Wine of the Month: Blue Nun Rivaner Riesling

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No really. It’s good. A very chilled bottle of this fruity German quencher is as easy on the palate as it is on the wallet.

As an expat American, a sip of this the long established, and once wildly popular, blue bottled German white wine doesn’t taste as naff as it might to a lot of Brits. Sure, I’ve heard the jokes and know the stigma it and German wines have over here; it just doesn’t resonate with me all that strongly. In case you’re as cultural unaware as me, just Google “Blue Nun” to see what I’m gabbing about. Or check out this article from The Guardian which nicely sums up the “curse” of the Blue Nun as it educates readers with a concise history of British perceptions of German wine.

Still, for around a fiver (or less if you know where to shop), this Riesling yields tasty value. When you’re not so much looking to impress and just want something pleasant to drink, it’s worth keeping in mind. Apparently, the folks marketing Blue Nun have gone to great lengths to reposition the brand while the peeps actually making the stuff have aimed for a more balanced, off-dry and floral wine than the sweeter one of yore.

Obviously, Blue Nun’s not gunning to take the place of, say, a Burgundy Grand Cru, nor will it win my heart away from any of my favourite fine wines. But, there are ideal situations for this inexpensive and uncomplicated quaff. Sunny afternoon picnicking in the park? Perfect! Low key evening at home cooking? I must admit, it kept a steady pace with a snazzed up couscous recipe I recently attempted.

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Blue Nun Rivaner Riesling along with the rest of the brand’s range are widely available in the UK. A Rivaner Riesling case of six 750ml bottles (2011 vintage) from Tesco costs £29.88.

Please have a look at my past WOTM selections for more recs. Thanks!

About tikichris

Chris Osburn is the founder, administrator and editor of tikichris. In addition to blogging, he works as a freelance journalist, photographer, consultant and curator.
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