I’ve been known as Brett Riesling for a couple of years now. It began as a bit of a laugh; I changed my Facebook name to Brett Chardonnay. It stayed a while. I wanted a change. I felt that it didn’t really represent who I was. My name became Brett Gewürztraminer for about a day. It was a little OTT. Brett Riesling works. And it stuck. Most people now know me by my wine of choice, rather than my actual name. I’m ok with that. It’s a bloody good grape.
Riesling isn’t what it used to be. Aussie Riesling used to be a sickly sweet, hugely popular and particularly awful, so I’m told (too young to know). Obliterated by the rise of the Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc. It’s now been completely reinvented, reinvigorated and refined as one of Australia’s biggest triumphs.
Riesling is a wine that draws its character very specifically from its surroundings (terrior-expressive). The weather patterns, soil types & geography make each and every Riesling quite different from the next. While Australian Rieslings are all in a dry style, there are so many variations which makes for so much enjoyment.
Next time you go to grab a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc off the shelf, pick up a Riesling instead, I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.
These are three different Rieslings from various price brackets. There are quite a few others on the market now. Some other good ones are Pikes, Petaluma, Annie’s Lane & Pewsey Vale.
Lock & Key Single Vineyard Riesling 2012 $12.99
Moppity Vineyards, Young, NSW
Honestly this is a really, really good entry level Riesling & probably one of the best value that I’ve come across. Lively & fresh, dry as expected & playfully acidic. Its best feature is its accessibility. It displays wonderful bright citrus notes with a little salt, perfect for drinking straight away.
Perfection: Grab some prawns & oysters from the Sydney Fish Markets & picnic in the park in the middle of Spring with a bunch of mates.
Handpicked Riesling 2011 $19.99
Knappstein Wines, Clare Valley, SA
Knappstein make some wonderful stuff and their Riesling is front and centre. Though a bit more subtle both in flavour and aroma, this is still a good wine to drink now, but will be exceptional in a few years.
Perfection: Riesling is great with spicy Asian food so I’ll be taking a bottle next time I go to Chat Thai.
Undhof Kögl Riesling 2011 $29.99
Salomon Wines, Austria
If you’re familiar with Riesling, have a go at this one. This will be superb in a few years and I’m going to grab another few bottles of it to make sure I get to find out just how good. This one is less dry than the Aussie styles but full of pineapple fruit acidity, honey and a bit of citrus. It has a wonderful aftertaste that lingers for some time. This one really makes me smile.
Perfection: With a few years under its belt enjoy with Billy Laws Squid, Pineapple & Green Papaya Salad as a starter (http://atablefortwo.com.au/2013/08/squid-pineapple-and-green-papaya-salad) & a Thai-style whole baked fish for mains. Divine.
