordinary traminer who entered into a marriage with the French Gouais Blanc, which the Germans usually call Veyser Heinisch. Well, now these vines are grown in Austria, South Australia and New Zealand - where summer is not threatened by drought and excessive heat to delicate white berries.

Which terroir is best

Wine Riesling better than others, conveys the climate and soil of the region in which the vines grew. And even weather conditions (rainy or, conversely, hot summer) are reflected in the quality of the drink. What is the best terrain for Riesling? Every German will tell you that the most authentic wine should be from Johannisberg. In the eighteenth century, after the devastating Thirty Years' War, the abbot of the Benedictine monastery Fulda planted abandoned land around the monastery with three hundred thousand vines of the Riesling variety. Thus, a certain standard was created. All winemakers of the Rhine lands were equal to Schloss Johannisberg. Fashion for "Riesling" led to the fact that the cultivar was cultivated in the Moselle valley. The climate there is hotter, and therefore the wine is more refined, with floral notes. Even more southern Palatinate informs Riesling of the taste of honey and peaches. The Saar Valley gives rise to stylish, spectacular wines. But the best terroir, as Burgundians would say, Grand Cru, is a small area in Reingessen, called Nakenheim Rottenberg. Red mica, the proximity of water and the southern climate give the local wine an unsurpassed taste.

Method of production

It is as important as terroir. Riesling in the hands of a skilled winemaker is like a soft wax under the fingers of an experienced sculptor. From this variety you can create anything. Dry, semi-dry wine, dessert - sweetness is achieved by the amount of residual sugars, the time of harvest. And this is a nuisance for beginning drink connoisseurs. The fact is that in Germany, the sweeter the Riesling, the more elite it is considered. Therefore, the most prestigious wine of this variety is the Rhine Icewine (ice wine). With this view of sweetness, the French disagree. Alsatian Riesling is more sour. English-speaking terminology clearly shares the fault of this variety on dryness. If the drink is sweet, it is called "off-drive." A clear word "bone-dry" characterizes a drink whose taste does not feel sweet at all. A semi-dry wine is simply called: "Driver".

The degree of maturity of berries

In the conditions of a cool and rainy German summer, it often happens that the crop has to be harvested unripened. But also from green berries it turns out quite good Riesling. However, the best varieties of this wine are made from late harvest. Here you need to know a few terms. "Shpatleze" is a late collection, when the berries already wrinkled from the night's cold and fermentation. Auslese - harvest is sorted from unripe grapes. "Birenausleze" - choose the overripe berries and make them a must. And, finally, Trockenbeerenauslese. In this case, Riesling wine is born only from berry-sized, wilted berries. It is clear that the cost of the product from such a sample (produced, of course, manually) increases.

Degree of aging wine

Riesling does not tolerate fermentation. Also it can not be insisted in oak barrels, like other white grape varieties. But it's good that he can bottle in bottles. Young wine, in addition to a rich bouquet of citrus fruits, gives a delightful freshness to the pears and green apple. With age, it acquires more and more honey notes. Dessert wine Riesling is special. The recognizable high acidity neutralizes the sogginess, which makes the drink perfectly balanced taste. In the bouquet, notes of peach, apricot, white flowers and exotic fruits are mixed with citrus tones. A mature riesling has a special - oil - shade. Maybe it sounds unappetizing, but the sommelier determines the benzoic taste of white wine as a positive quality. "Oil" is perfectly integrated into the structure of the drink. Words can not convey his refined taste.

Austrian Riesling

German wine on Mozart's land has acquired its characteristic features. Riesling in this country is grown in the valleys of the rivers Kamptal, Kremstal and Wachau, in Lower Austria. The soil in these regions is very stony, with a lot of gneiss, slate, granite. In combination with the high humidity of the air and the heat that holds the Danube hills, terroir allows you to grow elegant wines. The Austrians also use botrytis bacteria to ferment berries on branches - the so-called "noble mold". Austrian Riesling differs from German with its mineral notes in taste and a rich bouquet of exotic fruits. The best terroir in the country is a small section of Dürnsteiner Kellerberg. To choose a good Austrian Riesling, you do not need to be a great dock. Choose a bottle where a lizard is drawn on the label and the word "emerald" is indicated. The recognized cult wine from Austria is FX Pichler Riesling Smaragd Dursteiner Kellerberg.

Alsatian Riesling

The principal difference of wine of this sort in France is its dryness. The most suitable terracotta for riesling is the land around the town of Ribeauville. Well, "Grand Cru" is a small site Rosaquer, which is located in the commute Junavir. Here make an excellent dry white wine - "Riesling from the vineyard of Saint Unna" (produced by the house "Trimbach"). Its refined taste is generated by limestone soils with stony placers. In a bouquet of such Riesling not only fruits and minerals are felt, but also a slight smell of haze. Another diamond in the crown of Alsace wines is the Grand Cru Kastelberg, near the town of Andlo. This vineyard is mentioned back in 1064. Now the production is in the hands of Mark Craydenweiss. The French do not respect dessert wines - rather, they make them from other varieties of berries. Alsatian Riesling is not just dry - it's a "bon-drive."

Domestic Riesling

The grade of this grapes is quite successfully grown by the Russian company "Fanagoria". Riesling is poured with juices on the land of the Taman Peninsula. The climate here is moderately continental, and the summer is hotter than the wine required. And the soil of the Kuban is closer to chernozem, too greasy for "Riesling". But still the winemakers of Fanagoria ventured and planted vines brought from Austria. With proper care, they have made it possible for the berries to collect as much sugar as needed. The first harvest was collected in 2011. It was used to make ice-skating - "ice". It's a sweet drink. And recently there was a new batch of Riesling called "Number Reserve". This drink is light straw color, with notes of meadow grasses, lime and sunflower.

Riesling: price

This parameter depends not so much on the brand as on the desire of the store to obtain super-profits. So, German wine in Germany can cost about two euros. And the same Riesling in boutiques in Moscow - about six hundred rubles. If you look, you can find quite sophisticated brands. So, the famous "Riesling Smaragd Durnsteiner" from Austria will cost you nine and a half thousand rubles.