Welschriesling

Welschriesling, a name that poses a mystery at first glance. But behind this grape variety lies a long history and a unique character that today attracts great attention in the natural wine scene and is particularly popular in Burgenland and in Eastern European wine regions. More and more winemakers are experimenting with the grape variety and discovering new potential, which has made it a shooting star on the natural wine scene.

Originating from the eastern Mediterranean, Welschriesling found its way to various parts of Europe, including Austria, where it is playing an increasingly important role. Contrary to what its name suggests, however, Welschriesling has nothing to do with Italy, but derives from the old term "Welsch", which was generally used in the Middle Ages to mean "foreign" or "non-German".

Welschriesling is known for its characteristic taste of crisp, fresh acidity and fruity aromas of citrus fruits and green apples. Welschriesling presents itself as a crisp, fresh wine that is perfect as an aperitif or food companion to light meals.

The crisp acidity that is typical of Welschriesling brings a refreshing liveliness and harmonises perfectly with the fruity aromas. Juicy citrus fruits such as lemon and grapefruit mix with exotic notes of pineapple or mango and give the wine a tangy yet tropical note. But also floral-spicy nuances of jasmine, elderflower or cloves can appear in the aftertaste of Welschriesling and give the wine an interesting and unmistakable note.

The bottom line is that Welschriesling is a true aroma artist that convinces with its diversity and complexity. Whether enjoyed neat or chosen as an accompaniment to light dishes, fish or seafood, Welschriesling can always be rediscovered and surprises with its multi-faceted flavour profile.

If you mash ferment the Welschriesling a little longer to make an orange wine, the grape variety starts to shine, like e.g. Thomas Straka from Rechnitz with his Stratos Mash .Thanks to its high acidity structure and low alcohol content, it also offers great potential for the production of natural wines.

Welschriesling is grown in various regions of Europe, but its true home and best expressions are found in Austria and Hungary. In Austria, it is mainly found in the wine regions of Burgenland and Styria, while in Hungary it is known as "Olaszrizling" and is cultivated in the wine-growing regions of Tokaj and Somló.

The terroir on which Welschriesling thrives has a decisive influence on its character, because like Riesling, Welschriesling is a sensitive grape variety. The barren soils of Styria, consisting of slate and limestone, give it a cool mineral note and a vibrant acidity. In Hungary, the vines grow on volcanic soil, which gives the wine a spicy complexity. The continental climate with warm summers and cool nights provides optimal conditions for growth and the grapes basically ripen longer.

In recent years, the natural wine scene has gained in importance worldwide, with Welschriesling enjoying growing popularity as a protagonist.Wether the Welschriesling vom Opok from Tauss or the Welschriesling Rechnitz from Thomas Straka, the grape variety shows how well it can deliver with yield reduction. For wine lovers looking for unique and authentic wines, Welschriesling is definitely a grape variety worth discovering.

Meanwhile, it is known that the grape variety can deliver exceptionally. The Welschriesling goes beyond creamy white wines and finely effervescent sparkling wines; it can also be macerated or aged under flor yeast. Thomas Straka, in addition to his directly pressed Welschrieslings, creates an orange wine called Stratos Mash. Yellow fruit aromatics meet delicate tannins. Boom!

Welschriesling goes Flor: it may sound experimental at first but reveals itself as one of the finest white wines in the natural wine scene in Austria. It's none other than Tres Cuartos by Adriana and Martin Lichtenberger Gonzalez. What makes it special? Tres Cuartos is Adriana's passion project, rooted in her Galician homeland, where many white wines are aged under flor yeast. Tres Cuartos means Three Quarters, referring to the fill level in the barrel. Due to the filling level, a flor layer develops over the maturing wine over time, providing not only additional protection but also subtle oxidative nuances. A stylistic element we know from the French Jura.