I remember a Stoneleigh 2004 Riesling that left me shaking my head and worrying about how Australia was going to stop the Kiwi Riesling charge. The dozen I bought for $15 a bottle vanished fast, and there was no more to be found. I’ve drunk other Kiwi Rieslings that were in the same class, but the charge never came.
The Kiwis took the easier route of selling bastardized Sauvignon Blanc to the masses, but I wasn’t surprised to see the headline above. The annual Canberra International Riesling Challenge is a serious affair where serious judges taste entries from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Germany, France, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Austria and Canada. The best news is that you can buy the best wines in this comp for between $20 and $30, so we’re all winners here.
The Mud House The Mound Vineyard Waipara Valley Riesling 2013 won the trophy for Best Wine of the 2014 Challenge. It’s $20 at MyCellars.
The trophy for the best dry Aussie Riesling went to the Mount Majura Vineyard 2014 – $27 at the winery. Yalumba’s Heggies Botrytis Riesling 2012 won trophies for the best Australian Riesling and the best sweet Riesling. Sixty Darling Street is the only retailer selling this vintage (02 9818 3077 sales@wineroom.com.au). Yalumba is the only other source and sells the wine for $29 at the Cellar Door – 08 8561 3200.
Below is a list of all the trophies awarded, and HERE is a list of all the medal winners
Best Wine of the 2014 Challenge
Canberra International Riesling Challenge Trophy
Mud House Estate, 2013 The Mound Vineyard, Waipara Valley Riesling
(Class 5, Semi Dry; Canterbury/Waipara Valley, New Zealand)
Best in Australia
ACT Government and Hyatt Hotel Canberra Trophy
2012 Heggies Botrytis Riesling
(Class 6, Sweet; Eden Valley, Australia)
Best Dry Riesling
Jim Murphy AM Perpetual Trophy
Mount Majura Vineyard 2014 Riesling
(Class 1, Dry; Canberra District, Australia)
Best Sweet Riesling
Australia Post Trophy
2012 Heggies Botrytis Riesling
(Class 6, Sweet; Eden Valley, Australia)
Best Museum
ActewAGL Trophy
Weingut Georg Müller Stiftung 2009 Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Beerenauslese
(Class 18, Sweet; Rheingau, Germany)
Best Riesling from New Zealand
Mud House Estate, 2013 The Mound Vineyard, Waipara Valley Riesling
(Class 5, Semi Dry; Canterbury/Waipara Valley, New Zealand)
Best European Riesling
German Ambassador’s Perpetual Trophy
Weingut Leitz 2013 Berg Roseneck Spätlese
(Class 12, Sweet, Rheingau, Germany)
Best American Riesling
USA Embassy Perpetual Trophy
Chateau Ste Michelle 2013 Dry Riesling
(Class 10, Dry, Columbia Valley, USA)
Best from the Canberra District
ACT Chief Minister’s Trophy
Mount Majura Vineyard 2014 Riesling
(Class 1, Dry; Canberra District, Australia)
Best Riesling from Tasmania
Tamar Valley Wine Route Trophy
Waterton Vineyards 2012 Riesling
(Class 4, Dry, Tasmania, Australia)
