06/05/07 Reisling Part 2

Welcome to vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. Today we are continuing our series exploring the German Riesling. I once studied wine in Germany and the thing that struck me most was how well German wines aged. I was excited to do some tasting from previous vintages, I had no idea that we would be tasting wines that were over 50 years old. Now the idea that white wine does not age well or I should say does not last a long while in most instances is well founded. However, German Riesling can be a wonderful exception. Not all of them fair well for decades, the Qba and Kabinett wines are ready to drink when you buy them. Although Spatlese will be delicious when it is young, it will likely last anywhere from 5 to 10 years. The Auslese Rieslings are very often known to drink well in 7  10 years. Although, if it is from a great producer and it is stored well, it could last much longer. I had the pleasure of tasting an Auslese that was 17 yrs old - it was still perfectly balanced. The geographic areas seem to influence the aging times also. The Rhine wines seem to be best when young but the wines from the Rheingau take a while longer to mature. The Riesling from the Mosel is usually much more delicate so they may not age as long as the Rhine wines. If you decide to age wines from this region, ask the advice of your favorite wine merchant. But don't be afraid because the fruit, the sugar and the acid will last a long time in these truly delightful white wines. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.