german white

[bakadue]

We bought a bottle of Blue Nun that we think is a Riesling, but are not sure. the label says "Qualitatswein Rheinhessen". Is this a Riesling or what and is it any good?
Thank You!

[Bucko]

Rheinhessen is a lesser region of Germany similar to the Central Valley of CA. Qualitatswein is German for quality wine, abbreviated QbA, and must contain a minimal amount of sugar. QbA wine accounts for the largest percentage of wine out of Germany. AFA the wine, it is Riesling AFAIK.

[barnesy]

They can put riesling on a qba label....Why wouldn't they put it on the label, I'm sure it would help it sell better unless it couldn't legally carry the riesling label meaning its not riesling. This is all just a logical argument, no confirmed facts. Maybe we can find out for sure.

Barnesy

[hotwine]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Blue Nun is plonk. Swill. Trash. No, it is not any good. Will it harm you? No. Is it fit to drink? Not in my house. Is it Riesling? Probably. There are some nice wines produced in the area of Rheinhesse, but the Blue Nun label isn't among them. The best that can be said of that label is it's cheap and plentiful. For a much more pleasant experience with a German wine, look for one from the Mosel-Sahr-Ruwer. A QbA from there makes a nice table wine, or better yet, look for a Kabinett.

[Innkeeper]

It is not even good Muller-Thurgau, which is the grape it is made from.

Definitely would not paint the entire Rheinhessen with the Central Valley brush. Granted, the bureaucratic expansion of some of the best known vinyards into the flatter valleys, did not help their rep. However, there are still many hecacres of ancient vines clinging to the hills, hard by the river, that produce riesling to die for.

[This message has been edited by Innkeeper (edited 12-15-2001).]

[Thomas]

IK got that right on.

Blue Nun never had a drop of Riesling in it but it went a long way toward giving Riesling a bad reputation in this country...and as you can see by above post, the myth lingers on.

Until recently, Muller-Thurgau was the most widely planted grape of Germany.

As for the wine, I hear there are better versions of it somewhere in Germany...but the one that makes it here is pretty miserable stuff.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 12-15-2001).]

[mrdutton]

I'll drink wines from Virginia and I'll even drink chardonnel from some place out west (it really was good!), but I won't drink Blue Nun.

Nuff said? I think so..........

[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 12-15-2001).]