Riesling! You Know You Want Some...

Written by Ian Robertson on 20th October 2007

As some of you who are regular readers will have noticed, I have a real thing for Riesling. As some of you who read the writings of other wine writers will notice, I am not the only one when it comes to those who make a living from writing about wine. For the last decade, the likes of Jancis Robinson, James Halliday, Len Evans and co have written about their love of this grape.

And it seems only now that the Riesling section of the major retailers is starting to catch up with us!

More and more brands and labels are hitting the shelves, and more and more shelf space is being given over to it. All I can say is about time!

In my tasting groups, those with little exposure to it really mistrust it. They see that tall, straight bottle, and even before I have told them what the wine is, I hear the comments. “I don’t like sweet wine, I like dry wine. So I won’t like this much.”

So, for the record, the vast majority of Australian Riesling – even the stuff in the tall bottles – is categorically NOT sweet. It is dry – usually BONE dry!

The mention of Riesling with certain people means sweet wine only because of certain terrible German and Austrian imports through the 1970’s and 80’s. These very cheap, very sugary wines were pretty bloody awful – and very bloody sweet!

So, sugar and Riesling became synonymous.

To break this thought process, it used to be one of the few wines I would mask in my tastings, decanting it out of its distinctive tall bottle. The difference in people’s comments and perceptions would be marked. People loved it.

So, cast aside any doubts you have, and grab a bottle the next time you are tempted to pick up a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris.

But what to pick up?

The short version of what to give a try to –

Clare Valley – quite often fiercely acidic, with lime and lemon, and real mineral notes

Eden Valley – again can be acidic, but tends to more mandarin flavours

Central Victoria – Henty – really ups the ante on the mineral and flinty notes, with less citrus

Western Australia – mostly Pemberton, Great Southern – tastes a little on the riper fuller side, sometimes with notes of orange

But the real bonus of being a Riesling drinker? Price. Some absolute rippers can be found under $20, and some real bargains can be found around $10.

Need more convincing? Then, you sir, are a philistine! Grab a bottle…quick, now!!!

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