As we cheers to the end of winter, and settle into spring, we're embracing everything the season represents. Think wine nights, long lunches, longer dinners and picnics in the sunshine with your favourite people. Not only does the season call for a packed social schedule, but also for lighter, more vibrant wines to open and enjoy.
Whether that's a rosé, chardonnay, fiano or pinot grigio, the options below are all rated 94 points and above, and are perfect for drinking now or long into the season.
Make sure you have a read through each wine's Halliday tasting notes, and click the 'buy now' links to shop directly from the producers.
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Spring wines to try
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Robert Stein
Reserve Riesling 2024
MudgeePicked from old vines in Block L, planted in '76, this opens with tightly coiled Granny Smith apple, feijoa and soursop. Calamansi lime and shiso leaf bring lift and aromatic precision. The fruit sings with ripeness, propelled by a fine wire of acidity – defined yet utterly elegant. There is real staying power here, grounded in an ancient earthiness, with quartz and a stony undertow lending depth and resonance. A wine of both immediacy and gravitas, destined for a long and fruitful evolution over the decades to come. -
Briar Ridge Vineyard
Limited Release Fiano 2025
Hunter ValleyHeady, layered and compelling, with glacé pear and grapefruit pith, plus exotic notes of feijoa and dried pineapple. Bursting with deliciousness, with impressive depth, texture and length. The phenolics give shape, while a gentle savoury sulphide edge lifts the sophistication. A little air and a chill bring the wine to life. -
Oliver's Taranga Vineyards
Fiano 2026
McLaren ValeFrom five estate blocks, fermented 80% in steel, with 20% split between larger format oak and concrete eggs. Cool, native ferment, with 10% mlf. Vintage '26 is looking to be a fine white vintage. Expressive in its range of lemon pith, grapefruit, makrut lime and beachy scents, with hints of mint and holy basil. It has a mineral side, too, with a subtle ground-stone quality, a rock skipped over sun-kissed waves. OK, a bit much, but I’m going with it. The tension is finely tuned between acidity and pith, the feel seamless at this early juncture, the length sustained. -
Robert Stein
Blü Hen Dry Rosé 2025
MudgeeBurrundulla vineyard, made from sangiovese from 20-year-old vines. There is a blush nectarine sorbet and zesty line of grapefruit acidity that thrills with this wine every vintage. Melon and watermelon rind, glacé cherry and orange citrus. Crunchy, lively and full of energetic fruit, a touch of white-pepper earthiness and a talc-like, powdery finish. This has everything you are looking for in a dry rosé. Invigorating stuff. -
Wirra Wirra Vineyards
Dry Grenache Rosé 2025
McLaren ValeFrom four sites. Cool ferment. The colour is a pristine rose gold, the aromatics à point, with this harmonious from the get-go. Strawberry, cranberry, blood orange, cinnamon, rose, a little musk and sumac. The palate is textural, meaning it can take the deep chill that rosé is often subjected to, but it also makes it a fine companion at table when it warms a bit. There’s a juicy succulence to this, acidity and fruit in perfect accord. Very good indeed. -
Wise Wine
Pinot Grigio 2025
PembertonA caveat, the bottle tasted here gushed a little and appeared a touch sparkling! Not that that is the intention of the wine, mind you. Lemon rind, nashi pear, some green mango, a touch of tonic water. All good scents and flavours. A prickle of spritz in texture, that's fun and it moves on, the weight set to medium with a little grip in tow. A more complex, interesting expression of the variety. -
Yabby Lake Vineyard
Single Vineyard Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay 2025
Mornington PeninsulaWhile there’s no shortage of fine, mouth-watering acidity pulsing throughout, it’s surprisingly open and flavoursome. And everything is in place so this is balanced. Citrus and white stone fruit, creamy lees, nougatine and some spicy oak unfurl across the finely tuned palate. Refreshing, enjoyable now and will garner more complexity with time. -
Ridgemill Estate
WYP Chardonnay 2024
Granite BeltA portion is matured in stainless steel, the rest in new and used French oak barrels. This is a beautiful, regal and sleek chardonnay of attractive understatement. Expect bright stone fruit and citrus, judicious, gently spicy oak seasoning, a touch of nougat and hazelnut savouriness, supple texture and a lengthy finish – all of this even and harmonious. It drinks well above its pay grade.
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