Leasingham have been an integral part of Clare Valley viticulture for over a hundred years, a tradition that's been evolving since 1893. Rich soils and cool, moist conditions were perfect foundations for what is today Australia's premier Riesling appellation. Despite advice to the contrary, Leasingham planted Riesling extensively in the early 1940s. This vision led to Leasingham establishing a reputation for the finest Rieslings. Today the tradition lives on, the Leasingham name is forever linked to the exuberant styling which is recognizably Clare Valley Riesling.

A Riesling of refined character and exquisite charm, superb, stylish integration and clearly discernible regional varietal eloquence, sourced from the best blocks on the Lawson's Dry Hills Waihopai Valley vineyard. Moderate crop yields and cool ripening mean that the Riesling grapes are first class, harvested only as they develop a concentration of natural fruit sugars and reach optimal flavour development. The perfect match to shellfish, green lipped mussels or freshly shucked oysters.

The racy mesoclimes of Eden Valley yield the nation's most elegant Riesling, redolent with majestic perfumes and defined by their remarkably clean, fruit filled palates. The Riesling of old vines go one further, achieving a measure of excellence which is as close to perfection as can be found in the world of wine. Named for the surrounding copses of native gum, Wattle Brae was identified in 1969 as a site uncannily similar to the delicate Riesling's native home along the precipitous slopes of the Mosel and River Rhine.

Quality is the absolute focus of Konrad, it starts in the vineyard and continues throughout the vinification. Konrad believes that the best fertilizer is the foot of the farmer. Fruit is harvested from vineyards in the Waihopai and Wairau Valleys, where vines are planted to stoney silt soils with free draining loam topsoil. Formulated to a style which demands the most meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard, only the ripest bunches are hand selected, gently whole bunch pressed and stop fermented at the precise moment when the natural sweetness balances the penetrating acidity.

A pure caricature of Watervale, a highly eloquent expression of Riesling, as influenced by the very special terroir and clime from which it is derived. Planted in 1969, the Knappstein Ackland River site is a dry grown property of classic red loam over limestone soils, perfect for yielding vintages of outstanding Riesling fruit. The delicate floral nuances and calico textures are unique to the handful of precious sites within this exclusive Watervale precinct.

After more than a century of dedicated viticulture, Knappstein have developed an almost intuitive understanding of the Clare Valley. Knappstein have returned to hand picking as part of a quality enhancement program, the delicate Riesling grape responds so much better to gentle handling and careful selection. The finished wine shows lovely lifted citrus fruits, with distinct Watervale floral notes and perfume.

From the highly specialized Stanway family property at Watervale in Valley Clare. Such is the quality of fruit from this superlative site, that it presents a profound Riesling experience when isolated for bottling into a pure, single vineyard wine. Stanway has produced the most eminent medal winning vintages ever since the first crop. Luxurious mineral, talc and bright citrus characters feature prominently. As is expected of the Watervale style, the finish is clean and refined with great length of flavour. Enjoy with guinea fowl, whiting or coquilles St Jacques.

Secret's out, Coonawarra makes amazing Riesling. An elegant style with attractive varietal fruit character, generous with flavour, Katnook displays a wonderful harmony of winsome perfumes. Like all fine Riesling, Katnook is floral and fruit forward while being deliciously dry, offering the capacity to evolve gracefully as it fills the glass with engaging complexity.

Sixty grams of residual sugar, fashioned to the delicate Riesling styles of Alsace and the Riquewihr, grapes are all selectively hand picked and pressed for a relaxed ferment at cooler temperatures to preserve the elegance of fruit, arrested at just the point where the tang of acid balances perfectly with the toothsome natural sweetness. Refreshingly low in alcohol but magnificently full of vital Riesling characters, SGR Delikät mates astonishingly well with all good fare, marvelous with the finest cheese, essential alongside mild Thai curries.

Botrytis affected Riesling from the Chromy estate vineyard at Relbia in northern Tasmania. The Botrytis infection is carefully monitored and the grapes are picked when the balance between delicate floral and citrus characters and the richer marmalade flavours of Botrytis is optimum. Weather conditions permitting, Chromy's closely husbanded vines yield limited harvests of Noble Rot botrytis Cinerea, drying the grapes as they hang on the vine, concentrating natural sugars, developing the most exciting perfumes and divine flavours.

The tiny village of Watervale, situated just south of Clare township with a population of 246, is internationally renowned for the quality of its Riesling. It has long delivered some of the nation's most distinguished and memorable wines. Jim Barry was a recent pioneer in the region, foreseeing the resurgence in demand for quality Rieslings grown to fully mature vines. Fashioned to be a splendid aperitif style immediately upon release, a number of distinctly different yeast strains which are employed to ferment the fruit, contribute a lovely but supple complexity.

