“Riesling has for long been arguably the world’s most undervalued ….grape. Riesling is the great vine variety of Germany and could claim to be the finest white grape variety in the world on the basis of the longevity of its wines and their ability to transmit the characteristics of a vineyard without losing Riesling’s own inimitable style.” (Robinson, J., The Oxford Companion to Wine, 2006. Pg 577)
Not to be confused with the misleading Cape or Paarl Riesling, a French white grape variety, Crouchen Blanc which is made cheaply, into bland dry, white wine.

Brad Paton, winemaker at Buitenverwachting since 2004, worked in Germany for eight years learning much about this niche market variety which in South Africa is produced by fewer than twenty wineries and represents only 0.2% of the 100,000 ha national vineyard. Not much more than an expensive hobby for winemakers.

That said, South African produced Rhine Rieslings, from Nederburg Wines, Hartenberg Estate, Buitenverwachting, and Klein Constantia Estate, stand up quality wise to examples from Alsace and Rheingau, showing grapefruit, lemon, lime, tangerine and even caramel notes while being perky and fresh with lingering finish on the palate. Beautiful summer wines.

Before listing the wines in the lineup here are some of Brad’s words of wisdom:
On making good wine – “If you want to make a good wine, you have to know what a good wine is and where the good wines come from. As a winemaker you have to be able to make the cheapest, entry level wine well, before being able to make a premium wine. It’s important to practice, and practice, and to taste international wines.”

Nederburg Wines Winemakers Reserve Riesling 2008
Hartenberg Riesling 2007
Buitenverwachting Riesling 2008
Buitenverwachting Riesling 2007
Klein Constantia Estate Riesling 2007
Willie Schaefer, Mosel, 2007
J.L. Wolf Jesuitengarten, Pfalz 2007
Wittmann, Westhofener 2007

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