Riesling Rediscovered - by John Winthrop Haeger (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An authoritative reference that explores the range of practices and styles for making dry Riesling wines in Germany and globally (e.g. Alsace, Australia, Austria, Alto Adige, New Zealand, New York's Finger Lakes, Washington, etc.). Haeger delves into how history, law, geography, viticulture and winemaking techniques influence dry Riesling's expression worldwide. He mostly omits discussion of sweet Riesling"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"What makes the book so encompassing, informative, and relevant is that Haeger has avoided focusing on viticulture or enology or economy in isolation, and has instead looked at all of them in their historic and contemporary scientific and socio-cultural context. . . . Not everyone loves Riesling, but those of us who do will find our passion articulately explained and expressed in Haeger's book."--Anne Krebiehl, MW, The World of Fine Wine "If you haven't been sold on dry riesling, this is required reading; if you're already a fan, it's an essential reference to add to your shelf."--Wine & Spirits
Riesling is the world's seventh most-planted white wine grape variety and among the fastest growing over the past twenty years. It is a personal favorite of many sommeliers, chefs, and other food and wine professionals for its appealing aromatics, finesse, and minerality; for its uncanny ability to reflect terroir; and for its impressive versatility with cuisines of all types. It is stylistically paradoxical, however. Now usually made dry in most of Europe and Australia, and assumed dry by most German consumers, Riesling is made mostly sweet or lightly sweet in North America and is believed sweet in the American marketplace irrespective of origin. Riesling is thus consequently--but mistakenly--shunned by the mainstream of American wine drinkers, whose tastes and habits have been overwhelmingly dry for two generations.

Riesling Rediscovered looks at the present state of dry Riesling across the Northern Hemisphere: where it is grown and made, what models and objectives vintners have in mind, and what parameters of grape growing and winemaking are essential when the goal is a delicious dry wine. John Winthrop Haeger explores the history of Riesling to illuminate how this variety emerged from a crowded field of grape varieties grown widely across northern Europe. Riesling Rediscovered is a comprehensive, current, and accessible overview of what many consider to be the world's finest and most versatile white wine.

From the Back Cover

"The development of dry Riesling was perhaps never presented in such detail and with such a new historic perspective as it is in Haeger's book." --Stephan Reinhardt, author of The Finest Wines of Germany

"John Winthrop Haeger has captured the essence of Riesling. The author goes against the modern trend that favors sweeter and softer styles, demonstrating that Riesling can be at its best as a dry wine. Riesling wine producers from around the world will applaud this research."--Olivier Humbrecht MW, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Review Quotes

"A fresh, contemporary look at this venerable grape and its wines. . . . A superb reference for a new generation of Riesling lovers."-- "The Somm Journal" (8/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"A thorough, rigorous and quite fascinating analysis of Riesling's world, focusing on dry Riesling production in the Northern Hemisphere."-- "The Wine Economist" (3/8/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"Anybody interested in the story of dry Riesling will enjoy reading this book."-- "Journal of Wine Economics" (12/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"Fills a significant void in contemporary oenological scholarship with its detailed look at the expanding quality and popularity of dry Riesling, the increasing diversity in styles, and the land and people behind these exciting wines."-- "Lars Carlberg Mosel Wine" (6/5/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"If you haven't been sold on dry riesling, this is required reading; if you're already a fan, it's an essential reference to add to your shelf."-- "Wine & Spirits" (12/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"This extensive and richly researched volume provides tremendous insights into one of Washington's most important wines."-- "The Seattle Times" (12/2/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"This systematic and meticulous volume, in so many ways an impressive work of scholarship, belongs on the shelves of anyone with either a professional or consumer interest in wine."-- "Journal of Wine Research"

"A study that will become a standard work on Riesling. . . . Haegar is a China scholar, and his book on Rielsing combines a scholarly rigor with an evident passion for his subject."--David Marcus "The Street" (5/28/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"Haeger takes us on a deep dive through the Northern Hemisphere's most important regions for the grape -- from Alsace and the Pfalz to British Columbia and the Finger Lakes of New York State -- ending with granular details about specific vineyards. Along the way, riesling lovers and serious wine students will get history, explanations of the winemaking process and color maps."--Michael Austin "Chicago Tribune" (10/5/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"The definitive book on the varietal currently in print in the English language. . . . Fans of both reading and wine will enjoy Haeger's precise and fluid prose."--James Knight "Bohemian" (8/3/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"What makes the book so encompassing, informative, and relevant is that Haeger has avoided focusing on viticulture or enology or economy in isolation, and has instead looked at all of them in their historic and contemporary scientific and socio-cultural context. . . . Not everyone loves Riesling, but those of us who do will find our passion articulately explained and expressed in Haeger's book."--Anne Krebiehl, MW "The World of Fine Wine" (4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"With a historian's clear eye for illuminating detail, Haeger describes how riesling is made. . . . As a go-to book for understanding--and selling riesling to others--Haeger's language and thorough research skills can't be beat."--Deborah Grossman "Sante Online" (4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"You stand to learn a great deal."--Joe Roberts "1 Wine Dude" (6/6/2016 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

John Winthrop Haeger is a sinologist, historian, and academic administrator who has written about wine since 1985 for Connoisseur, Wine & Spirits, Saveur, and other publications. He is the author of North American Pinot Noir (2004) and Pacific Pinot Noir (2008), both published by UC Press.