This month we are celebrating the noble grape – Riesling. After all it is summer and we make a Riesling – called Summer Riesling so why not!
Its the perfect summer drink – low in alcohol (9%) chilled down this wine is beyond delicious, very easy to drink with its touch of sweetness and lemon lime flavours keeping it crisp and refreshing. You can drink it on its own, and equally amazing with spicy prawns, a curry, goats cheese, peach and chicken salad….you get the idea.
We picked up a Gold medal for this wine at the Marlborough Wine Show and Sam Kim had this to say about it.
94 points 5 stars
This is stunningly beautiful; the inviting bouquet shows honeydew melon, lime sorbet and white floral aromas, leading to a finely focused palate that’s brilliantly concentrated and linear. It’s seductively enhanced by elegant sweetness and juicy acidity, making it superbly harmonious and immensely appealing. Style: Medium-dry. At its best: now to 2030.
Fun Facts about Riesling
1. One of the oldest noble grapes originating in Germany in the early 1400s
2. Riesling grape vines have thicker bark than others making it more resilient in cooler climates
3. Riesling is so versatile! Dry, off dry, sweet – very sweet (dessert wines) Riesling can be made in all of these styles
3. Riesling is second to none due to its transparency of flavour, reflecting fully its place of origin. (Riesling is usually made with no malolactic fermentation, no oak aging, and little to no manipulations of any sort in the winery … you’re left with the pure expression of where the wine came from – how amazing is that?)
4. Riesling is grown almost everywhere in the wine world – Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, California, Oregon, Washington State, Michigan, New York State, Canada (Ontario and British Colombia in particular), Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, and even 19 acres planted in Japan.
5. Riesling is possibly the most versatile grape when it comes to matching with food- which is why we have included this recipe for BBQ Chicken with Sweet Chili Sauce from our chefs Tane and Caroline
