The 'poor man's Riesling', Welschriesling is actually not related to the superior Rhine Riesling of Germany at all. It is at its best in Austria, where it can make sumptuously sweet dessert whites.
As a Central European grape variety, it goes under a sheaf of pseudonyms, such as Olaszriesling (in Hungary), Laski Riesling (in Slovenia) and Riesling Italico (in Italy). Germany’s attempt to distance it from Rhine Riesling has resulted in a change of name for all pretenders to Rizling.
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