Riesling holds a unique place in Australian wine: a varietal born for cool-climate clarity, razor-sharp acidity and citrus-driven personality. Australia ranks among the top five producers of Riesling globally, second only to Germany in plantings, and the style expresses local terroir beautifully in regions like Clare Valley and Eden Valley, where limestone soils, cool nights and slow ripening give wines that lithe lime-zest character with steely minerality.
South Australia dominates national Riesling production, with Clare Valley as the jewel in the crown and Eden Valley’s high altitude vines offering a mineral edge. Other cool-climate zones from Henty in Victoria to Tasmania and Western Australia’s Great Southern are increasingly producing elegant dry Rieslings too.
While the overall Australian wine category has seen mixed trends – with younger drinkers embracing lighter styles and cooler climate whites – Riesling is enjoying a renaissance. It’s fresh, food-friendly, and low in alcohol compared to many heavier whites and reds, making it well-suited to modern dining and moderation trends.
Five Everyday Australian Rieslings Under $25
Here are five wines that deliver typical Australian Riesling virtues – pure citrus, firm acidity and minerality – for everyday drinking. Prices are approximate in Australia and generally under $25.
Jacob’s Creek Riesling
Region: South Eastern Australia
Price: $10–$15
Style and Notes: A wonderfully easy-going, crisp and citrus-driven riesling with lean lemon, pear and vibrant acidity. A perfect weekday bottle – refreshing without pretense. Consistent value that brings classic Aussie riesling traits to the table.
Peter Lehmann Portrait Riesling (Eden Valley)
Region: Eden Valley, SA
Price: ~$17–$19
Style and Notes: Dry and bright with lime zest, Granny Smith apple and refreshing acid backbone. Eden Valley’s cool climate gives this a subtle mineral lift, making it versatile with seafood and light fare.
Pikes Clare Valley Riesling (Traditionale)
Region: Clare Valley, SA
Price: $22–$25
Style and Notes: Clare Valley shows here with bracing lemon-lime character, chalky minerality and a long, clean finish. Elegant, focused and with a little weight – great with Asian dishes or simply solo.
Portraits of Clare Valley Riesling
Region: Clare Valley, SA
Price: $11–$13
Style and Notes: A stunning budget pick – pale, driven by citrus and orchard fruits with a lift of lime and saline minerality. A screw-cap sipper to keep in the fridge for impromptu lunches.
Claymore Wines Walk This Way Clare Valley Riesling
Region: Clare Valley, SA
Price: $18–$20
Style and Notes: Elegant citrus fruits meet bright acidity and a minerally finish. A bottle that “walks the talk” with purity of fruit and drinkability – Aussie Riesling at its most accessible and rewarding.
Australian Riesling’s appeal lies in its versatility: bone dry to hint of sweetness styles, remarkable food-friendliness (seafood, curries, salads), and that crisp acidity modern drinkers crave. Young wine fans drawn to lighter, refreshing wines are rediscovering Riesling as more approachable and flexible than many assume – far from the “old-school sweet” stereotype it fought for decades.