International Riesling day always falls in March so we’re taking the time to celebrate a variety that has been at the heart of our grape growing and winemaking journey for nearly forty years.
As pioneers of Riesling in the Great Southern, with an unbroken string of releases since our first vintage in 1986, we have witnessed and contributed to the evolution and growing appreciation of this regional style. Defined by fruit purity, precise acidity and a distinctive minerality drawn from ancient granitic soils, our Rieslings continue to captivate.
While Riesling has always been close to our hearts, we’re not the only ones charmed by this alluring and ever evolving variety.
Arguably one of the world’s most respected wine critics – Jancis Robinson – has waxed lyrical about Riesling for decades, describing it as the ‘world’s greatest white wine’ thanks to its ability to ‘transmit terroir more sensitively than any white wine grape I know.’
More recently, renowned WA Good Food Guide’s Editor-in-Chief Georgia Moore, light-heartedly declared ‘Riesling is the new Chardonnay’ during a podcast episode of Paper, Scissors, Stock with our chief winemaker Nic Bowen.
In the same episode she makes reference to Howard Park Flint Rock Riesling which placed 18th in WA Good Food Top 25 wines, as well as picking up SILVER at the Royal Melbourne wines show and GOLD at the Wine Show of WA.
Finally, we tuned into Wine with Meg + Mel for their New vs Old podcast episode where they compare our 2018 Great Southern Riesling with it’s current counterpart. In the introduction Meg reveals that the Great Southern has become their ‘new go to region for Riesling.’ Stating that it’s incomparable with other regions, and is distinctly its own unique style.
Wine remains a personal preference and we would certainly never elevate one variety over another – that would be like choosing a favourite child – but Riesling will forever remain a wine entwined with Howard Park. It is a wine to be discovered and treasured both in youth and as it ages.
For a limited time, you can purchase a museum release Riesling 6 pack here that allows you to enjoy aged Rieslings from 2011 to 2018.
Want to know more about Riesling?
Read about why Oysters and Riesling are the perfect match here.
Discover what to expect from an aged Riesling from this report.