Give The Misunderstood Riesling Another Look

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Mar 16, 2007 12:00 am

I recently had the pleasure of attending a luncheon with Nik Weis, the highly acclaimed winemaker of Germanyâs St. Urbans-Hof winery.

St. Urban is the patron saint of German winemakers. Nik is the third generation of his family to make wine at St. Urbans-Hof. After sampling his wines, St. Urban has clearly been smiling on the Weis family and their vineyards.

The wines we tasted were all Rieslings from three different vineyard sites owned by the Weis family. Riesling is a terribly misunderstood grape here in the United States. Many are quick to dismiss these wines as too sweet. However, the natural fruitiness of the Riesling grape actually lends itself very well to sipping at a cocktail party or pairing with many types of foods.

Asian foods pair beautifully with Riesling. The menu at our luncheon also made shrewd use of citrus fruits. The pairing of the acidity of the grapefruit with the fruitiness of the Riesling was just incredible. It should also be noted that Rieslings have a lower alcohol content than most wines.

German wines have also been criticized for having labels that are too complicated. The information is actually rather basic if you can look past the hard to pronounce words and old-fashioned labels.

The wines are predominantly Rieslings. The other words refer to vineyard designations and the timing of the harvest of the grapes. They will generally deliver beautiful flavors of peaches, honey, and apples. Because of the limestone soil of the vineyards, the wines also have a minerality that offsets the fruit.

If you havenât tried a Riesling in a while, do yourself a favor and pick one up. One of the worldâs most misunderstood grapes is definitely worth another look.

*Recently tasted and enjoyed: 2006 St. Urbans-Hof Riesling QBA.

Soft, medium-bodied, lush and affordable. This estate bottled gem is Nikâs way of introducing wine drinkers to the magic of wines from the Mosel-Saar valleys.

(Newtown resident and wine enthusiast Steve Small is the general manager at Yankee Wine & Spirits on Queen Street.)

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Joseph C. Tessitore

Yes, elections have consequences — Democrats lost. Now it’s time to deal with it instead of trying to turn every local race into a national political drama. Dragging “Project 2025” into a Newtown election is a stretch that borders on absurd. Our local government isn’t deciding national policy — it’s fixing roads, managing budgets, and keeping taxes reasonable. If you think Washington politics are running Town Hall, you haven’t been paying attention. Jeff Capeci and the local Republican team are focused on what actually matters here at home: fiscal responsibility, public safety, and smart development. That’s the kind of leadership Newtown needs — not scare tactics and conspiracy-laced talking points pulled from cable news.

Elections Have Consequences XVII

I’m not sure the author of that letter was actually at the debate, because she seems to have missed the portion near the end when Bruce Walczak couldn’t explain (remember?) how the town pays for its roads. That moment was uncomfortable to watch — and it underscored exactly why experience in town government matters. Jeff Capeci didn’t rely on “pat answers”; he relied on facts. His understanding of how Newtown operates — how projects are funded and how to actually get things done — comes from years of hands-on service, not theory or guesswork. And let’s be honest: it’s not a bad thing that Jeff Capeci was “practiced.” I want someone who prepares for a debate, who does their homework, and who takes the role of First Selectman seriously enough to be ready. Winging it might sound authentic, but it’s not leadership. At several points, Bruce struggled to follow along. He had to have a question repeated because he couldn’t hear, and at yet another point Jeff had to ask for clarification because no one could understand what Bruce was saying. It was clear he wasn’t answering the questions that were actually asked. It was shockingly reminiscent of a recent debate on the national stage.

After The Debate, I’m With Bruce

... he’s “not a politician.” That may sound appealing, but it’s a little disingenuous — Bruce has been trying to become one for the better part of twenty years. He’s run for local office multiple times, often under different party banners. That’s not the résumé of an outsider; that’s the record of someone who has been seeking political office for decades. Newtown voters deserve honesty. You can’t say you’re “not a politician” while campaigning for office year after year. Leadership isn’t about slogans — it’s about results, collaboration, and credibility.

It’s Time for Bold Change in Newtown

Open Letter to Dave Ackert. Mr. Ackert, you are a very angry and mean-spirited person who, in my recent memory, has never done anything but complain and has never shown anything but a one-dimensional uncompromising way of thinking. Want to change Newtown in a way you feel would be better? Then why don’t you RUN FOR OFFICE and stop hiding behind your ranting posts and letters and stop thinking that world revolves around you. Hating Trump (or Trump derangement Syndrome) HAS NOTHING to do with Newtown! Zero! I have talked with Democrats and “Never Trumpers” while out campaigning and knocking on doors that think critically and feel the same way. The Democrats have raised the taxes in Newtown to an unsustainable level and plan on making Newtown even more unaffordable in the future if they retain the majority. If you are not happy with how low (sarcastic) your taxes are? Vote for the Democrats. They will be more than happy to remedy that situation. They just passed a generational tax increase that if you read between the lines, essentially means if you don’t agree with the way they are stealing the innocence and charm out of Newtown, then leave. They have shown no regard to all the people that are struggling to pay their current taxes or rely upon the food pantry to put food on their table. At least the Republicans here in Newtown are dealing with real local issues and quite honestly have shown more common sense in the way the taxpayer’s money is spent. I think some of your arguments are valid, but I would like to see you use the intelligence God gave you in a more constructive way than just criticize. I am serious about you running for office. It would force you to see the big picture and maybe wield your influence in a more productive way.

Open Letter to Newtown’s Voting Majority

I appreciate your optimism about keeping national politics out of local government — we all want leaders who put Newtown first. But calling Paul a “centrist” just doesn’t match what we’ve seen. If you look at his comments online or watch the recent debate, Paul was the first to go negative and came across more like a national political candidate than a neighbor. That’s not the tone of someone trying to bring people together. Now, Paul is another story entirely. He’s honest, articulate, and clearly knows what he’s doing. Frankly, I think local Democrats would have been better off putting him at the top of their ticket.

I’m With Bruce And Paul

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Give The Misunderstood Riesling Another Look

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