Riesling
Riesling is the strangest of wine making grapes. It is quite possibly the finest and best quality green grape but it also epitomises one of wine’s greatest ironies – nobody buys it. Avoid the insipid, watery versions and you’ll find highly fragrant, even extraordinary wines from the only bona fide classic white grape variety that is not French. It is the ultimate cool climate variety and for this reason has struggled in some places in the New World , but it is truly revered by those who know its capabilities. Be sure to avoid the ‘copies’ of good Reisling (Laksi Riesling, Olasz, Welsh and Riesling Italico – remember Liebfraumilsch?), use a knowledgeable retailer, and you’ll find some very reasonable prices.
Primary fruit character: lemon/lime and apples
Secondary fruit character: honey, peach, diesel, mineral
Spiritual home: Mosel, Germany
Home from home: Alsace, Austria, Eden & Clare Valleys (Australia), New Zealand, California
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