Olaszrizling
Also known as Welschriesling, Graševina, Riesling Italico, Laški Rizling
Probably Danube basin, Hungary
Central Europe's widely planted, adaptable white, known as Welschriesling in Austria and Graševina in Croatia: not a Riesling at all, and made anywhere from dry and light to richly sweet.
Sensory profile
Characteristics
Flavor & aroma
At a glance
Production facts
Prevalence
Niche
Climate
Moderate climate
Ripening
Mid season
Wine styles
Still, Sparkling, Dessert
Where it's grown
Geography
Shaded areas are the state, province or département(s) containing each region, so they run wider than the appellations themselves.
Hungary
Balaton
A mainstay around the lake, making dry, mineral whites, often marked by the volcanic soils of the north shore.
Austria
Burgenland
Known as Welschriesling, and made into sparkling wines and botrytised sweet wines around Lake Neusiedl.
Croatia
Slavonia
Known as Graševina, and among the most planted grapes in Croatia, in the continental east.
Background
Origin & History
The name means 'Italian Riesling', and the same grape is Welschriesling in Austria, Graševina in Croatia, Laški Rizling in Slovenia and Riesling Italico in Italy. It is not related to the Rhine Riesling: DNA shows no close relationship between the two. Its origin is unsettled, and the Danube basin is thought the most likely home.
It is grown in most of Hungary's wine regions, and is a mainstay around Lake Balaton, where it makes dry, mineral whites. It is also one of the most planted grapes in Croatia and Austria, and in Austria's Burgenland it is made into botrytised dessert wines around Lake Neusiedl, as well as into sparkling Sekt. The vine is productive, which has earned it a reputation as a workhorse, though careful growers with low yields make more serious wines.
Lineage
Family tree
Parentage not recorded — Olaszrizling is an old variety of unknown origin.
No crossings involving Olaszrizling are documented in the collection yet.