Top Australian Rieslings to try
From oily and rich to fragile and lime-studded, Riesling is a grape which really works in Australia. Chris Wilson picks out ten of the best.
Cool climate wines are – if you’ll pardon the pun – a hot-topic at the moment right across the New World. Australia has its fair share of cool climate regions and what better grape to showcase what these areas can achieve than Riesling.
At the recent Wine Australia trade tasting in London there were plenty of Rieslings on show – it was almost as prevalent as Chardonnay – and many came from classic cool climate areas such as Clare Valley or Adelaide Hills.
As well as textbook oily, rich and lime-studded wines from the renowned Eden and Clare Valleys, there were stunning examples from all over Australia’s winelands, some crystalline and delicate, others more robust and textured.
This truly is a grape with nowhere to hide and Australia remains a go-to for the full spectrum of modern and classic Riesling expressions.
Top Australian Rieslings to try
Gilbert Family Wines, Pétillant-Naturel Riesling, Orange, New South Wales, Australia, 2019
Sparkling Riesling from Australia is a rarity so it was with interest that this ‘pet-nat’ from Orange in New South Wales was approached. The fruit...
2019
Gilbert Family WinesOrange
La Violetta, Das Sakrileg Riesling, Great Southern, Western Australia, Australia, 2018
Winemaker Andrew Hoadley is somewhat of a maverick, as demonstrated in this striking wine. Made from German-cloned vines brought to Western Australia from the Mosel...
2018
La ViolettaGreat Southern
Petaluma, Yellow Label Hanlin Hill Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2018
Petaluma was one of a handful of Adelaide Hills vineyards affected by the bush fires, and there’s a shocking aerial photograph of the estate posted...
2018
PetalumaClare Valley
Ministry Of Clouds, Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2018
Half the fruit comes from the hills of Penwortham and Sevenhill, and half from a half-hectare 60-year-old plot in Watervale. Winemakers Bernice Ong and Julian...
2018
Ministry Of CloudsClare Valley
Langmeil, Wattle Brae Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2018
Langmeil Winery in the Barossa Valley is home to what they claim is the country’s oldest Shiraz, planted in 1843. The estate also has some...
2018
LangmeilEden Valley
Clos Clare, Watervale Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2019
The tiny two-hectare clos Clare vineyard was originally part of the Florita vineyard in Clare Valley's Watervale sub region and known for its outstanding Riesling....
2019
Clos ClareClare Valley
Skillogalee, Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2017
Instantly recognisable in its sleek, brown-glassed bottle. The fruit here is grown at 500 MASL and different parcels are vinified separately and blended just before...
2017
SkillogaleeClare Valley
Pikes, Traditionale Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2018
This is a Clare Valley Riesling with pedigree and 2018 marks the 34th release of the Pikes Traditionale. The nose is bright and punchy with...
2018
PikesClare Valley
Larry Cherubino, Laissez Faire Riesling, Great Southern, Western Australia, Australia, 2019
From Porongurup in Great Southern this textured Riesling holds back on the fruit and pushes forward its mineral characteristics. There’s a stony backbone from which...
2019
Larry CherubinoGreat Southern
Howard Park, Mt Barker Riesling, Mount Barker, Western Australia, Australia, 2018
Free run juice from select blocks from Howard Park’s Mount Barker vineyard are vinified long and cool in stainless steel before blending to create this...
2018
Howard ParkMount Barker