Why Rieslingfreak’s 2026 release is turning heads: eight wines, eight 95-plus scores

If you haven't heard the name 'Rieslingfreak' before, it's not one you'll soon forget. Inspired by John Hughes' nickname at university, Rieslingfreak has become one of Australia's most single-minded wine labels – and all eight of its reviewed 2026 wines have scored 95 points or more.

"Having grown up on a riesling vineyard in the Clare Valley, John’s obsession with the variety was ingrained in his youth," says winemaker Belinda Hughes. “He took his curiosity to university, completing a Diploma in Wine Marketing and arriving at every social gathering with a bottle of riesling in tow. He was quickly dubbed ‘the Rieslingfreak’, and the moniker followed him into his professional career.”

Belinda, also known as 'The Freakette', met John at the International Riesling Challenge in Canberra in 2013, four years after John made his first Rieslingfreak wine in 2009, and a friendly rivalry began. The pair spent many years fighting over who makes the best riesling (Belinda worked at Grant Burge) before eventually falling in love and marrying. In 2021, after years of helping behind the scenes, Belinda officially joined the team at Rieslingfreak.

Belinda Hughes (aka 'The Freakette') and John Hughes (aka 'The Freak').

Now, 17 years after Rieslingfreak was born, the range includes more than 13 wines (helpfully numbered to help drinkers navigate vineyard and style), and the pair are showing just how much ground one grape can cover. “While the Australian riesling palate tends to favour bone-dry styles, there is a growing appreciation for riesling that pushes the boundaries, including off-dry and sweeter styles,” Belinda says. “Our warm weather and national affinity for Asian flavours favour riesling of all ilks, including traditional dry rieslings and the crisp acid balance of sweeter styles such as our No.5 and No.8.”

The 2026 vintage, in particular, was remarkable. Near-perfect growing conditions leading up to harvest resulted in wines of exceptional quality. "2026 is a vintage of refined elegance – where each riesling is a beacon of purity, precision and poise," says Belinda. "While uniquely approachable as young wines, the 2026 vintage is one that will certainly reward for many years to come.”

Halliday tasters Mike Bennie and Dave Brookes, who reviewed the wines, clearly agree, with every one of the eight 2026 wines scored at least 95 points. No.8 Schatzkammer and No.10 Zenit lead on 97; No.2 and No.12 follow on 96; the No.14 and and No. 4 scored 95+; and No.3 and No.5 each received 95. It’s a remarkable result across wines that take riesling in very different directions.

Mike describes No.2, from Polish Hill River, as a “stone-cold” classic, alive with lime, green apple and briny acidity. Dave finds No.12 taut and mineral, with fresh lime and lemongrass. The 95-point wines offer their own contrasts: No.3’s easy Clare Valley charm, No.4’s focused Eden Valley drive, No.14’s racy Watervale acidity and the off-dry No.5. Mike calls that last wine “wildly drinkable and charming”, finding its gentle sweetness balanced by saline minerality.

And then there’s the 97-point No.10 Zenit, the bottle with a romantic backstory. It began as a blend for John and Belinda’s wedding, bringing the two regions together to mark the day. “‘Zenit’ is German for ‘Zenith’ or ‘Pinnacle’, and the No.10 has come to represent the very best of Rieslingfreak in the classically clean and dry Australian style,” Belinda says.

Book a tasting at the Rieslingfreak cellar door in Tanunda to try the range for yourself.

Whether you start with the familiar or follow the numbers somewhere unexpected, there’s a good chance you’ll find your own favourite. "The fun part is exploring the range of stylistic expressions that riesling can so effortlessly convey: sweeter styles, sparkling, oaked or fortified,” Belinda says. “There is literally a riesling to appeal to every palate – and to suit every occasion!”

Click-through to read the full reviews from Mike Bennie and Dave Brookes below, or visit rieslingfreak.com to shop the wines or book a tasting – and find your new favourite.