Woman on Wine

By Amy Reiley

Clare Valley Riesling: wine you can screw

When Germans first settled South Australia, they had no idea they had hit upon culinary gold. But, after planting the Clare Valley with their Old World favorite grape, early settlers discovered that the Clare soil and climate is made for Riesling. And although the first vintners set out to make what they knew, more recent Clare winemakers have become known for their innovation. Banding together in 2000, the vintners of the Clare Valley began bottling all Rieslings with screw cap closures.  Leave it to those Aussies to give new meaning to “screwing around!”

Jeanneret
Among Clare’s finest, this Riesling offers the expected tropical aromas and flavors in combination with acidity that almost dances across the tongue and the pleasant surprise of a dash of spice.

Kilikanoon Mort’s Block
Interesting and delightfully complex, the Mort’s Block begins with tropical aromas, lemon tartness, and a faint hint of petrol but leaves a lasting tangerine and mineral impression.

Leasingham Bin 7
One of the Clare’s most-noted Rieslings, this is a racy, sexy, worldly woman of a wine with flower petal aromas and lean, herbal flavors.

Annie’s Lane
Another well-priced winner, Annie’s Lane offers fresh floral and fruit flavors with a lovely minerality on the finish and just a mere hint of sweetness.

Mitchell
Mango and passionfruit aromas will make the mouth water and the wine’s racy lime and mineral flavors deliver one hot package.

Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Late Harvest
An award-winning “stickie” as the Aussies call it, this beautifully balanced sweet wine makes a perfect end to a meal, but I’ve also been known to enjoy it with savories from oyster to roast chicken to hot potato wedges.

Amy Reiley is an award-winning Master of Gastronomy and author of Fork Me, Spoon Me: the sensual cookbook. For more of Amy’s wine recommendations, recipes and food features, visit http://www.eatsomethingsexy.com.