Weisser Riesling

Rated 4 Stars in the John Platter Guide to South African Wines (2007) and selected for SAA Premium Class.

MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE CULT FOLLOWINGS ARE EVIL.
ON THIS ONE OCCASION, WE BEG TO DIFFER.

A History

Since their first release in 1984, our Rieslings have achieved something of a local cult status. Driven by a market in search of a "dry" or "trochen" style wine, our 2008 vintage seeks to highlight the purity and complexity of fruit that makes Riesling so individual. Hand-picked at daybreak to ensure only the most heavenly flavours, about 15% of grapes showed the presence of Botrytis. After crushing and de-stemming, the fruit underwent six hours of skin contact at 12 degrees Celcius. After pressing, the juices were fermented using a yeast personally selected by our winemaker in Austria, then stabilised, filtererd and bottled. So much love went into its making, there can't be anything bad in this stuff (even if drinking this sweet nectar does feel a little sinful).

Our Weisser Riesling is often described as "heavenly".

Name:	Weisser Riesling
Vintage:	2009
Awards:	2007 - 4 Stars - John Platter Guide to SA Wines (2008), RSA 2006 and 2007 SAA Premium Class Selection (2007/2008), RSA
Production:
Barrel Ageing:	N/A
Maturation:	From 2 to 6 years should see it develop the terpene character unique to Riesling.
Alcohol:	13.25% by volume
Residual Sugar:	3.1 g/l
Total Acid:	6.2 g/l
PH:	3.40
Food Matching Very versatile. Particularly good with Thai and Oriental dishes, Malay curries, spicy foods, and ethnic dishes.
Tasting Note The spicy richness on the nose gives way to a taut yet floral and fruity mid-palate that has both richness and complexity. The sugar is barely noticeable and if anything it contributes extra fullness and richness to the palate. This is a quality wine that offers great value and much versatility.
Independent Tasting Note "Much loved, respected dry version and lively, entices with candied almonds and emphatic lime, gently pithy texture." Platters Wine Guide 2010.

Weisser? Rhine? Paarl? Cape? South African? What’s the difference?

It’s all a case of mistaken identity really, because the Paarl/Cape/South African Riesling is not a Riesling at all.

Actually a varietal of the “Crouchen” grape (mainly grown in the Pyrenees region of France) our locally named “Riesling” is thought to have been translocated to South Africa in the mid 19th century, and incorrectly named due to some identification error.

The true German Riesling grape (“Cepage”) is known as the Weisser, or Rhine Riesling in South Africa (and only in South Africa) mainly to differentiate it from its poor local cousin.

The German Riesling grape, considered one of the “Noble” varieties, can produce wines of high acidity and elegance, best characterised by its peach and honeysuckle aromatic notes, and with a distinct “petrol” nose as it ages.

All Hartenberg Rieslings are made from this noble grape.

This wine goes particularly well with Thai and other Asian dishes.

TRADING HOURS

MON-SUN
From 1 Dec - Easter 2009

MON-FRI
09h00-17h15

SAT & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
09h00-15h00

SUN (DEC & EASTER)
10h00-15h30

LUNCH
12h00 - 14h00

CELLAR TOURS
By appointment only

CLOSED
Christmas Day
New Year's Day
Good Friday

RESERVATIONS
021 - 865 2541
cellardoor
@hartenbergestate.com