Welschriesling

Welschriesling
Grape (Vitis)
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Riesling Italico, Olaszrizling, Laški Rizling, Graševina (more)
Notable regions	Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Czech Republic

Welschriesling is an ancient variety of white wine grape, unrelated to the Rhine Riesling, that is grown throughout Central Europe. The origin of Welschriesling is uncertain. The German name "Welschriesling" literally means 'Romanic Riesling', and most of the synonyms in Central Europe are variations on 'Italian Riesling'. Welschriesling may have come to Central Europe via the Romans. The Croatian name Graševina suggests that the origin might be somewhere to the east of the Balkans.

Wine regions

In Austria, the main regions where it is grown are south and south eastern Styria, Burgenland, and Weinviertel where it is made into sparkling wine. Near Lake Neusiedl, in Rust (Ruszt) it is used to make Botrytis dessert wines.
In Croatia, Graševina is the most planted white grape variety. It is grown in all the inland wine regions, particularly in Kutjevo municipality and around Ilok, both in the far east of the country.
In the Czech Republic, Ryzlink vlašský is grown in the South Moravian Region, particularly in vinařská podoblast (wine subregion) Mikulovská and vinařská podoblast Velkopavlovická.^[1]
In Hungary, Olaszrizling is the most widespread grape variety of the country.
In Italy, it is known as Riesling Italico when grown in the northern regions such as Trentino, Collio and Friuli.
In Romania, it is called Riesling Italian where it makes a late harvest and sparkling wine.
In Slovakia it is grown in the Modra and Nitra wine regions.
In Slovenia, Welschriesling is known as laški rizling ("Italian Riesling") as opposed to renski rizling ("Rhine Riesling", i.e. Riesling proper). It is grown in the Styria region in eastern Slovenia, producing dry to medium-dry wines.

Synonyms

Aminea Gemela, Biela Sladka, Bielasladka Grasica, Glasica, Grasavina Talijanska, Grasevina, Grasica, Groshevina, Italianski Rizling, Laški Rizling, Nemes Olasz Rizling, Olaszrizling, Olasz Rizling, Petit Riesling, Petracine, Rakusky Rizling, Riesler, Riesli, Riesling, Riesling Italian, Riesling Italico, Risling Italyanskii, Risling Vlashskii, Rismi, Rizling Italico, Rizling Vlašský, Talianska Graseviana, Talijanski Rizling, Vlasak,^[2] Italian Riesling, Ryzlink vlašský

References

^ Wine of Czech Republic: Statistics and Charts, Accessed: June 29, 2011
^ Maul, E.; Eibach, R. (1999-06-00). "Vitis International Variety Catalogue". Information and Coordination Centre for Biological Diversity (IBV) of the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE), Deichmanns Aue 29, 53179 Bonn, Germany. http://www.genres.de/idb/vitis/. Retrieved 2007-04-15.