The Summer of Riesling at Secco Wine Bar
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Throughout the month of August, Secco is celebrating The Summer of Riesling, with special flights, pairings and an increased portfolio of wines made exclusively from this grape among grapes.
I don’t know if it’s writer’s block, heat-induced laziness, or some weird, work-related version of absence making the heart grow fonder, but I can’t imagine writing anything that could top what Julia (just now returning from a 48-hour bender beach vacation) wrote on the subject last week. So, without further ado, I’ll cede the floor to our fearless leader, with some words on Riesling that are every bit as zippy and refreshing as the wine itself…(ok, now I’m just kissing ass).
-Matt
Julia’s notes:
Yes, we’ve seemingly, awkwardly, attached ourselves to the marketing coat-tails of Terroir in NYC and their endeavor to laud the amazing grape: Riesling.
It is said Riesling elevates the mood, lowers the core temperature and plays UN negotiator to even the crankiest, stinkiest border-region cheese. All true.
Also said: the great Meusault maker Dominique Lafon, has been quoted: “anybody who doesn’t like Riesling is a ******* idiot.”
But this is RVA, and all you need to do is look at the thermostat…you need Riesling as much as it needs you.
Light-bodied, low alcohol, mouth watering, COLD. We have flights, pairings and lectures galore. OK, I’ll back off on the lectures if you just TASTE the extra dry sparkling Fitz-Ritter! Then you’re MINE. Which rhymes with Rhein. Coincidence? Nein.
(Disclosure. Fitz-Ritter is from Pfalz. But the rhyme made it too hard to resist.)
Secco Wine Bar’s Summer of Riesling Specials:
NV Fitz-Ritter Riesling Sekt, Pfalz $8 glass / $30 bottle / $20 retail
’09 Rudi Wiest Rhein Riesling, Rheinhessen $6 glass / $25 bottle / $15 retail
’08 Erben Von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies’chen Riesling Spätlese Alte Reben, Mosel $45 bottle
’09 Loewen Riesling Kabinett, Mosel $8 glass / $32 bottle / $22 retail
’09 Selbach-Oster Riesling Kabinett, Mosel $9 glass / $36 bottle / $26 retail
09 Merkelbach Riesling Spätlese, Mosel $9 glass / $35 bottle / $25 retail
Mosel Flight (two ounces each of all three ’09 Mosel Rieslings) $12
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For even more propaganda in favor of The Master Grape AND to hear what Riesling sounds like when being slurped by one of the most beloved voices in public radio, check out this recent NPR piece.