Welschriesling is a white wine
grape variety, unrelated to the
Rhine Riesling, that is grown throughout
Central Europe.
Origin
The descendance of Welschriesling is uncertain. The
German name ''Welschriesling'' literally means '
Romanic
The Romance languages, sometimes referred to as Latin languages or Neo-Latin languages, are the various modern languages that evolved from Vulgar Latin. They are the only extant subgroup of the Italic languages in the Indo-European language fam ...
Riesling' (cf.
Walhaz), and most of the synonyms in Central Europe are variations on '
Italian Riesling'. Welschriesling may have been brought to Central Europe by the ancient
Romans. However, the
Croatian name ''Graševina'' suggests that the origin might be somewhere to the east of the
Balkans.
A modern theory claims that Welschriesling originated in the
Champagne region and came as ''welsch'' (in this case
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
) Riesling via
Heidelberg to the lands of the
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
Wine regions
*In
Austria, the main regions where it is grown are south and south eastern
Styria
Styria (german: Steiermark ; Serbo-Croatian and sl, ; hu, Stájerország) is a state (''Bundesland'') in the southeast of Austria. With an area of , Styria is the second largest state of Austria, after Lower Austria. Styria is bordered to ...
, in
Burgenland, and in the
Weinviertel region of
Lower Austria, where it is also made into
sparkling wine. In
Rust near
Lake Neusiedl, it is used to make ''
Botrytis Botrytis may refer to:
* ''Botrytis'' (fungus), the anamorphs of fungi of the genus ''Botryotinia''
**''Botrytis cinerea'', a mold important in wine making
*Botrytis, the cauliflower cultivar group of ''Brassica oleracea
''Brassica oleracea'' is ...
''
dessert wines.
*In
Croatia, ''Graševina'' is the most planted white
grape variety. It is grown in all the inland wine regions, particularly in
Kutjevo
Kutjevo is a town in eastern Croatia. It is located in the Slavonia region, northeast of town of Požega.
History
Kutjevo is known for its wines, and the local agricultural joint stock company Kutjevo d.d. is the largest exporter of wines in Cro ...
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 the
Mikulovská and
Velkopavlovická wine subregions (''vinařská podoblast'').
[ ]
Wine of Czech Republic: Statistics and Charts
', Accessed: June 29, 2011
*In
Hungary, ''Olaszrizling'' is the most widespread grape variety of the country, e.g. in the
Csopak wine region on
Lake Balaton.
*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
Lower Styria region of eastern Slovenia, produces dry to medium-dry wines in the
Vipava Valley in western Slovenia, and is cultivated in
White Carniola to the southeast with well-known superior quality wines.
Names in other languages
''Aminea Gemela, Biela Sladka, Bielasladka Grasica, Glasica, Grasavina Talijanska, Grasevina, Graševina, 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'',
Italian Riesling, ''Ryzlink vlašský'', ''Ryzlink''
References
{{Wines
White wine grape varieties
Austrian wine
Czech wine
Hungarian wine
Croatian wine
Slovenian wines
Wine grapes of Slovenia
Slovak wine