A Tour of Wine Grapes: Roussanne

Roussanne 🥂

Photo by Carlos the Great on Wikimedia Commons

Roussanne (rooh-sahn) is native to the Rhône Valley in Southern France. Experts first wrote about it in the late 1700s in the Hermitage region.

Today, it is still a major grape in famous French wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage, where winemakers often blend it with Marsanne to balance its flavors.

Outside of France, Roussanne has found a popular second home in California, particularly along the Central Coast. Winemakers also grow smaller amounts of this grape in Washington State, Australia, and Tuscany, Italy.

The grape gets its name from "roussille," which is the French word for the reddish-gold or russet color the berries turn right before they are harvested.

Wines made from Roussanne are famous for their intense and unique smells. When you take a sip, you will often smell herbal tea, wildflowers, pears, and white peaches. As the wine ages, it starts to smell like nutty almond paste and warm honey. On the palate, Roussanne feels heavy and smooth, almost like oil or cream. It has flavors of green apple, lemon zest, honey, and baking spices, such as vanilla, if the wine is aged in oak barrels.

Roussanne is excellent for aging. You can enjoy it fresh within its first three years, or you can let it sit in a cellar for up to 15 years.

Serve Roussanne slightly chilled at 50°F to 55°F (10°C to 13°C) in a standard white wine glass with a slightly narrow opening, which helps trap the intense aromas.

Behind the Cork™ - Shades of Blue Riesling

Shades of Blue Riesling ($11.99)

Shades of Blue Riesling is a white wine made by a family-owned winery in Germany. The grapes grow on steep river slopes where the soil is composed of slate and limestone.

Because the climate in this region is cool, the grapes stay on the vines longer and ripen slowly before harvest. This extended growing season allows the fruit to develop while maintaining its natural acidity level.

After harvest, the winemakers press the grapes and transfer the juice into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation. These metal tanks are neutral and do not add any external flavors to the wine, which keeps the natural characteristics of the fruit intact.

It should be noted that the fermentation process is stopped early to leave a portion of the natural grape sugars in the final product. This technique results in a wine with 9.5% alcohol content (relatively low) and a semi-dry style (i.e., some residual sugar).

Shades of Blue Riesling is a medium gold in color with aromas of green apple, citrus and honey. On the palate, this medium-light bodied wine hasd bright acidity that is off-set by the sweetness. Flavors include green apple and citrus. It finishes sweet and tart.

Shades of Blue Riesling is wonderfully refreshing and goes with well with white meats, seafood and cheese. Or, all by itself! It’s a really nice wine at a tremendous price. That makes it a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Shades Wines via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Riesling

Riesling 🥂

Photo by Kmtextor on Wikimedia Commons

Riesling (reese-ling) is a white wine grape that originated along the Rhine River in Germany, with records dating back to 1435. It was originally grown by monks and royalty.

Germany is still the most famous country for Riesling. However, it is also widely grown in Alsace (France), Austria, Australia, Washington State, and New York's Finger Lakes. Depending on where it is grown, the wine can taste completely different.

Unlike many other white wines like Chardonnay, Riesling is almost never aged in oak barrels. This keeps the wine tasting fresh and crisp.

When you smell a young Riesling, you may notice aromas of green apple, pear, peach, and white flowers. On the palate, you get bright flavors of lime, lemon, honey, and ginger. Riesling has very high natural acidity, which makes your mouth water immediately.

Riesling is made in a wide range of styles, from bone-dry with no sugar at all, to intensely sweet dessert wines. Dry Riesling (little to no residual sugar) is crisp, tart, and highly refreshing and referred to as “Trocken.” Off-dry (a.k.a. Medium-sweet) Riesling contains a moderate amount of residual sugar but does not taste sugary because of the grapes strong acidity and are referred to as “Halbtrocken.” Sweet Dessert Riesling is a rich, syrupy sweet wine meant for sipping after a meal. These are referred to as Trockenbeerenauslese (often abbreviated as TBA).

Riesling can be aged longer in a cellar than almost any other white wine. A dry Riesling can improve for 10 years, and sweet versions can last for decades. As it gets older, the fresh fruit flavors change into dried fruit and honey tastes, and the wine famously develops a distinct smell that resembles premium oil or kerosene.

To serve Riesling, use a standard white wine glass with a narrow top. Serve dry styles very cold, straight from the fridge at 45–49°F (7–9°C). Sweeter or older bottles should be just slightly warmer at 50–54°F (10–12°C).

Behind the Cork™ - The Seeker Riesling

The Seeker Riesling ($14.99)

The Riesling grapes for this “The Seeker” wine were discovered by a husband and wife team in the famed Mosel Valley in Germany. This region features steep vineyard sites with fine, mineral-rich slate soil and perfect exposure to sun and wind.

The vineyards were 100% hand-harvested to ensure top-quality grape selection. Traditional wine-making methods were observed, with individual wine-pressing techniques passed down through generations. Vinification took place in stainless steel and oak casks over 4-6 weeks, followed by aging in tanks and oak casks for 3-8 months.

This 2024 The Seeker Riesling is pale gold in color with aromas that include citrus, green apple and floral notes. On the palate, this medium-light bodied wine is off-dry (some sweetness) with bright refreshing acidity and flavors of grapefruit and tropical fruits. It finishes with mouth-watering flavors that are great in warm weather or with spicy foods. [ABV: 11.69%, TA: 7.2 g/L, RS: 28 g/L]

The Seeker German Riesling is a real refresher that’s offered at a great price and widely available. That makes it a perfect fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by The Seeker Winery via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Picpoul

Picpoul 🥂

Photo by Marianne Casamance on Wikimedia Commons

The ancient Picpoul wine grape originates in France's Languedoc region, with records dating back to the 1300s.

Its name translates to "lip-stinger" in the traditional Occitan language, referencing the grape's exceptionally sharp, high natural acidity.

Today, its home remains the coastal Picpoul de Pinet appellation in France. Winemakers also use it as a minor blending component in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, while New World producers grow small amounts in Paso Robles, California, Texas, and Australia's McLaren Vale.

Picpoul “Neptune” Bottle

Authentic French bottles are easily recognized by the proprietary green "Neptune" bottle, which features a raised wave pattern near the neck. This maritime design mirrors its reputation as the ultimate "oyster wine," perfectly cutting through raw shellfish.

In the glass, this bone-dry, light-bodied white wine delivers an intensely clean profile. The nose offers crisp aromas of green apple, citrus peel, and sea spray. On the palate, it bursts with tart lime, grapefruit, and a distinct, salty minerality.

To preserve this mouthwatering crispness, serve Picpoul ice-cold between 40°F and 45°F (4°C to 7°C). Drink the wine young, ideally within one to two years of harvest. It lacks the structure for cellaring, and aging causes its vibrant acidity to fade.