...including the Frisk Prickly 2011! Amongst exhalted company. Thanks Fredric.

Read the full article here.

And every night for that matter!

2011 Frisk Prickly Riesling (Alpine Valleys, Victoria, Australia): 89% Riesling and 11% Muscat Gordo. Very pale straw yellow. Nice nose with white peach and orange blossom aromas. More white peach and orange blossom as well as pear comes through on the palate. Off-dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Residual Sugar: 3.6%

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)

Read the full review here.

Chicken, tortillas, cheese, salsa...topped with more cheese, sour cream and cilantro. How can that be bad?! Especially when washed down with snazzy Riesling?

Get the recipe here.

"Leave to the Aussies to come up with a tasty value wine with a sassy descriptive name. Frisk is a frisky Riesling with a pleasing level of prickly spritz lifting the ample fruity flavors.  It has a pale straw color, lively bubbles, loads of tropical fruit and jasmine aromas, off-dry fruity flavors, a refreshing 9.8% alcohol and a sweet/tart finish;  and all that Australian goodness for $11 American.

90 points | Gerald Boyd | December 6, 2011

"Admittedly Australia isn’t the first or even the third wine growing country I think when Riesling comes to mind. However over the last few years I’ve seen more and more evidence that this might just be the next varietal from Australia that makes a large impact on US shelves. Many of the examples are well priced, tasty and aimed at everyday consumption..."

You betcha. Some of the best. 

Read the full article here.

"Drink with Eggs in a Hole on Breakfast for Dinner Night."

What the??

Whatever. Drink it whenever you choose. Just drink it.

Read the full review here.

"A hint of sweet makes this an excellent companion to that curry...."

Curry for Thanksgiving? We're running with it...

Read the full article here.

Bargain of the Week: 2011 Frisk Prickly Riesling, Victoria ($11)

"An audacious Aussie wine, a trace of sweet in the entry, but dry in the finish, with classic steely/minerally finish and a load of flavor from a small amount of Muscat. Sensational."

What wine goes with turkey? 2011 Frisk Prickly Riesling according to the team at the Belleville News Democrat! We couldn't agree more...

Read the full story

Eve Bushman on the Frisk 2011 Riesling: the perfect follow up to a rich Chinese dinner...

Read more here!

Bill Elsey of Wines.com thinks Riesling is perfect for fall, and he's found a new favorite. 

Watch him swirl, sniff and slurp his way through our new release 2011 here. Then grab a bottle and do the same!

"This Riesling has just enough bubbles to be prickly, but plenty of flavor to pack a punch. Full of ripe peaches and pears with a hint of sweet orange and flowers, this wine starts off dry but finishes light and lively, never heavy or overly sweet. A perfect first drink on a late summer evening, or try it during dinner with a light shellfish ceviche."

Frisk is looking for a fresh new face. A cool cat to complement Frisk’s racy demeanor...

Think it could be you?

Then you need to get your camera ready for some action! Visit www.friskwines.com/face and follow the instructions to upload your photo (make sure there’s a bottle of Frisk in the shot so we know what you’re drinking), get your mates to vote for you, then sit back and watch yourself catapult to fame you’ve previously only dreamt of. 

OK, maybe we’re overstating things a little here. Here’s the deal: you win, consent to us using your image, then your likeness, as created by talented LA artist Missy McCullough, will be seen on future Frisk promotional materials. It might not be a contract with IMG, but you don’t have to starve yourself for this gig either. Plus, we’ll have Missy screenprint a one-off custom tee for you from her sketch. Now that’s a winning Valentines gift (or Mothers Day if you’re flailing in that department). 

HOW TO ENTER (& TIPS ON WINNING)

• VIsit www.friskwines/face
• Upload your photo
• Make sure you mention the name of the fine establishment who sold you the glass/bottle of Frisk in your photo caption, they’re up for Frisk lovin’ as well!
• Bribe your friends to vote (if we were you, we’d be shouting out to them on facebook, twitter, foursquare and any other social media tool you’re savvy with), finish in the top 10 to become a finalist, then if all goes to plan your image is selected as our new face of Frisk! (tip: uploading video footage to complement your photo could aid your cause in this last step…)

The comp runs September 15 to October 31, but don't leave your run too long...rounding up votes takes time! Good luck, we'll see you on the flip side.

Oh, and in the mean time, if you need some vino to get you through the stress of waiting, you can use the code FACE2012 in our online store to save 20% on all Frisk purchases. That'll help with the nerves.

We're reckoning it's the 2010 vintage of Frisk Prickly that you've had in your cooler this summer. And we're hoping you didn't run into any problems finding it in your local wine store...but the story behind the scenes is that our little prickly Riesling got so crazy popular this summer, that we SOLD OUT of the delicious 2010 vintage. Not what we'd planned, but not something that we're all together unhappy about, either. I mean, really, who's going to complain about people loving your wine so much you sell out?!

