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Select a starting letter for a grape variety
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Weissburgunder |
A classic Alsatian and Italian varietal. Also
grown in Germany and Austria as Klevner or Weiss
Burgunder, Pinot Blanc is a somewhat vigorous
grape that can produce fruity whites that range
from crisp and fresh to flabby and oily. The
better examples from low yields retain a higher
natural acidity. Often used in the production of
sparkling wine in the U.S. Notes of apples,
stone fruits and sometimes almonds, are
common.\r\n\r\nIn Alsace Pinot Blanc is often
blended with its country-cousin the Auxerrois
blanc and sold as Pinot Blanc. The varietal has
found a home in the northern reaches of Italy as
Pinot Bianco. Perhaps the best expressions of
Pinot Blanc come from Germany and Austria where
it is known as Weiss Burgunder, a name given for
the variety's similarity to Chardonnay when very
ripe. Various styles of Weiss Burgunder range
from crisp to heavy and rich with high alcohol
levels and an ability to age. Pinot Blanc also
takes well to Botrytis and can produce stunning
examples of Beerenauslese and
Trockenbeerenauslese.
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Welschriesling |
A widely planted and well-known varietal of
central and eastern Europe. In no way related to
true Riesling. Welschriesling has many synonyms,
including Welsch Rizling (Bulgaria), Laski
Rizling (the former Yugoslavia), Olasz Rizling
(Hungary), Gras Evina (Croatia), and Riesling
Italico (Italy). The wine is best known for
producing dry wines that are light, slightly
floral and have a nice blend of citrus and stone
fruits. Welschriesling takes well to warmer
climates, as in cooler climates it can be overly
acidic. More productive than true Riesling
(which is usually called Johannisberg or
Rheinriesling when it is found in the same
regions as Welschreisling) though generally it
is not as long-lived or as fragrant as its
similarly named counterpart.\r\n\r\nThe best
examples of Welschriesling hail from the
Burgenland area of Austria where it can be found
in both dry and sweet versions. Fine wines of
Trockenbeerenauslese levels of Noble Rot made
from the Welschriesling are not uncommon. Dry
versions can be found extensively in the
northern Italian regions of Trentino, Collio and
Friuli, as well as in Hungary, Serbia, Croatia,
Bulgaria and other areas of the former Soviet
Republic. |
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White Riesling |
The name for Riesling used in the Finger Lakes
region of New York state.
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