Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2007 | Page 108

life - FOOD & DRINK

Photo: Mosel river in summer, white wine valley

Racey Riesling and
the Mosel Valley
By Tim Flint of Eurovines Ltd
I’ve just spent 4 wonderful days in
the Mosel valley of Germany visiting
suppliers and producers. The treat
is not only the incredible steep
scenery, but the fantastic Rieslings
that are produced here – the first
home of this noble grape. The Mosel
valley is a hidden secret, bringing
huge amounts of quality wine to
the UK. In the middle of Mosel, you
pass through a chain of small towns
that is a “whose who” of German
wines. Places like Bernkastel,
Zeltingen, Wehlen, Graach, Uerzig,
Erden, Zell and many more, with
their outstanding wines from single
estates and vineyards.
Riesling is one of the most
versatile of the grapes, producing
extraordinary dry wines, through
to the sublime liqueur wines of
Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese
(dry berries hand picked). I visited
some small producers whose wines
are simply stunning.
In it’s off dry style, Riesling is the
most easy drinking of all grapes,
with alcoho