The Riesling grape
The Riesling grape can be more difficult to grow in northerly vineyard areas as it is a very late ripener. Optimal conditions are offered by the steep and stony heat-storing Mosel vineyards. Owing to their particular mineral content, the wines from the steeper vineyards of the Mosel are currently favoured by aficionados as being some of the most desirable Rieslings in the world.The colour of the wine can range from pale yellow with a green tinge through to a rich golden yellow. When young, the taste is characterised by complex fruity aromas, such as grapefruit, lime, lemon, apple, peach and passion fruit. The wines are normally light to medium bodied and are described as fresh, steely and racy with mineral tones. The Riesling is particularly well able to express the character of its terrain (Terroir). The Riesling is also used to make top quality sweet wines. When the crop has been brought in fully ripe (depending on the year or the location) the wines tend to have a rich, apricot aroma. The dry residual soil of red sandstone produces highly aromatic Riesling wines that often have a strong hint of apricots.