On the topic of Riesling this is one of the best books I've found so far, dedicated in its entirety to one of my favorite grapes. If Riesling is your bag, you'll enjoy this book very much.
"No one can lead us through the Riesling vineyard with a surer touch, with more experience or more involvement, than Freddy Price, a benign influence in the London wine trade for many years; importer of impeccable examples of the wines he loves and strict critic of peccable ones." Hugh Johnson
Riesling Renaissance
By Freddy Price
Foreword by Hugh Johnson
Photographs by Janet Price
*More Riesling reading...
Ernst loosen: A German Terroirrist Heralds A Riesling Revivial
The first two paragraphs pretty much sum it up for me: Food and Wine : Cult Wines--How about a Riesling renaissance?
Jancis Robinson's Riesling Update
Frank Prial's Riesling, the American Way that appeared on the New York Times (Sept. 4 2002).
Wines of the times: Rieslings, ready for their laurels
"Washington State is the leader at 450,000, cases followed by California at 400,000 cases, and Oregon at 90,000 cases. The total of all other states represents 110,000 cases. The import market is 280,000 cases and the total for the U.S. market is 1,330,000 cases. Some observations when reviewing the data: for the first time in 2001, Nielsen case and $ sales of Washington State brands exceed that of California. Over the past two years, the growth of Washington State brands has been about twice that of the California brands. Imported brands have grown case volume by twice the rate of domestic brands. The #1 brand in case and $ sales is the import Schmitt Sohne (16% share of $). The #2 brand in case and $ sales is Chateau Ste Michelle (16% share of $). Fetzer is the overall #3 brand in case and $ sales (9% share of $). The largest Nielsen markets for Riesling are Seattle (12% of $) and Portland (12% of $). Each of these markets are almost the same size as the total state of California (13% of $).
The exciting take away from this data is that Riesling has been experiencing strong growth or the past three years. As consumers look for white wine alternatives to Chardonnay, Riesling could once again regain the prominence it once held as a truly interesting white wine variety when made in a dry or off dry style. These wines grown in the appropriate cool climate regions of California have tremendous flavor and aroma complexity and develop nicely over time with proper cellaring. Clearly the lack of recognition of Riesling wines greatness in the US is due to a general lack of wine culture. In fact it is due to no more than a lack of awareness. Riesling wines simply aren’t promoted strongly enough in the US to make a big impact." From An Introduction to California Riesling
Shopping for Riesling Online: Dee Vine Wines : This is my all time favorite Old World Riesling purveyor. I've yet to find a better selection on or offline.
*A few favorites we drink often:
Chateau Ste. Michelle Dr. Loosen Eroica
Ste Chapelle (Idaho) Johannisberg Riesling
*With or as dessert (in BA or TBA style):
Grgich Hills Late-Harvest Riesling and Violetta
Covey Run Late Harvest Riesling
Hogue Cellars Late Harvest White Riesling
*To try:
One to watch for at auction: Chateau Ste. Michelle Single Berry Select ("received a "98" point rating, the highest score ever given a Washington state wine by Wine Spectator magazine")
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