Riesling Wine History

Riesling is a white grape variety traditionally grown in Germany. Dr. Ferdinand Regner, the vine breeding and genetics expert, suggests Riesling wine history begins with a parent of Riesling, Blanc Gouais (known to Germans as Heunisch Weiss), has resulted in Burgundy from Croatia by the Romans , the other parent is a cross between a wild vine and Traminer (Sauvignon Blanc). This is believed to be the beginning of the Riesling wine history.

Riesling history dates back to 1435. It is said that there were other "first premises" in the history of wine: Riesling Wachau in Austria in 1232, Rheinhessen and the Alsace region with the dates 1402 and 1348, respectively, just to name a few. Riesling wine history presupposes the Riesling was born somewhere in the valley of the Rhine, but with parents from both sides of the Adriatic the cross could happen along the way. The only documented evidence in the history of Riesling wine from the cellar log of Count Katzenelnbogen Ruesselsheim March 13, 1435. Klaus Kleinfish purchased six Riesling vines for the sum of 22 solids.

From the mid-fourteenth century, Riesling was becoming popular. Riesling wine history is cloaked in theory the name Riesling. One theory connects the characteristics of the grape. "Russ" means dark wood with grooved bark gives the resultant root word "rissig". Another theory relates to the period of cold Riesling's poor flowering described in German "verrieseln" or "durchrieseln".

Riesling wine history tells us that the interest for the vines probably began in the fourteenth century with the gradual changes of plants from red to white grapes. About the seventeenth century, the monks of the Cistercian monastery of Eberbach discovered that transparent Rheingau reds could not compete with French wines in depth of color, so the growers ordered tenants to use only plants with white wine and remove all others. The variety of grape the monks wanted planted is unclear, but believes it is because the quality Riesling grapes had become famous.

In 1464, twelve hundred "Ruesseling" varieties were purchased from St James Hospice, now part of the Vereinigte Hospitien of Trier. The specific vineyard "Ruessling hinder Kirssgarten" (Riesling behind the cherry orchard) was cited and described in 1490, and "wingart Rissling" Pfeddersheim in the Rheinhessen in 1511, attesting to the spread of the grape.

Hieronymus Bock refers to Riesling in 1552 and in a later version of his Latin book on herbs, describing the modern spelling of the word. A later version of the book (1577) stated that "Riesling was growing in the Mosel, Rhine, and the environs of Worms." By the seventeenth century, "Ruessling" has been planted throughout the Palatinate. In 1716, the Prince-Abbey of Fulda purchased the rundown Benedictine Abbey in Johannisberg in the Rheingau, a major development in the spread of Riesling as "grape of Germany."

The vineyards were completely abandoned and completely renovated, replanted with 294,000 vines between 1720-21 purchased from Ruedesheim, Eberbach and Floersheim. It 'was Schloss Johannisberg that set standards for grapes, and other areas soon decreed Riesling, which should be planted. The legend of sweet Riesling is accredited to Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau who accidentally created their first Spätlese (late harvest) in 1775. Legend says the messenger who brings the official end of the Abbey of Fulda, which owned the vineyard, to start picking was robbed on the street. When they finally arrived the grapes had rotted, became infected with Botrytis (occurs when drier conditions follow Wetter, and can result in distinctive sweet dessert wines) and given to peasants. The farmers produced wonderful wine with it, allowing the creation of rich history of Riesling wine.

Riesling wine history includes Clemens Wenzeslaus 1739-1812, Elector of Trier, who on May 8, 1787, proclaimed all inferior vines be dug up and replanted with noble (Riesling) variety. A boom in the Rheingau and Mosel Riesling was initiated by the examples of Johannisberg and Wenzeslaus wines with such success that in turn of the century the Benedictine Odo Staab at Johannisberg monaco said that "more than Riesling no other varietal should be used to produce wine Rheingau. "At the end of 19 th century was the dominant grape in the Rheingau, and penetrated significantly in all growing areas of Germany.

A declining trend reversal in the history of Riesling wine began in the early 20th century. German farmers, driven by new trends in science, began experimenting with varietals such as Silvaner. In 1930, only 57% of planted vineyards in the Rheingau were Riesling. This trend was reversed during the rest of the century. History records that the wine Riesling Riesling is treated as a national treasure and is reflected in purchasing behavior strong Riesling fans .......