The most popular Hungarian white variety in the neighbouring countries also known as Grasevina, Welschriesling, Laski Rizling, Ryzling Vlasky, Riesling Italico.
- Origin: Still uncertain and subject of much speculation, but the Danube basin appears to be the most likely place of origin.
- Where it’s grown: Almost all over Hungary; it is a country-wide variety. The most important regions of the variety are around the Lake Balaton and Eger region. In 2019 Olaszrizling’s total vineyard area in Hungary was 3843 hectares.
- Climate: It has a good adaptability for the Carpathian basin’s climate, and mostly prefers the continental and moderate continental climate.
- Soil preference: Suitable for volcanic soil and also prefers limestone bedrock combined with clay and loss.
- Viticultural characteristics: Productive, late budding, and mid-late ripening (mid-September to beginning of October, depends on the vintage), able to retain the medium acidity under controlled yield. Susceptible to powdery mildew and less prone to downy mildew and botrytis.
- Structure: It has a medium-vivid acidity, with medium body and alcohol, the flavor intensity is also on medium level.
- Flavor characteristic: Lemon, grapefruit seeds, green & white apple, peach, white Rezeda flowers and almond. Especially around the Lake Balaton in Füred-Csopak, Badacsony and Somló wine regions and some part of the Eger wine region, where the Volcanic soil has an influential effect on the grape, wines have
asteely, stony, flinty mineral notes. - Maturing & wine styles: Both reductive and oaky styles are common. The reductive style provides fresh, crispy, easy to drink, semi-neutral style wines, while the oak age (usually 500L or larger sized used oak) gives depth and an extra layer to the wine.
- Ageing potential: The reductive style wine suggests drinking within a year or two, the oak matured wine (depending on the wine region) can be kept for up to 4 years.
- Market position and potential: Well-known, popular white variety in Hungary, but less successful internationally.
(On the featured photo: bunches of Olaszrilizling – Welschriesling. Source: sutterstock.com)
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