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


Leo Buring Leonay. The mention of that name is enough to get any riesling lover standing to attention. Named after winemaker and the rather awesomely monikered Leo Buring Hermann Paul Leopold Buring. Anyone that has said "Winemaking isn't a matter of life or death – it's much more important than that!" is OK by me. The wine is a singularity of limey goodness. Bickford's lime cordial, freshly squeezed lime juice and green apple sorbet with hints of Christmas lily, clover blossom, crushed quartz and lemongrass. Precise and focused with a tubular core pushed across the palate by fine, vivid acidity with an umami blush on the exit. If there was a Mount Rushmore for Aussie riesling, old Leo's smiling face would be the first to be chiseled into the granite. – Dave Brookes
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The best riesling from the 2026 Companion
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Leo Buring
DWB17 Leonay Riesling 2024
Eden Valley -
Rieslingfreak
No.2 Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Rieslingfreak
No.10 Zenit Riesling 2024
Eden Valley Clare Valley -
Crawford River Wines
Riesling 2024
Henty -
Grosset
G110 2024
Clare Valley -
Grosset
Polish Hill Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
limefinger
Solace Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Mac Forbes
RS6 Riesling 2024
Strathbogie Ranges -
Orlando
Steingarten Riesling 2015
Eden Valley -
Pewsey Vale Vineyard
Contours Riesling 10 Years 2015
Eden Valley -
Rieslingfreak
No.3 Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Rieslingfreak
No.50 Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Seppelt
Drumborg Vineyard Riesling 2024
Henty -
Adelina Wines
Polish Hill River Smith Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Bannockburn Vineyards
Riesling 2024
Geelong -
Best’s Wines
Riesling 2024
Grampians -
Castle Rock Estate
Diletti Riesling 2023
Porongurup -
ChaLou Wines
Riesling 2024
Orange -
Crawford River Wines
Museum Release Riesling 2018
Henty -
Fallen Giants
Riesling 2024
Grampians -
Forest Hill Vineyard
Block 1 Riesling 2024
Mount Barker -
Freycinet Vineyard
Riesling 2024
Tasmania -
Gertie Wines
SGR Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Henschke
Julius Riesling 2024
Eden Valley -
Jim Barry Wines
The Florita Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Jim Barry Wines
Spring Farm Block 114 Riesling 2015
Clare Valley -
Jim Barry Wines
Loosen Barry Wolta Wolta Dry Riesling 2022
Clare Valley -
Jim Barry Wines
Cellar Release The Florita Riesling 2018
Clare Valley -
KOERNER
Old Vine Limestone Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
KOERNER
Old Vine Slate Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Lethbridge Wines
Dr Nadeson Riesling 2024
Henty -
limefinger
Learnings Watervale Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Little Reddie
Leanganook Riesling 2023
Bendigo -
Meadowbank Wines
Riesling 2024
Tasmania -
Mitchell
McNicol Riesling 2015
Clare Valley -
Mount Horrocks
Watervale Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Mount Majura Vineyard
Riesling 2024
Canberra District -
Nick O'Leary Wines
White Rocks Riesling 2024
Canberra District -
Nick O'Leary Wines
Flying Fox Riesling 2024
Canberra District -
Oakdene
Bellarine Peninsula Late Harvest Riesling 2023
Sweet | Geelong -
Orlando
Steingarten Riesling 2014
Eden Valley -
Orlando
Steingarten Riesling 2023
Eden Valley -
Pepper Tree Wines
Stone Mountain Single Vineyard Riesling 2024
Orange -
Pikes
The Merle Museum Release Riesling 2019
Clare Valley -
Pikes
The Merle Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Pooley Wines
Butcher's Hill Riesling 2024
Tasmania -
Pooley Wines
Cooinda Vale Riesling 2024
Tasmania -
Pressing Matters
R139 Riesling 2023
Sweet | Tasmania -
Rieslingfreak
No.5 Riesling 2024
Clare Valley -
Rieslingfreak
No. 8 Schatzkammer Riesling 2024
Sweet | Clare Valley -
Rieslingfreak
No.12 Riesling 2024
Eden Valley -
Robert Stein Vineyard
Dry Riesling 2024
Mudgee -
Watervale Gardeners
1954 Plantings Riesling 2023
Clare Valley -
Wines by KT
Peglidis Vineyard Watervale Riesling 2024
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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