Old Coach Road Riesling 2024

Pleasantly Sweet and Sour

The standout feature of this Riesling is undoubtedly its excellent cost performance.

It's safe to say that among the New Zealand Rieslings imported into Japan, this is one of the most reasonably priced wines.

How has this price been achieved?

It's because of the extraordinary dedication of Seifried, the winery that produces this wine.

Seifried is a winery founded by Hermann Seifried, who was originally from Austria and studied winemaking in Germany.

With the aim of making Riesling, a popular grape variety in Germany and Austria, popular in his new home of New Zealand, he has been cultivating it in Nelson on the South Island since 1973.

The 1970s were a time when wine production in New Zealand was not yet thriving. He has been continuously producing Riesling since that era.

In other words, Seifried is a pioneer of Riesling in New Zealand.

Mr. Seifried's desire to have many people drink Riesling, a specialty of his homeland, was passed on to his sons. The vineyards gradually expanded, and are now among the largest in Nelson.

By adopting modern winemaking systems, wine production dramatically increased, making it possible to supply wine at a lower price compared to other wineries.

And of course, the quality is impeccable.

"Old Coach Road" is an entry-level series within Seifried's lineup. Among them, the Riesling is particularly outstanding, being the brainchild of founder Hermann Seifried.

The aroma has a subtle oiliness, and when you taste it, you can clearly feel the fruity notes of green apple and citrus, accompanied by a pleasant acidity.

Then, a mellow, honey-like sweetness lingers on the finish. The residual sugar is 12.1g/L. It's not too sweet, a perfectly exquisite balance.

The 2023 vintage, in particular, has nuances of flowers and ginger, and these complex elements further enhance its fruitiness.

While enjoyable on its own, if pairing with food, German dishes such as sausages, sauerkraut, and Bécassine would be a good choice.

Fried seafood dishes like fried shrimp, fried scallops, and white fish fritters also pair well.

It's definitely a handy bottle to have in the fridge. Even if you don't finish it, it remains delicious for 3-4 days.

Incidentally, at a recent outdoor event where various New Zealand wines were served, this Old Coach Road Riesling was overwhelmingly the most popular.

It became very clear that this sweet and sour taste is extremely well-suited for outdoor settings.

I think I'll bring it on my next camping trip!

About Seifried Estate Winery

Seifried Estate is a winery established by the Seifried couple, immigrants from Austria. They began developing vineyards in the 1970s, and it is now known as the oldest winery in the Nelson region. They excel at Austrian and German grape varieties, their country of origin, and have won numerous international awards.

About Nelson Region

"Nelson" is located in the northern part of the South Island and is affectionately known as "Sunny Nelson" due to its extremely long annual sunshine hours.

In this relatively small region, most wineries are small-scale, often referred to as boutique wineries.

Utilizing the abundant sunshine, it primarily produces Chardonnay and aromatic white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris. Among red wines, Pinot Noir with rich fruitiness is popular. Nelson is also famous as a production area for hops and fruits.

Old Coach Road Riesling 2024