‘You Australians don’t get Riesling’ I was once told by a New Zealand expert. The discussion was over a glass of Grosset Clare Valley Riesling and my response was to nod wisely and keep drinking. Naturally the Clare taste is different to the fragrant aromas and softness of those from New Zealand. However this expert did have a point, two actually.
The traditional home of Riesling is Germany, Alsace and Austria and at least New Zealand has a similar latitude. The second point is about the climate weather. Experts believe that each variety reaches an ultimate high point of quality over a limited range of climate-weather a much of which is influenced by the latitude. So when transferring Riesling to the Southern Hemisphere simply plant at the German latitude and great Riesling will be made.
The Clare and Eden Valleys have a latitude that resembles more that of Tunisia or Morocco so what gives. I’m not entirely sure yet the profound tastes of Rieslings from these warm regions is in the glass. So why are those Rieslings from Clare and Eden so profound yet should not exist. Are the experts wrong?