Thankfully, the 2011 fruit was almost off the vine, so we haven’t had to wait too long for replacement stocks. We’ve just tasted the new vintage, and damn, does it look good.

It’s normally pretty darned cool in the Alpine Valleys (more ugg boots than bikini-flaunting weather) but 2011 took the mercury to new lows. Many vineyards were harvested up to four weeks later than usual, and yields were particularly low. The accountants don’t like that combo, but it’s near ideal conditions for our cold-lovin’ Riesling fruit! It’s intoxicatingly floral, showing vivacious citrus fruits, and, as usual, a racy, fresh palate with great concentration. We can’t wait for you to try it.

To help launch this new vintage, we’re running a competition over the next six weeks called ‘The Face of Frisk’.

We’re looking for avid Frisk fans who are keen to upload a picture of themselves enjoying Frisk  to our facebook page. We're launching the competition on September 15, so this is just a little teaser, but come 9/15, check out www.friskwines.com/face for more details.

And get stuck into the 2011 vintage as soon as you can - it'll rock your world!

Frisk

Frisk's gentle, slightly sweet style of Riesling is uncommon for Australia, where most Rieslings are bone-dry, steely and citrusy. The cool-climate source, Victoria's Alpine Valley, produces a refreshing sip in part because of the grapes' natural acidity. A touch of Muscat Gordo adds a pretty floral note. The Prickly 2010 (88, $10) hits the (sweet) spot.

$10 | 88  points

Harvey Steiman | July 31, 2011

Hey friends.  This week we 're talking about Riesling and why we love it.  It 's true there are some not-so-good examples of this noble grape that litter the shelves of every liquor store, but today we 're going to sift through the duds and try something worth drinking.      

A lot of times in America, when it comes to white wine, we talk dry and drink sweet.  In fact, the phrase I hear almost more than anything else is "I 'm looking for a good white wine that isn 't sweet."  Then they reach for the cheap Pinot Grigio or Riesling only to be disappointed.  This is a shame because there are some amazing sweeter wines out there that are completely overshadowed by syrupy, candy-coated table wines with a 7 dollar price tag.

The secret to any great wine is balance, and acidity is one end of the seesaw for sweeter white wine.  You need good levels of acidity to balance the residual sugar that 's left over after fermentation ends. With enough acidity, sweeter wines often don 't taste sweet at all. Instead, they can taste very concentrated and fruity (not syrupy and sticky like sweet wines with low acid).  Some of the best wines in the world are high acid dessert wines.

2010 Frisk "Prickly" Riesling is an example of the "good" kind of sweet wine. It 's also the kind of wine that 's often overlooked on the shelf because it doesn 't have a recognizable name or label. (That 's ok because I 'm here to fix that fear of the strange and unfamiliar).  Frisk is interesting because it is made in a lightly effervescent style, which means it has little bubbles that "prickle" your tongue.  It 's quite nice.  This effervescence also acts as a balancing scale against the 4% residual sugar in the wine.  The end result is a medium sweet wine that tastes extremely refreshing.  The best part: only $9.99!

Frisk hails from the southern end of Victoria, Australia which is perfect for Riesling 's cool climate demands.  It 's interesting to note that Riesling used to be the most widely  planted white grape in Australia before the Chardonnay craze hit.   Most of the vines were uprooted in favor of the more popular Chardonnay, but Riesling is slowly reclaiming its roots (Haha.  Roots, get it?  Bad Joke).

Tasting Notes: The nose is floral with a hint of lime.  Mango and Pear on the palate.  Higher levels of acidity make it pair amazingly well with spicy Asian foods.  And you 'll love the spritz on the finish.

Monday’s Picks

It’s hard not to get a kick out of Riesling, whether it’s the laser-precision and steeliness of bone-dry Rieslings from Austria (no kangaroos), or in this case, a sweeter version with a bit of a spritz from Australia (many kangaroos). Grown at high elevation in the Victorian Alps, a perfect climate for Riesling, snow covers the vineyards during the winter. Those cool temperatures lend this wine the proper acidity with which to balance out it’s sweetness. This is a balanced wine with great aromatics – the wet clay and underripe nectarine found on the nose are accompanied by lush pear and apricot on the palate. Yes, it is on the sweeter side, but as mentioned before, there is an elegance and freshness to this wine that comes from the acidity and the slight tongue prickle, which gives lift to the round, richness of the delicate fruit sugars. Pair this with Thai or Chinese foods, or even a garlicky, Cuban rotisserie chicken for terrific Riesling fun.

http://vino100sn.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/mondays-picks/

Frisk Prickly Riesling

11:37 am August 18, 2010, by Gil Kulers

 

Gil Kulers

 

 

 

 2009 Frisk Prickly Riesling/Muscat Gordo, Victoria, Australia

 

 

• Pleasant aromas of pineapple, lime, grapefruit and minerals. Lots of bright, tart citrus fruit flavors with a touch of honey highlighted by the slightest of effervescence. It suggests a refreshingly acidic key lime pie with a toasted macadamia nut crust.

