The diversity of wine regions claiming a coveted position in our riesling shortlist this year is testimony largely to the strength of the 2021 vintage across south-eastern Australia. Fifteen regions spanning five states have risen to the top, confidently led by the Clare Valley, followed by Eden Valley and closely by Tasmania. So strong was this class that we could not separate our two winners on first tasting or on a revote.
Diversity is celebrated in method, too, contrasting the laser precision of Henschke Julius with the body and texture of Best’s Foudre Ferment. It is a grand statement indeed that a foudre ferment style should not only win this category, but go on to White Wine of the Year and all the way to Wine of the Year. On sheer numbers, riesling again ranks behind only shiraz, chardonnay, cabernet and pinot noir as the strongest category in the country – just in case we needed another reminder that we all ought to be drinking more of this magnificent and affordable variety!
2023 Best Rieslings of the Year in Australia
Best’s Wines Foudre Ferment Riesling 2021, Great Western
96 points | Price when tasted $35
Neil Pike's Polish Hill River expression. So scintillating, so pure, so much energy, so minerally. Scents of lime (of course), pink grapefruit and honeysuckle with a whiff of warm slate. The palate is compact, racy and very long. More of those lime characters, tightly bundled with an incredible brine-meets-granite mineral character that races through the wine, extending it on lacy threads to infinity. Immense drive. It's a superb riesling. – Mike Bennie
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More top-rated riesling from the 2024 Companion
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Castle Rock Estate
Diletti Riesling 2021
Porongurup -
Henschke
Julius Riesling 2022
Eden Valley -
Holm Oak
Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
Nick O'Leary Wines
White Rocks Riesling 2022
Canberra District -
Pepper Tree Wines
Stone Mountain Single Vineyard Premium Reserve Riesling 2022
Orange -
Pewsey Vale Vineyard
10 Years Cellar Aged The Contours Museum Reserve Single Vineyard Estate Riesling 2013
Eden Valley -
Seppelt
Drumborg Vineyard Riesling 2022
Henty -
Stargazer Wine
Palisander Vineyard Riesling 2021
Tasmania -
Adelina Wines
Polish Hill River Riesling 2022
Clare Valley -
Carillion Wines
Museum Release Riesling 2015
Orange -
Coates Wines
The Riesling 2022
Adelaide Hills -
Crawford River Wines
Reserve Riesling 2018
Henty -
Dandelion Vineyards
Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling 2022
Eden Valley -
Forest Hill Vineyard
Block 1 Riesling 2022
Mount Barker -
Forest Hill Vineyard
Riesling 2022
Mount Barker -
Frankland Estate
Isolation Ridge Riesling 2022
Frankland River -
Gilbert Family Wines
gilbert Museum Release Riesling 2016
Orange -
Granite Hills
Knight Riesling 2022
Macedon Ranges -
Grosset
G110 2022
Clare Valley -
Jim Barry Wines
The Florita Riesling 2022
Clare Valley -
Kerrigan + Berry
Riesling 2022
Mount Barker Great Southern -
Leo Buring
DW Z20 Leopold Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
limefinger
Solace Riesling 2022
Clare Valley -
Mac Forbes
RS15 Riesling 2022
Strathbogie Ranges -
Ministry of Clouds
Clare Valley Riesling 2022
Clare Valley -
Mitchell
McNicol Clare Valley Riesling 2013
Clare Valley -
Mount Horrocks
Watervale Riesling 2022
Clare Valley -
Nick O'Leary Wines
Heywood Riesling 2022
Canberra District -
Orlando
Steingarten Riesling 2022
Eden Valley -
Pikes
The Merle Riesling 2017
Clare Valley -
Pipers Brook Vineyard
Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
Pooley Wines
Butcher's Hill Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
Pooley Wines
Cooinda Vale Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
Rieslingfreak
No. 1 Riesling 2020
Clare Valley -
Rieslingfreak
No. 2 Riesling 2022
Clare Valley -
Robert Stein Vineyard
Half Dry RS 15 Riesling 2022
Orange -
Robert Stein Vineyard
Reserve Riesling 2022
Mudgee -
Stargazer Wine
Coal River Valley Riesling 2022
Tasmania -
Tar & Roses
Lewis Riesling 2022
Central Victoria Zone -
West Cape Howe Wines
Porongurup Riesling 2022
Porongurup
The 2023 Halliday Wine Companion is available now. Secure your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide here – and at all good bookstores.
Learn more about riesling in our essential guide.
*This is an edited extract from the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Ned Goodwin MW, James Halliday, Erin Larkin, Jeni Port, Philip Rich and chief editor Tyson Stelzer.