Cape Riesling

A widely planted grape in South Africa, where it is used mostly in cheap blends. Not the same as true riesling, Cape riesling is thought to be related to the obscure French grape crouchen blanc.

What was the first wine made from botrytized (rotten) grapes?

A. Sweet Vouvray from the Loire Valley of France

B. French Sauternes

C. Hungarian Tokaji Aszú

D. German Trockenbeerenauslese

Today, the Sauternes region of France is best known for these honeyed wines, but the practice of using botrytized grapes (those infected with the fungus Botrytis cinerea) to make unctuously sweet dessert wines actually began in Hungary’s Tokaj region around 1650. (By comparison, the first Sauternes is thought to be an 1847 Château d’Yquem.)

Bush Vine

A bush-like vine that is free-standing with no trellis system. It is also known as a goblet-trained or head-trained vine. Many of the world’s oldest vines are trained in this manner.

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