Winey Tasting Notes: Frisk Prickly Riesling

Well, I learned something new when I started drinking my latest wine choice. There are Alps in Australia. Who knew I’d get a geography lesson that day?

I thought I was just buying a nice refreshing-looking wine for the weekend. It had a cute name: Frisk. And it was Riesling, but it was “prickly” Riesling. That intrigued me.

As I researched the wine, I learned that Frisk makes its home in the Alpine Valleys of the Australian Victorian Alps. And by Victorian, I mean the city of Victoria, not the era of Queen Victoria. Well, well, alps in Australia. But what did that matter or mean for the vino? First off, you’ve got a bit of an Italian influence here, since the vineyards were founded by Italian immigrants in the 1850’s. They saw the mountains, started climbing and then sent back to the homeland for their grapevines. The valleys are formed by 4 rivers, so you get that wonderful mineral element in the soil. It snows on them in the winter, too. These grapes have a lot of character, it would seem.

The first thing I noticed about Frisk Prickly Riesling (2014, 9.5%, Victoria, Australia) is that it fizzed when I poured it. It smelled of tarragon, which kind of scared me, since that’s not a favorite aroma of mine. But then I tasted it. Flavors of juicy starfruit and lime and flowers hit me first…and the bubble were tiny and active, so it felt lively and, to quote the bottle label, it had a “racy verve” (I love that description. I wish I’d come up with it first.) The winemakers say that the “prickly” element comes from the “canny” yeast added during fermentation. Again, another description I wish I’d thought of first: canny yeast. It finished nice and tart

This wine was so yummy. Absolutely not too sweet…it’s like they took all the best flavors of a Riesling, added a little sass, and came up with a refreshing, flavorful, bouncy wine.

If you like a wine that is on the sweeter side, but not thick and sweet, you will love this one. If you like your wine with a bit of a tart taste in it, ditto. And ditto again if you like a little movement in your vino. The bubbles really play a big role in the taste and feel of Frisk, tiny as they are after you pour it.  I found this wine for under $8, by the way. Frisk also makes a Prickly Rosso, and I intend to climb the nearest Alp, or head to the nearest store, to get some.

This wine paired very nicely with a seat on the patio, doggie in my lap and a new magazine to read. (Yes, since you asked, it is a bit difficult to read a magazine with a dog on your lap. I gladly accept the hardship however.)

Cheers!