AUSTRALIAN RIESLING
Australia is one of the world’s top producers of Riesling, the fifth most planted white grape variety globally. The first Australian Riesling was planted by William Macarthur at Camden Park near Penrith in 1838. From there, it spread across the country, finding a strong following among German settlers in South Australia. Australian Riesling is typically light-bodied and drier compared to its European counterparts.
WHAT IS RIESLING WINE?
Riesling is a late-ripening, aromatic white wine known for its high acidity and vibrant character. In Australia, Riesling is typically dry and citrussy, rather than sweet and fruity. It's celebrated for its rare ability to express the unique character of its vineyard like no other grape.
What type of wine is Riesling?
Riesling is a white wine celebrated for its vibrant citrus, floral notes, and crisp acidity. Australian Riesling, particularly from Clare and Eden Valleys, is renowned for its dry style, purity of fruit, and exceptional ageing potential.
Is Riesling Red or White?
Riesling is a white wine known for its incredible versatility. While most Australian Rieslings are now crafted in a dry style, they can be made in a wide range of expressions, from bone dry to lusciously sweet. This adaptability is one of Riesling’s greatest strengths, allowing it to suit a variety of palates. However, it can also be a challenge, as the style of the wine is influenced by factors such as canopy management, timing of harvest, skin contact, and time spent on lees. These variables can shape the final character of the wine, resulting in a broad spectrum of flavours and textures.
What is Dessert/Late Harvest Riesling?
Dessert or Late Harvest Riesling is a style of Riesling made from grapes that are left on the vine longer than usual, allowing them to ripen fully and develop concentrated flavours. These wines tend to be sweeter, with rich notes of honey, ripe stonefruit, and tropical fruits. In some cases, the grapes may even be affected by noble rot (Botrytis), which further intensifies the sweetness and complexity. Late Harvest Riesling is often enjoyed as a dessert wine, pairing beautifully with cheeses, fruit-based desserts, or even on its own as a sweet indulgence.
What is the difference between Alsace, German vs Aussie Riesling?
The main differences between Alsace, German, and Australian Rieslings lie in their regional styles, climate, and winemaking approaches. Alsace, located in north-eastern France, produces Rieslings that are typically dry with a rich, full-bodied profile. The cooler climate and unique terroir contribute to wines with high acidity, expressive citrus and floral notes, and a slightly spicy finish.
Germany, the birthplace of Riesling, produces wines that can range from bone dry to sweet, depending on the region and vintage. The country is known for its iconic sweet Rieslings, particularly from regions like Mosel, Rheingau, and Pfalz. German Rieslings often showcase a delicate balance of acidity and sweetness, with mineral and floral aromas.
Australia, particularly the Clare and Eden Valleys, is renowned for producing some of the driest and most precise Rieslings in the world. Known for their crisp acidity and purity of fruit, Australian Rieslings often feature fresh citrus, green apple, and floral aromas. While the focus is typically on dry styles, some regions also produce off-dry or sweet versions, though these are less common.
WHAT DOES AUSTRALIAN RIESLING TASTE LIKE?
How would you describe Riesling wine? A remarkable quality of Riesling is that it, along with Hunter Semillon, is one of the few white varietals that ages gracefully. Zesty and citrussy young, it can develop in the bottle to show gorgeous honey and toast characters after a number of years. Riesling was the varietal that led our screwcap revolution. As was discovered in these instances of ageing, cork is an inferior closure to the Stelvin cap. So, in 2001, the Riesling growers in the Clare Valley united and bottled the entire Riesling vintage under screwcap.
Is Riesling sweet or dry?
While European Rieslings like those from Austria, Germany and some areas of France tend to be sweeter, most Australian Riesling is now made in a dry style. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t off-dry styles out there, plus Late Harvest and Botrytis Riesling are luscious dessert wines.
Dry Rieslings have had all or almost all their sugar converted to alcohol during fermentation. Sweet Rieslings typically retain high levels of their residual sugar, as much as 230g/L in some instances. Off-dry wines, however, have a mildly perceptible sweetness, with moderate levels of residual sugar from around 12g/L and up.
Is Riesling similar to Pinot Gris?
Riesling and Pinot Gris are both white wines, but they differ in style and flavour. Riesling is typically aromatic, with bright acidity and expressive notes of citrus, green apple, and floral elements, ranging from dry to sweet. In contrast, Pinot Gris tends to be rounder and fuller-bodied, with softer acidity and flavours of pear, apple, and sometimes tropical fruit.
Is Riesling similar to Chenin Blanc?
