Welschriesling is a white wine grape variety, unrelated to the Rhine (wine), Rhine Riesling, that is grown throughout Central Europe.

Origin

The descendance of Welschriesling is uncertain. The German (language), German name ''Welschriesling'' literally means 'Romance languages, Romanic Riesling' (cf. Walhaz), and most of the synonyms in Central Europe are variations on 'Italian (wine), Italian Riesling'. Welschriesling may have been brought to Central Europe by the ancient Ancient Rome and wine, Romans. However, the Croatian language, Croatian name ''Graševina'' suggests that the origin might be somewhere to the east of the Balkans. A modern theory claims that Welschriesling originated in the Champagne (wine region), Champagne region and came as ''welsch'' (in this case France, French) Riesling via Heidelberg to the lands of the Austria-Hungary, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

Wine regions

*In Austrian wine, Austria, the main regions where it is grown are south and south eastern Styria, in Burgenland, and in the Weinviertel region of Lower Austria, where it is also made into sparkling wine. In Rust, Austria, Rust near Lake Neusiedl, it is used to make ''Noble rot, Botrytis'' dessert wines. *In Croatia (wine), Croatia, ''Graševina'' is the most planted white grape variety. It is grown in all the inland wine regions, particularly in Kutjevo municipality and around Ilok, both in the far east of the country. *In the Czech Republic (wine), Czech Republic, ''Ryzlink vlašský'' is grown in the South Moravian Region, particularly in the Mikulovská wine, Mikulovská and Velké Pavlovice, Velkopavlovická wine subregions (''vinařská podoblast'').
Wine of Czech Republic: Statistics and Charts
', Accessed: June 29, 2011 *In Hungary (wine), Hungary, ''Olaszrizling'' is the most widespread grape variety of the country, e.g. in the Csopak wine region on Lake Balaton. *In Italy (wine), Italy, it is known as ''Riesling Italico'' when grown in the northern regions such as Trentino (wine), Trentino, Collio Goriziano, Collio and Friuli. *In Romania (wine), Romania, it is called ''Riesling Italian'' where it makes a late harvest (wine), late harvest and sparkling wine. *In Slovakia (wine), Slovakia it is grown in the Modra and Nitra wine regions. *In Slovenia (wine), Slovenia, Welschriesling is known as ''laški rizling'' ('Italian Riesling') as opposed to ''renski rizling'' ('Rhine Riesling'; i.e., Riesling proper). It is grown in the Lower Styria region of eastern Slovenia, produces dry to medium-dry wines in the Vipava Valley in western Slovenia, and is cultivated in White Carniola to the southeast with well-known superior quality wines.

Names in other languages

''Aminea Gemela, Biela Sladka, Bielasladka Grasica, Glasica, Grasavina Talijanska, Grasevina, Graševina, Grasica, Groshevina, Italianski Rizling, Laški Rizling, Nemes Olasz Rizling, Olaszrizling, Olasz Rizling, Petit Riesling, Petracine, Rakusky Rizling, Riesler, Riesli, Riesling, ''Riesling Italian'', Riesling Italico, Risling Italyanskii, Risling Vlashskii, Rismi, Rizling Italico, Rizling vlašský, Talianska Graseviana, Talijanski Rizling, Vlasak'', Italian Riesling, ''Ryzlink vlašský'', ''Ryzlink''

References

{{Wines White wine grape varieties Austrian wine Czech wine Hungarian wine Croatian wine Slovenian wines Wine grapes of Slovenia Slovak wine