Riesling: Oregon's Best Kept Secret

Riesling: Oregon’s best kept secret By David White posters and other promotional For one thing, Riesling is honest. somewhere in between, and all are Penner-Ash’s Willamette Valley White’s Wines items that say “Drink Pinot, Think Because most Riesling is fer - extremely fragrant. And thanks to Riesling, and Elk Cove’s Estate Oregon.” mented in stainless steel, it isn’t its high acidity, Riesling is an ex - Riesling. All are refreshing and de - If you play word association But while Lett and other pio - manipulated through oak aging or tremely adaptable food wine. licious, offering delicate notes of with a wine enthusiast and throw neers were focusing on Pinot Noir, other winemaking techniques. So Misconceptions still abound, but citrus fruits and apples. These four out the word “Oregon,” chances are a number of other vintners were it’s remarkably fortunately, con - wines do have quite a bit of resid - pretty high that the response will be giving it a go with Riesling. In - transparent and ex - sumers are starting ual sugar, but they almost taste dry “Pinot Noir.” deed, about a quarter of Oregon’s cels in capturing to recognize that because they’re balanced by brac - For good reason. In the 1960s, a vineyards were planted to Riesling terroir, or a wine’s Riesling is a seri - ing acidity. handful of young vintners moved in 1980. As Pinot Noir acreage ex - sense of place. As ous grape. Plus, they’re affordable. While to the state, all passionate about ploded, however, Riesling became Robert Parker, the I recently tasted these producers are known for their wine and eager to be a part of overshadowed. world’s most fa - through a dozen Pinot Noir — many of which cost something new. Within a decade, Today, though, Oregon Riesling mous wine critic, Oregon Rieslings upwards of $50 per bottle — these those who believed Oregon’s cli - is experiencing a resurgence. And once explained, “If and was impressed Rieslings can be found for right mate would be too cold and wet for it’s better than ever. you want to talk with all of them. around $20. grapes were proven wrong when a Many consumers recoil at the about terroir, talk One bottle Riesling might be Oregon’s best Pinot Noir from one of those trail - sight of Riesling, as it’s still asso - about German worth finding is blazers, David Lett, took home kept secret. So make sure you try ciated with the sweet, simple Ger - Ries lings or Alsace Chehalem’s some before the word gets out. gold at the 1979 Wine Olympics in man wines of yesteryear, like Blue Rieslings, where “Three Vineyard Paris. Nun. Wines like these are still pro - the wines are naked — there’s no Riesling.” Marked by exotic citrus David White is the founder and Over the next 30 years, hun - duced and they’ll always have fans. makeup.” fruits, green apples, and chalk-like editor of Terroirist.com, which was dreds of winemakers set up shop in But they do a disservice to true Riesling is also quite ver satile. minerality, the wine is exception - named “Best Overall Wine Blog” Oregon, eager to produce world- Riesling. It’s not by accident that Some of the world’s best Rieslings ally vibrant. Other wines worth at the 2013 Wine Blog Awards. His class Pinot Noir. Today, the state’s Riesling has long been known as are syrupy and lusciously sweet, looking for include Amity Vine - columns are housed at Palate wine industry markets itself with the “noblest of the noble grapes.” while others are bone dry. Most fall yards’ Wedding Dance Riesling, Press: The Online Wine Magazine. Horseback, Carriage, Proposals, Weddings & Events 3 1 8 Carlton, OR 503-864-2336 2 8 0 . 6 6 3 440179.082813 0 4 4 www.equestrianwinetours.com Page 4 August 28, 2013.

Load more