Riesling and Chenin Blanc are both versatile white wines, but Riesling is typically more aromatic, with bright acidity and citrusy, floral notes, while Chenin Blanc is often fuller-bodied, with a wider range of flavours from crisp apple to honeyed or waxy textures, depending on the style.
Is Riesling similar to Grüner Veltliner?
Riesling and Grüner Veltliner share some similarities, particularly in their crisp acidity and versatility, but they differ in flavour profile. Riesling is typically more aromatic, with bright citrus, floral, and sometimes honeyed notes, ranging from dry to sweet. Grüner Veltliner, while also fresh and crisp, tends to have a more herbaceous character, with flavours of white pepper, green apple, and subtle spice, often in a dry style.
Grüner Veltliner is generally less aromatic and more savoury than Riesling, with a focus on minerality and a peppery finish.
BEST RIESLING IN AUSTRALIA
Australia is home to some outstanding Riesling producers, each bringing a unique touch to this versatile grape. Pooley Wines from Tasmania crafts elegant, cool-climate Rieslings with vibrant acidity, while Claymore Wines in Clare Valley produces bold, fruit-driven styles. Knappstein offers crisp, citrus-driven Rieslings from Clare Valley, and Peter Lehmann, although better known for reds, produces fresh, mineral-driven Rieslings. Tahbilk in Nagambie Lakes is renowned for Rieslings with citrus and floral notes, offering excellent ageing potential. Meanwhile, Chaffey Bros from Barossa Valley creates modern, fresh Rieslings with subtle spice and minerality, showcasing the variety’s adaptability across regions.
WHAT REGION IN AUSTRALIA MAKES THE BEST RIESLING?
The best quality Australian Rieslings are generally found in cooler regions, which have an extended ripening season and cool nights, for acid retention. These conditions allow the development of delicate aromatics, a greater range and concentration of flavours, moderate alcohol and high acid levels.
The Clare Valley and Eden Valley have consistently produced superb, age-worthy Rieslings and are widely regarded as Australia’s benchmark regions for the variety. Exceptional Rieslings also come from pockets of Victoria, Western Australia, and other regions, including:
Eden Valley Riesling
The high altitude and cool climate of the Eden Valley are suited to Rieslings, which are typically elegant, fragrant and finely structured. The best examples are capable of long ageing and developing toasty overtones.
Tasmanian Riesling
Tasmania's cool climate is ideal for producing outstanding Riesling. Tasmanian Riesling has great length, citrus and mineral characters, high levels of natural acidity, and fantastic ageability.
Limestone Coast Riesling
Limestone Coast benefits from a cool, Mediterranean-style climate that allows for long ripening periods, ensuring the development of fresh acidity and complex aromas. The cool nights and temperate days contribute to wines that are well-balanced, elegant, and capable of ageing gracefully, making this region an emerging favourite for high-quality Riesling.
Clare Valley Riesling
The Clare Valley is Australia's most renowned Riesling region with a long history of producing distinctive, age-worthy Riesling. Within the region, there are defined sub-regions that consistently produce characteristic Rieslings of outstanding quality that can be developed with cellaring.
DO YOU CHILL RIESLING WINE?
Yes, Riesling is best served chilled to enhance its crisp acidity and aromatic profile. Typically, it should be served at around 8–10°C (46–50°F). This allows the delicate fruit and floral notes to shine. Chilling it also helps balance the sweetness, especially in sweeter, off-dry styles, making the wine feel more refreshing and vibrant.
DOES RIESLING AGE WELL?
Riesling has excellent ageing potential, with many wines capable of cellaring for up to 10 years or more, depending on the style and region. Wines with high acidity and balanced sweetness, such as those from regions like Clare Valley and Eden Valley, tend to evolve gracefully over time. As Riesling ages, it develops greater complexity, often showing tertiary characteristics like honey, toast, and dried fruit, while retaining its refreshing acidity.
BEST FOOD PAIRINGS FOR RIESLING?
So, what do you eat with Riesling? With its high levels of acidity and citrussy characters, Riesling is a perfect match with a variety of seafood dishes and is also a super food-friendly wine to serve with spicy Asian-style dishes like Thai and Korean, plus deliciously moreish Middle Eastern food. Some delicious recipes that pair well with Riesling include mussels with fennel, orange and caper emulsion, Anjum Anand’s coastal crab and coconut curry, Lyndey Milan’s soba noodles with peanut and ginger, and more.
HOW TO BUY RIESLING FROM WINE SELECTORS?
Want Australian Riesling from top producers delivered to your doorstep? With Wine Selectors, you can enjoy Australia’s best Rieslings from the comfort of your home. Simply order a Riesling dozen and save 15%, or sign up for a customised Riesling subscription to receive handpicked selections tailored to your taste.