Great Olaszrizling Tasting

September 18, 2017

Great Olaszrizling Tasting

Welshriesling wine exhibition with 200 wines

More than an everyday wine

Olaszrizling (Welshriesling) is the most planted grape variety in Hungary, however, besides being an everyday wine, it has an ageing potential, and when it’s low yielded, selected, it can be really brilliant. It was and is mistaken for Rhine Riesling, though it is a completely different grape. Its synonyms include the most common Welschriesling (Austria, Germany), Graševina in Croatia, Laški Rizling in Slovenia. It is quite likely to originate from the Danube basin, though there are numerous other hypotheses. Though it is the most widely planted grape of Hungary, it did not have a good reputation for a long time and while nowadays wonderful examples are easy to find in Hungary both in fresh and aged style. It ripens rather late, in good vintages even shrivels. When young, there are flowers on the nose, on the palate full of flavours and there is a little bitter almond note in its aftertaste. It has a pleasant, refreshing acidity. Olaszrizling is capable of long barrel ageing.

Date: 7 October, 2017, 14.00–22.00
Location: Corinthia Hotel Budapest, Erzsébet krt 43–49, Budapest, Hungary
Type of event: „walking” tasting with more than 200 Olaszrizling wines from about 80 wineries

Early bird tickets are available until 22 September!
Early bird ticket: 8900 HUF (29 euros)
Tickets at the venue: 10 900 HUF (35 euros)

More information

Some great Olaszrizling wines you must not miss

Csetvei Cellar from Mór

The small artisan winery has really interesting wines made of Olaszrizling. Olló (Scissors) is a 100% Olaszrizling, partially barrel aged and partially reductive wine from Mór. „We were talking, drinking wine and it was born. A great player, a real one from Mór wine region. P. s.: For the playful weekdays. Cheers!”

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Sabar Wine House, Badacsony

Sabar is a relatively small estate with great ambitions, and only single vineyard wines. 2015 Sabar Single Vineyard Olaszrizling was fermented and matured for 8 months in premium Austrian oak barrels (Stockinger) of 500 litres. The wine is great success with its complexity, elegance and lovely acidity.

Szászi Winery, Badacsony

„The terroir is around us” – as the slogan of Szászi Winery says, and really, the estate is surrounded by vines – grown organically. Szent György-hegy Olaszrizling was fermented spontenaously in cooled stainless steel, then aged for 6–8 months in big barrel. We can discover walnut and tobacco notes resulted from barrel ageing along with bitter almond and reseda typical of the grape variety both on the nose and the palate – with all components in perfect balance.

Laposa Estate, Badacsony

Again a different Olaszrizling: Laposa 4Hegy – as the name suggests – comes from four different mountains. A typical example of the grape variety. Overwhelming fruitiness, a hint of mint, some citrus, salty and basalt notes. Wonderful balance of acidity and minerality, superb harmony. Olaszrizling wines of four mountains – Badacsony, Csobánc, Somló and Szent György mountain – in one single bottle. A modern classic wine from Balaton Uplands.

Tornai Winery, Somló

Tornai can boast with several great international results, its wines are made with great care and attention. Ilona Olaszrizling 2015 was matured in oak. The nose recalls dried fruit, dates, raisin and fine use of oak. The palate points to freshness, followed by finesse and elegant oak, accompanied by plenty of fruitiness and minerality. Lively Olaszrizling, which displays the rather serious side of the variety.

Zsirai Winery, Somló

The winery is based in Mád, Tokaj, but they also has a vineyard in Somló. ’Somlai’ (the local word meaning ’of Somló’) is a blend made of Juhfark, Olaszrizling and Hárslevelű. A creamy, great wine which proves the ageing potential of the varieties including Olaszrizling.

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