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

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 β 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. β 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 -
Bestβs 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
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.