THE WINNERS OF THE 18TH NATIONAL RIESLING COMPETITION AWARDED

n event that put Pinot Bianco at the center and all the value of this extraordinary wine The winners of the 18th National Riesling Competition were announced on Saturday 17 June 2023 in Naturno in Alto Adige, which celebrated the best Rieslings of the 2021 vintage from all over Italy . On Saturday, the Gold Riesling Prize was also awarded to the best Riesling 2021 produced throughout the national territory. 51 labels that were tasted by a jury of national and international experts and who decreed the official ranking as well as the best Rieslings of each wine region. To climb to the top of the podium are South Tyrol and Piedmont. In fact, the following were awarded: first place went to Riesling Alto Adige Val Venosta Doc from the Lehengut winery , second place went to Riesling Alto Adige Valle Isarco from the Strasserhof estate , while third place was tied for Riesling Alto Adige Doc Pitzon from the Nals Margreid winery . the Riesling Alto Adige Doc Vigna Castel Ringberg by Elena Walch , the Langhe Doc Riesling Campofranco by Tenuta Carretta and finally the Riesling Alto Adige Val Venosta Doc by Tenuta Unterortl Castel Juval The classification by wine areas is also of great interest: for Alto Adige it wins the Riesling Renano Alto Adige Val Venosta Doc from the Lehengut winery , for Trentino the Trentino Riesling Doc from the Endrizzi winery , for the Langhe the Langhe Doc Riesling Campofranco from Tenuta Carretta and for Lombardy the Riesling Bergamasca Igt from the Tosca farm . “ Rankings, those released from the 18th National Competition – comments Magdalena Pratzner, President of the Riesling Days – which fill us with satisfaction because they highlight Riesling's ability to best express the character of the "terroirs" in which it grows, without ever betray his strong individuality. Why is this event celebrated in Naturns? Because Val Venosta is one of the areas in South Tyrol that offers particularly favorable conditions for the cultivation of this variety and represents the ideal stage for this event ”. The award ceremony is in fact part of the framework of the Riesling Days , an event created to make the most of the importance of this protagonist vine with dedicated tastings and masterclasses. “ An event entirely dedicated to the “queen of white grapes”, one of the most prestigious vine varieties in the world - explains Magdalena Pratzner - which in these days has become the absolute protagonist . The program of the event includes the possibility of tasting the competing labels, a dedicated masterclass as well as the possibility of visiting the cellars of local Riesling producers, with tastings of the excellent wines that, year after year, come out of their cellars. In this way, enthusiasts not only had the opportunity to try Rieslings from all over the world, but also to get to know the best producers in South Tyrol up close by visiting the area .” Riesling is in fact a vine of German origin cultivated in Italy, which finds a suitable climate and territory especially in the northern part of the peninsula. The Italian areas in which Riesling wine is produced are, in fact, mainly Trentino-Alto Adige, Oltrepò Pavese, but also Piedmont, Friuli and Veneto. It is a white grape variety, well resistant to cold, which gives life to aromatic wines and, at the same time, with a marked acidity.