Reislings to try
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 12:40pm | Report Abuse
I am trying to figure out whether a blog or this forum is the preferred place to post questions. Anyhow, my wife and I would like to check out sweet rieslings from Israel. Is the Teperberg Silver Late Harvest White Riesling a good one for us to try or does anyone have other suggestions or feedback? Thanks, Avi
Username : avioler
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Location : United States
Re: Reislings to try
Sun, 06/14/2009 - 9:34am | Report Abuse
The forum is the best place to post a question because it is easier to reply back and forth on the forum. I agree that there is a limited selection of Israeli Rieslings, I wonder if it is because this grape is hard to grow in Israel. I am going to ask some Israeli winemakers to see if this is the case. I would definitely suggest trying the Teperberg Silver LH White Riesling, but because it is a late harvest just be aware that it will be extra sweet.Username : Dan
Forum Posts : 44
Location : United States
Re: Reislings to try
Sun, 06/14/2009 - 1:14pm | Report Abuse
Avi, If you're looking for something semi-dry, with a just a little sweetness, Gamla Riesling is nice. Efrat Riesling is also pretty tasty if you're looking for a sweet white wine. Like Dan said there aren't a lot of Isreali Rieslings on the market right now. If you want something pretty generously sweet, you might consider a late harvest Gewurztraminer, which will definitely expand your options, Yarden Heightswine and Carmel Shaal Gewurztraminer are outstanding exmaples.Username : Scott Shu
Forum Posts : 43
Location : United States
Re: Rieslings to try
Sun, 06/14/2009 - 6:43pm | Report Abuse
Thanks Dan and Scott for the recommendations.
Later this week I plan to try the Teperberg Silver LH White Riesling. I had heard that a Gewurztaminer is very similar to the Riesling so maybe I'll check one of those out too for a taste test comparison. What's the difference between a Riesling and Gewurztaminer generally?
I'm hoping that Tilapia goes with these selections. Any suggestions are welcome folks!
Let's see if correcting my typo for Rieslings in the subject continues the thread or starts a new one.
Username : avioler
Forum Posts : 4
Location : United States
Avi O
Re: Reislings to try
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 8:06am | Report Abuse
Hi Avi,
In answer to your question. Riesling is primarily a cool climate grape requiring a cool summer to ripen well and develop the aromatics that are associated with good Rieslings. It is similar reason that more pinot noirs and gewurztraminers are not grown in Israel; it is just not cold enough.
Around the world you will find good Rieslings grown between 40-50 degrees latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Clare Valley, in Australia is an exception and there is a lot written trying to reconcile the climatic data with the wine styles. For more details follow the link: http://www.drinkriesling.com/riesling-rules-book/regions/sacred-places-r...
My thanks to Naama Mualem, winemaker at Dalton Winery, for helping to prepare such a detailed answer.
Alex
Username : alex
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Location : Israel
Re: Reislings to try
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 10:04pm | Report Abuse
Hi,
The Teperberg LH Riesling is semi sweet, but very refreshing. It's consumed more as a desert wine. If you're looking for sweet riesling to try, I would defintely start with this.
Username : SHAI
Forum Posts : 3
Location : United States
Re: Reislings to try
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 2:19am | Report Abuse
Hi Avi
Seems you've got good answers from Alex about Reisling, just a quick note, most of the Reisling grown in Israel is Emerald Reisling a cross between Reisling and muscadelle. You can find some Johaneisburg Reisling (I think Tzora winery have some), and rarely Rhine Reisling which require much lower temps.
As for the wine suggestions I think Scott made very good reccomendations...take them
Gil
Username : Gil S
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Location : Israel
Re: Reislings to try
Sat, 06/20/2009 - 10:04pm | Report Abuse
Many thanks to all of you for the feedback. We tried the Teperberg Silver Late Harvest White Riesling at a dinner party tonight and everyone liked it, particularly those people who like sweet wines. Now we have to figure out the next one we'll try.
Username : avioler
Forum Posts : 4
Location : United States
Avi O
Re: Reislings to try
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 4:56pm | Report Abuse
I highly recommend the Carmel Winery Appellation Series Upper Galilee(?) Johannisberg Riesling, 2008. It is simply lovely, and totally reminds me of Germany with every sip
Best wishes,
E.Y.
Username : exabgen
Forum Posts : 25
Location : Israel
Re: Reislings to try
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 4:16pm | Report Abuse
Riesling not Reisling. Been making these wines with great consumer acceptance and personal winemaking enjoyment since 1980.
Username : Ernie Weir
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Location : United States
Re: Reislings to try
Fri, 07/31/2009 - 9:50am | Report Abuse
Ernie, does Hagafen keep really old vintages of your riesling? What's your experience with the ageability of Hagafen Riesling?
Thanks,
Scott
Username : Scott Shu
Forum Posts : 43
Location : United States
Re: Reislings to try
Fri, 07/31/2009 - 1:18pm | Report Abuse
Hi Scott,
About 5 years ago we dug out a few cases from older vintages from the 80's and 90's we had put into our library. The vintages that had benefited from Botrytis were very interesting and quite good. We offered them to our club members and to visitors to our tasting room.
As a result of that experience, we began to put away larger quantities of each vintage for rerelease at a later date, say after 8-10 years of aging. If you like Riesling, you will love the results after extended bottle aging which are a more concentrated essence balanced by natural grape acidity.
Best, Ernie
Username : Ernie Weir
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Location : United States