Riesling has shed its 1970s reputation for naffness to become the wine with the fastest-growing sales in the country.

Tesco reports that sales of New World and German rieslings have gone up by 71 per cent in the last year.

The modern wines are prized for their dry crispness. and are far removed from the flabby, medium-sweet product of yesteryear.

James Davis, Tesco's wine buyer, said: "Riesling has becomeone of Britain's trendiest wines right now."