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 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 France) Riesling via Heidelberg to the lands of the Austria-Hungary.
Wine regions
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In Austrian wine, the main regions where it is grown are south and south eastern Styria, 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 Noble rot .
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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.
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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]
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In Hungary, Olaszrizling is the most widespread grape variety of the country, e.g. in the Csopak wine region on Lake Balaton.
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In Italy, it is known as Riesling Italico when grown in the northern regions such as Trentino, Collio Goriziano and Friuli.
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In Romania, it is called Riesling Italian where it makes a late harvest and sparkling wine.
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In Serbia it is the most planted grape variety by total area.
[ CEVVIN Center for Viticulture and Oenology, Accessed: February 16, 2024]
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In Slovakia it is grown in the Modra and Nitra wine regions.
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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, Grašac, 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
