Best of Riesling

This curated selection brings together exceptional rieslings from Australia's premier wine regions, showcasing the incredible diversity within a single varietal. Rather than guessing which producers excel at riesling, you're getting wines from established 'riesling academies' that have mastered the art of expressing terroir through this noble grape. The collection spans different vintages and regions, allowing you to explore how factors like soil composition, climate, and winemaking philosophy influence the final expression of riesling's signature characteristics.

Riesling is revered by wine professionals because it's one of the most transparent varietals for expressing terroir - the unique combination of soil, climate, and place. Its naturally high acidity acts as a backbone that allows subtle mineral nuances and fruit characteristics to shine through without being masked by heavy oak or manipulation. The grape's versatility ranges from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, and its ability to age gracefully means it develops complex petrol and honey notes over time, creating wines that evolve beautifully in the glass and cellar.

This selection takes you on a sensory exploration from bright citrus-driven styles with lemon zest and lime to more tropical expressions featuring guava and nectarine. You'll encounter the classic riesling spectrum from youthful green apple freshness to more developed honeysuckle and kerosene notes that emerge with bottle age. The mineral complexity varies from slate-driven Clare Valley expressions to different soil influences across regions, while the piercing acidity common to all great rieslings provides the structural framework that makes each sip refreshing and food-friendly.

Start with the youngest vintages to appreciate riesling's primary fruit characteristics, then progress to older bottles like the 2017 Leasingham to experience how the variety develops tertiary flavours over time. Serve each wine well-chilled (8-10°C) in appropriate glassware to concentrate the aromatics, and consider tasting them over several sessions rather than all at once to fully appreciate each wine's unique personality. The vintage variation allows you to understand how different growing seasons affect the same producers, making this an educational journey through riesling's expressive range.

Riesling's high acidity and diverse flavour profiles make it exceptionally food-friendly across this selection's range. The citrus-driven styles pair beautifully with fresh seafood, Asian cuisine, and goat cheese, while the more tropical expressions complement spiced dishes and aromatic herbs. The mineral-driven wines work wonderfully with oysters and other shellfish, and the honeyed characteristics in more developed bottles create magic with foie gras or aged cheeses. The key is matching the wine's intensity and sweetness level to your dish - riesling's versatility means there's likely a perfect pairing within this selection for most cuisines.