A slightly late picked harvest from the superior McKay Vineyard at Watervale, fashioned into a more generous and robust style of Clare Valley Riesling. A measure of the wine is treated to French oak ferments, unusual for Riesling, infusing the palate with toothsome complexity and creamy textural richness. Orange blossoms, grapefruit and the indulgence of lemon tart, supported by bright bickford lime and zingy fruit acidity, generous with lingering varietal powderiness and pith, a touch racy for those who can appreciate the full opulence of grand Clare Valley Riesling.

Jim Barry acquired the Lodge Hill vineyard in 1977, as he was sure it would produce some of the best Riesling wines. Situated on the eastern ranges of the township of Clare, it is one of the highest vineyards in the Valley at an altitude of 480 metres, and is ideal for producing steely, mineral Rieslings, distinctive to the area. Clare Valley is one of the few regions in the world that produce this dry, delicate style with less than two grams of residual sugar per litre. The pinnacle of satisfaction, we can all be glad that Jim Barry planted Riesling.

Pure varietal whites coming out of the Clare Valley are an inspiration to all winemakers, the distinctive qualities of the region imbue the gently flavoured wines with harmonies and charming florals. Lavender Hill is named after a stand of native shrub in the hills alongside the Jim Barry wineworks. Ever since the inaugural Jim Barry release, this genteel wine has been made from the small lavender infused parcel. Perfectly suited to spritzers, the residual sweetness makes it ideal for a variety of foods, seafood platters or Thai, good desserts and fine cheese.

Clare Valley is one of Australia's most prestigious Riesling growing regions, Jim Barry are custodians of wonderful old vineyards, committed to producing quality wines through a confluence between traditional and innovative approaches to viticulture and winemaking. Bottles are set aside in the finest vintage years, for extended cellaring under the Jim Barry wineworks. Lifted aromatics of lemon and lime, toastyness, a palate of great fruit purity and depth, abundance of flavour and complexing elements, long and profuse with a fresh crisp, finish, aging gracefully with plenty of time left.

The brothers Barry are devoted to the soil and the fruit of their splendid vineyards, their wines have been distinguished by a breathtaking tally of the most coveted international awards since establishment in the 1960s. A bespoke selection of the finest rows on Jim Barry vineyards, just the best parts of choice blocks, where the terra rossa and loam barely cover the deep limestones below. Retaining the freshness of the grapes was the priority, carefully picking rows in a timely fashion to throughout the chill of night, to destem the bunches and optimally fill the press and without bruising.

Steingarten is flagship Australian Riesling, representing the very best on offer from the pick of Jacobs Creek vineyards. In 1962, Orlando Wines established the Steingarten site on a steep east facing rocky outcrop running along the western edge of the Barossa ranges, less than two kilometres from founder Johann Gramp's original property. Named in honour of this iconic vineyard, Steingarten is vinified from a small number of hand selected cool climate Riesling blocks situated in the higher altitude ranges of Eden and Barossa Valleys.

Jacob's Creek are Barossa through and through, they were at the very establishment of local vitculture and retain access to the finest Riesling vineyards on the cooler ripening microclimes, higher up the elevated aspects of Barossa Ranges. It is here that the Riesling grape finds an environment not disimilar to its brisk old world origins along the Valley Rhine. Beautifully fragrant with a full palate of clean fruit flavours, a very feminine style, balanced by zesty natural acidity.

Jacobs Creek have established a rich endowment of vineyard assets across the premier viticultural precincts of Barossa Valley and beyond. Respect for the land has always been at the heart of the Jacobs Creek philosophy, healthy soils and happy vines invariably yield good wine. Now defining the post modern Riesling style, pleasingly dry, elegant and crisp, generously proportioned with a mouthful of juicy honeysuckle lime flavours. Serve chilled and often, the aperitif of choice and a stylish accompaniement to the freshest seafood.

A noble rot Eiswein grown to the inhospitable climes of Niagara Peninsula, where the fruit is painstakingly hand picked under the most severe conditions. Classic botrytised Riesling characters, elegant citrus flavours of developed limes and grapefruit as well as ripe apricot and peach, followed by a slight mineral edge. Inniskillin Niagara is an outstanding experience, a superb and devastating wine, a gift from mother nature to wine enthusiasts everywhere, traditionally served chilled, alongside the most elegant nibbles and all fine faire.

The Angas family share a long tradition of viticulture with the craggy chills on the elevated high country of Valley Eden. Colin Angas established Riesling vines to a gently sloping site in the 1960s. Two distinct sections, the top of slope is leaner and more exposed, making tightly structured wines of crisp, vibrant acidity. Vines further down are planted to vigorous red soils, yielding plumper bunches of fruit, redolent of fresh aromatics and citrus zing. Lime cordial, calico and talc, a dash of minerality, refreshing acidity and a lengthy, textured chalky dry finish.

