Riesling

Riesling is a white grape variety that is generally a flagship of German viticulture. Germany is almost certainly the country of origin. Even today, almost half of the world's total acreage is located in Germany. The grape variety has been cultivated in Germany for at least 600 years (first mentioned in writing in Worms in 1402 1435*).

Riesling is demanding in terms of its location and likes steep slopes. There are over 160 names for Riesling worldwide. They testify to the great age and worldwide distribution of this noble vine in almost all wine-growing countries. In Germany, we encounter it under the names Edler Riesling, Gelber Riesling, Gräfenberger, Hochheimer, Johannisberger, Kleinriesling, Klingelberger, Rissling, Rüsseling and Weißer Riesling. Here in the Saale and Unstrut valleys, it is classically known as Riesling. In France, it is known to connoisseurs as Raisin du Rhin, Rhin or Riesling Rhénan. The Italians call it Riesling Renano, the Austrians Weißer Riesling. In Switzerland, it may be called Johannisberg, Johannisberg Riesling or Petit Rhin. In good Hungarian Fehér Rajnai, Rajnai Rizling, Californians write Rhine Riesling or White Riesling on the label.

* The viticultural historian Friedrich von Bassermann-Jordan remarked in his book “Geschichte des Weinbaus” (History of Viticulture), published in 1907, that the origin of the “most important German white wine grape - the Riesling” would probably never be clarified. Of course, That was a long time ago. Wikipedia refers to Dieter Braaz's “Wine Atlas of Germany” in an entry on the subject of Riesling. In it, the author explains that the first written mention of the Riesling vine and the city of Worms dates back to 1402. No source is named for this. In fact, the oldest document in which the popular vine is mentioned dates back to 1435, when the steward of Rüsselsheim Castle recorded the purchase of Riesling vines, which were planted in his own vineyard.