Here’s another one from the What Were They Thinking Department:

I recently got my hands on a bottle of riesling that has a splash of aromatic muscat in the blend. In addition to having a touch of sweetness to it, the wine also had the slightest effervescence. Ultimately, I found it to be incredibly refreshing and just the ticket for our never-ending train of sweltering days. It also posts a mere 8.7 percent alcohol, which is a plus for any hot-weather beverage. Despite its redeeming qualities, one would have to admit a wine like this (a riesling-muscat blend with bubbles) is a hard sell.

So what did the marketing geniuses come up with for a name to overcome this wine’s retail challenges? They called it Frisk Prickly.

Frisk Prickly?! Sounds more like a character from the skit comedy show Second City Television of the 1970s and ’80s. They also conceived this cockamamie story on how the name came to pass: A cellar worker was fondling his glass while tasting the wine and commented on the “prickle” of the bubbles in his mouth. And for some inconceivable reason there is a silhouette of a dove in flight on the label.

Folks who like unique white blends like Evolution No. 9 and Conundrum will appreciate this wine. Also those who are partial to slightly sweet white zinfandels will find Frisk Prickly as a pleasant alternative.

They say beauty is only skin deep, but ugliness goes clear to the bone. In the case of Frisk Prickly, the beauty of the wine is inside, if you can get past its ridiculous veneer.

• Two Thumbs Up

“Nose: Lemon-drop candy, zesty lime, kiwi and a nice hint of grapefruit and the “tropics” in general. Taste: Bubbly lemon-lime action that graces the front palate with a barrage of citrus. Excellent acidity make this an incredibly food-friendly wine. I love the finish and would pound this wine all day long during the summer (or really anytime I can get my hands on it). This is an exceptional Riesling and frankly, could be the best one I’ve had anywhere at anytime for $10 – it’s a total no-brainer and one I’d highly recommend to anyone. W.E.P. Rating: 150%”

By Duane Pemberton, www.winefoot.com

August 12, 2010

85pts - “Frisk’s 2009 Prickly was developed as a light-bodied, low alcohol, medium-sweet, slightly fizzy fun-wine. And it certainly delivers in all these respects, not to mention offering amazing value! A blend of 83% Riesling and 17% Muscat Gordo, appealing honeyed, grapey aromas lead to a refreshing glass with medium acidity and some lively bubbles. Possessing about 35 g/l of residual sugar, the finish is long and simply fruity. This is one to drink now.”

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate June 30, 2010, Issue #182

87 pts - "Pale yellow, with a bubbly haze. Citrus rind, peach, smoke and ginger on the fragrantnose. Plump, ripe and sweet but almost shockingly lively, with very good clarity and cut to the flavors of pit fruits, spices, smoke and quinine. Tactile and energetic but also a touch sweet, finishing long and sappy. It is also an outstanding value and would be extremely flexible with spicy foods.”

Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar July/August 2010

2009 Frisk "Prickly" Riesling-Muscat Gordo Victoria (375ml)

This delightfuly refreshing wine is a blend of 83% Riesling, sourced from vines grown in the King Valley at the base of the Victorian Alps, and 17% Muscat Gordo that is from old vines in the Riverland. The fruit is chilled, crushed, pressed and fermented very cold and very slowly, then chilled to pull up the ferment and trap a small amount of natural carbon dioxide. Loosely based on an older German style, the wine is bright and lively with a slight sweetness and palate cleansing acidity. The nose sings with lime, apricot and peach that follow on the palate with a touch of a "prickly" texture. Also, as the weather warms up, this 8.7 % ABV wine will prove a classic summer sipper. Pair this with some young cheeses or spicy Asian food and you're good to go. (Jim Chanteloup, K&L Australian wine buyer)

2009 Frisk, Australia, “Prickly” ($10):

Stunning Aussie Riesling/Muscat blend with only 8.7% r.s. and a brilliant lightly spicy aroma and tangerine/orange aroma notes. Slightly spritzy on the tongue, a superb aperitif or light dessert wine. Old Bridge Cellars.

Serious poverty, as in not being able to put grub on the family table at night, seems far removed from most of us as we cruise the internet on our handhelds and decide which bottle of plonk we’re going to grab from the bottlo’ on our way home from work. But in tough economic times such as these, it’s closer than you think. It’s striking everyday families at their core, no doubt in a neighborhood very close to your own.

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity whose mission it is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks. They secure and distribute more than 2.5 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually to more than 37 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including children and seniors.

We’re extremely grateful for the good fortitude that allows us to make a wine like Frisk and then watch people all over the world enjoy it. But we’re also very aware of others in less fortunate positions, and the fine line that separates us. To that end we applaud Feeding America for their hard yakka, and pledge to make a donation for each and every Frisk Prickly wristband given away in the USA. Hopefully you’re wearing one now, and if you’re not, drop us an email, we’d love to send you one and make another donation to support this worthy cause.

Cheers,
The Frisk Team