Famille Hugel's Schoelhammer is an uber elite block, thirty priceless rows of Riesling, planted to a steep slope of ancient alluvial, calcium rich soils, overlooking the village Riquewihr at the heart of the illustrious Schoenenbourg vineyard. A place that's renowned throughout the world of wine, Schoenenbourg has been the source of Riesling for Europe's aristocracies since the seventeenth century. Boldly structured yet exquisitely balanced, suave and mineral rich, elegantly oyster shell dry, a mere two hundred dozen are ever made from any vintage.

Schoenenbourg is an illustrious Grand Crus vineyard, planted to rich alluvial sediments on a southeast slope, just north of the village Riquewihr in Alsace. Renowned throughout the world since the seventeenth century for the quality of its Riesling, it remains one of the great enduring vineyards of all time. Hugel retain the best hand picked parcels, grapes are gently pressed and settled for a warm vinification in traditional oak barrels and vats, bottled the folowing Spring and sent to the Hugel estate cellars for an extended course of age before release.

Crafted from fruit picked off the finest blocks of old Hugel vine at the heart of Grand Crus Schoenenbourg, source of the most distinguished Riesling wines for centuries. Selected long ago by ancient vignerons for its auspicious, steeply sloped, marl, dolomite and gypsum soils, the great philosopher Voltaire was moved to take up viticulture here. Treated to an extended term of bottle age under the Hugel estate cellars, remarkable crystalline textures, refined minerality and delectable apple ginger fruit, a respendent Riesling from the noblest Alsace vineyards.

The splendid Alsatian tradition, of assembling wines across a number of varietals, into a whole that's greater than the sum of parts. Hugel offers the suave, spicyness of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris and finesse of Riesling, grapiness of Muscat and refreshing character of Sylvaner, within a single, exquisitely balanced wine. The long and cool growing season of the Riquewihr plateau, makes a major contribution to the cohesion of this unique, dry wine, adding finesse and encouraging a harmonious integration of the complex characters.

Hugel is one of the world's great wines. A joy to savour and to fully appreciate its freshness and purity of style, a flavoursome Riesling that everyone should enjoy far more often. Made by those wonderful folks who invented Riesling, grapes are grown in a region that has been producing the world's most reasured white wines for millenia. Hugel is vinified exclusively from fruit grown to sites in and around Riquewihr, managed by vignerons under contracts which have lasted for generations. A fine match to all good seafood, poached, grilled or smoked.

An assemblage of the finest fruit, picked off superior, high altitude vineyards on Mt Barker and the Porongurups, nourished by a continental pattern of warm days and cold nights, which translate into vibrant wines, full of zest and super fine citric minerality. Essential to the Howard Park style are the purest free run juices, which are tighter and more finely structured without any phenolic character, qualities that contribute to the excellence of Howard Park. Balance is maintained and crop levels are kept low, essential for Riesling of clarity and purity of expression, vibrancy and freshness.

Wines made of Riesling grapes are exceptionally revealing, highly articulate of the environment in which they grow, exposing the influence of the winemaker, so very eloquent about the passage of time as the wine ages and evolves. After a number of years under the Howard Park cellars, the exuberance of youth is beginning to yield, zesty citrus is embellished with nougat, nutmeal, candied lemon and meringue. Whilst defined by a greater depth and complexity of flavour, the palate remains guided by a fine, linear acidity, paradoxically calico softness and wet, stony minerality.

Howard Park is internationally feted as one of the new world's great Riesling wines, achieving superstar status after claiming highly coveted gold medal at the prestigious London International. Riesling was Howard Park's first vintage, it remains the Australian west's most enduring white after over three decades of superlative editions. Riesling is both demanding and sensitive, Howard Park's success is due to a strict inclusion of nothing but the best batches free run juice, for wines which can demonstrate great potential to evolve beautifully and show marvelous complexity.

Houghton is one of a few remaining Australian wineries to hold back small quantities of white wine from each vintage for subsequent rerelease when fully mature. This Museum Release Houghton Riesling demonstrates the superb qualities and ageing potential of a remarkably successful release from Western Australia. This aged example of Frankland River Riesling has developed a bright golden hue while still maintaining a green tinge, which indicated that it has aged well. With 10 years bottle maturation, this wine is considered fully mature.

It is said that the gloriously sweet, concentrated wines which result from grapes infected by Noble Rot Botrytis Cinerea are indeed a nectar of the gods. Ever since crafting their first botrytised wines, Hollick have developed quite a reputation for this rich style, fashioned exclusively from Coonawarra Riesling grapes grown to the Hollick Wilgha Vineyard. The nose exudes a complex array of fragrances, the luscious palate displays honey, mandarin peel and apricot flavours, moving slowly towards an everlasting finish and cleansing drying acidity.