Varietal Article
Albalonga
Last edited on 8/13/2015 by SWHighlander
This is the only version of this article / View version history
From Wine Searcher:
Albalonga is a white grape bred in Germany in the 1950s as a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner. The variety is grown mainly in Franken, Rheinhessen and the Pfalz. Because of its natural susceptibility to noble rot (botrytis), it is commonly made as a sweet wine, showing tropical and dried-fruit flavors.
The variety's most attractive viticultural feature is its high acidity. Growers can leave the grapes on the vine well into the autumn to concentrate sugars without fear of losing this acidity, which translates into balance and longevity in the wines. In some years the sugar can reach extremely high levels, however, making it relatively easy to produce the very sweet Beerenauslese or TBA level wines at relatively low cost. However, in such instances, Albalonga's lower levels of natural acidity mean that these sweet wines do not age well compared with better-known varieties such as Riesling.
Albalonga is a white grape bred in Germany in the 1950s as a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner. The variety is grown mainly in Franken, Rheinhessen and the Pfalz. Because of its natural susceptibility to noble rot (botrytis), it is commonly made as a sweet wine, showing tropical and dried-fruit flavors.
The variety's most attractive viticultural feature is its high acidity. Growers can leave the grapes on the vine well into the autumn to concentrate sugars without fear of losing this acidity, which translates into balance and longevity in the wines. In some years the sugar can reach extremely high levels, however, making it relatively easy to produce the very sweet Beerenauslese or TBA level wines at relatively low cost. However, in such instances, Albalonga's lower levels of natural acidity mean that these sweet wines do not age well compared with better-known varieties such as Riesling.