So Riesling is the fastest growing white grape in the United States and that makes me very happy. Goodbye Chardonnay and what ever the hell happened to the Viognier thing. Guess that went the way of Shasta. Here is a an article on three new programs promoting Riesling in the US. The money quote sadly yet with some hope is . . .
Napa market research firm Wine Opinions told the board that a survey had found 'despite its strong growth, Riesling still has a long way to go in terms of broad popularity'.
But then again is broad popularity what we want? Then people will be bitching about the price of Theo Haart Piesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese Erste Lage along with Rousseau Chambertin. The value of German wines is unparallelled in the world and one day, however long it takes, they will become in fashion again and with that the prices will also be very fashionable like they were last century. We are living in a golden age of German wine so buy buy buy before the prices rise to levels that most German wine drinkers will not be prepared for. Who would of thought that Petrus, DRC and Rousseau would attain the prices they are getting today back in the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and even the 80's?
totally my opinion! German Top-Rieslings are comparable in quality to Bordeaux 1er Crus! Still affordable but prices are on the rise, especially since 2007 is expected to be a bombastic year in Germany!
ReplyDeleteregards,
alex
PS: recently I attended the Grosse Gewaechse Tour for the 2006 vintage http://blindtasting.twoday.net/stories/4679307/
Alex,
ReplyDeleteGreat report. No Rebholz there?
Yes Rebholz was there, with a nice Kastanienbusch Riesling, also with lots of herbs and spices like the wines from the Roter Hang in Rheinhessen. Apparently it is the same type of red slate soil. But I couldn't mention all the wines in my post :=)
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I like playing the devil's advocate. What happens if Riesling ends up with the same fate as Chardonnay? What if so many people drink it that it gets to the point that wineries rip up their other grapes, plant Riesling, and produce plonk. Then Riesling won't be cool - just like Chardonnay today. Instead, I'd rather fly below the radar and let us cool kids drink all the Riesling. Leave the Chard to other people.
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