Welschriesling

The other Riesling

Welschriesling is a white grape grown across Central and South-East Europe under many names: Graševina in Croatia, Olaszrizling in Hungary, Laški Rizling in Slovenia, Riesling Italico in Italy. Despite the name, it has no relation to the great Riesling of the Rhine and the Mosel. Long seen as a simple, everyday grape, it is now being rediscovered in Europe for its freshness and versatility.

A long history in China

Welschriesling has been in China since the very beginning of its modern wine industry: according to Decanter, it arrived in 1892, when an Austro-Hungarian consul was invited to work as a winemaker. Today China has an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 hectares, making it one of the most important white grapes in the country.

Not the same as Riesling

In China the grape is usually labelled 'Italian Riesling', and this can be confusing. Decanter China has noted that most of the 'Riesling' grown in Ningxia is in fact Welschriesling. True Riesling is a different and much rarer variety in China, grown by a few estates such as Kanaan.

Where it shines

In Gansu's Hexi Corridor, Welschriesling is considered one of the region's best grapes, together with Pinot Noir, and a comparative study of Gansu vineyards found it particularly suited to Jiayuguan. It is also grown in Ningxia, where Chateau Changyu Moser XV makes an Italian Riesling, and in the Yanqi Basin of Xinjiang, at Tiansai Vineyards. Styles range from crisp dry whites to sweet late-harvest wines.