On sheer numbers, riesling again ranks behind only shiraz, chardonnay and cabernet as the strongest category in the country – proof again that we all ought to be drinking more of this sublime variety. The dominance of Great Southern and the Clare and Eden valleys in Australia’s top riesling stakes is complete, together putting forward more than five in every six wines in our short list. Adelaide Hills, Great Western, Henty and Tasmania share the balance. With just two inclusions in our top 40 (both from Pooley), Tasmania was the surprise dark horse that swept in from the sidelines with a convincing win for Riesling of the Year!
Find out more about riesling in our essential guide.
2020 Pooley Margaret Pooley Tribute Single Vineyard Riesling
![riesling](https://cdn.winecompanion.com.au/-/media/wc/awards/2022awards/varietal-winners-bottle-shots/riesling.ashx)
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From Flaxman Valley (in Eden Valley) and the freakiest riesling freaks of all, perhaps. This is electric. So much vigour and perkiness, a vibrant and poised white that delivers strong mineral charm, beautifully brittle acidity and tension and length in spades. Ultra floral scents with lime, blackcurrant, white pepper, talc, flint, warm steel and chamomile. The palate a superb echo with succulent, mineral-charged texture and a sense of pristine, pretty fruit in tow. A delicate expression with compelling energy and drinkability as its charter. – Mike Bennie
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Top-rated riesling from the 2025 Companion
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Meadowbank Wines
Riesling 2023
Tasmania -
Rieslingfreak
No.12 Riesling 2023
Eden Valley -
Castle Rock Estate
Diletti Riesling 2022
Porongurup -
Castle Rock Estate
Riesling 2023
Porongurup -
Crawford River Wines
Riesling 2023
Henty -
Freycinet Vineyard
Riesling 2023
Tasmania -
Helm
Premium Riesling 2023
Canberra District -
Henschke
Julius Riesling 2023
Eden Valley -
Leo Buring
DW A20 Leopold Riesling 2023
Tasmania -
Orlando
Steingarten Riesling 2012
Eden Valley -
Pewsey Vale Vineyard
10 Years Cellar Aged The Contours Museum Reserve Single Vineyard Estate Riesling 2014
Eden Valley -
Pooley Wines
Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling 2023
Tasmania -
Pooley Wines
Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
Seppelt
Drumborg Vineyard Riesling 2023
Henty -
ChaLou Wines
Riesling 2023
Orange -
Charles Melton Wines
Domaine Sophie Claire Riesling 2023
Eden Valley Adelaide Hills -
Crawford River Wines
Noble Dry 2022
Henty -
Crawford River Wines
Museum Release Riesling 2017
Henty -
Forest Hill Vineyard
Block 1 Riesling 2023
Mount Barker -
Four Winds Vineyard
Riesling 2017
Canberra District -
Four Winds Vineyard
Riesling 2015
Canberra District -
Frankland Estate
Isolation Ridge Riesling 2023
Frankland River -
Frankland Estate
Smith Cullam Riesling 2023
Frankland River -
Grosset
Springvale Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Grosset
Polish Hill Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Helm
Riesling 2023
Tumbarumba -
Jim Barry Wines
The Florita Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Jim Barry Wines
Spring Farm Block 114 Riesling 2014
Clare Valley -
Jim Barry Wines
Cellar Release The Florita Riesling 2017
Clare Valley -
limefinger
Learnings Watervale Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
limefinger
Solace Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Mitchell
McNicol Clare Valley Riesling 2014
Clare Valley -
Mount Horrocks
Watervale Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Nick O'Leary Wines
Flying Fox Riesling 2023
Canberra District -
Nick O'Leary Wines
White Rocks Riesling 2023
Canberra District -
Orlando
Steingarten Riesling 2013
Eden Valley -
Pepper Tree Wines
Stone Mountain Single Vineyard Premium Reserve Riesling 2023
Orange -
Peter Lehmann
The Master's Collection Wigan Riesling 2017
Eden Valley -
Pewsey Vale Vineyard
Prima 23GR Single Vineyard Estate Riesling 2023
Eden Valley -
Pooley Wines
Butcher's Hill Riesling 2023
Tasmania -
Pooley Wines
Cooinda Vale Riesling 2023
Tasmania -
Ravensworth
Regional Riesling 2023
Canberra District -
Rieslingfreak
No.4 Riesling 2023
Eden Valley -
Robert Stein Vineyard
Reserve Riesling 2023
Mudgee -
Skillogalee
Trevarrick Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Stargazer Wine
Palisander Vineyard Coal River Valley Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
Talisman Wines
Museum Release Riesling 2013
Geographe -
Tar & Roses
Lewis Riesling 2023
Central Victoria Zone -
Vickery Wines
The Reserve Castine Hay Shed Block Watervale Riesling 2020
Clare Valley
*This is an edited extract from the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by Jane Faulkner, James Halliday, Erin Larkin, Tony Love, Ned Goodwin MW, Jeni Port and chief editor Tyson Stelzer.
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