2025 First Ridge Fiano, Mudgee

Trophy, Best White Italian Variety Wine, Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show 2025
Gold Medal, Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show 2025
Gold Medal, Winewise Championships 2026

Super Fiano! What a beauty we have here from Mudgee producer First Ridge. Waltz into the room with this and you'll win a horde of friends.
Gee, this is impressive. It absolutely nails the brief. Lemon blossom, lemon zest and juice thrive with pie apple and green apple skin adding further interest. A delicate, lacy creaminess is etched into its fabric with a fine textural appeal feathered throughout. Softly spiced on close to keep you itching for more, go here.

95 points QWine reviews

This First Ridge flagship varietal delivers an initial blast of pineapple & melon-like aromas. The flavoursome palate treads a line of fulsome vibrancy, lively acid and wild ferment mid-palate grip. The cohesive and generous intensity of primary fruit freshness and briny minerality makes it an ideal summer drop. It's a lovely, refreshing Fiano to be enjoyed whilst young and vibrant, especially with seafood and chicken salads.

95 points Winelines, Gilbert Labour

This is an attractive wine full stop but there’s a whisper of something extra here. It tastes off nectarine, apple, nashi pear and something a bit woodsy and herbal, the latter giving the wine a tonic-like lift. This wine comes across as both delicate and well-flavoured at once; it’s lovely from the outset, but it improves as it opens up and breathes.

93 points Campbell Mattinson

Almond frangipane, honeydew melon, soft white stone fruit, bread roll doughiness, fresh ozone, river stones, lemon zest and a little leesy funk. Soft bitter and savoury themes with greengage, white stone fruit, chamomile, citrus zest and green pear slices. There’s a touch of palate weight for varietal signature before a refreshing and crisp finish. A step up from the 2024.

94 points Regan Drew, Vinonotebook

A dictionary definition Fiano with a sense of generosity of rip, brown skin pear, candied citrus peel, tonic water and touch of sugared almond. Waxy texture is balanced by fresh acidity, there's a little grip and pucker to the finish. A savoury element, or suggestions of such, too. Proper and good.

93 points Mike Bennie WBM Magazine

First Ridge sits high above the Mudgee valley, where John and Helen Nicholas have made Italian varieties the heart of the estate rather than an occasional experiment. Fiano is a particularly smart fit. Originally from southern Italy, it handles warmth beautifully while retaining acidity and developing plenty of flavour, making Mudgee’s sunny days and cooler elevated nights a natural combination.

The 2025 has the generosity Fiano does so well without drifting into heaviness. The variety naturally brings more texture than many crisp whites, so there is a satisfying weight through the middle alongside its citrus and orchard fruit. That slightly waxy, savoury quality is part of the attraction, especially once almond, herbs and a faint saline note begin to appear.

Pale straw gold, the bouquet opens with yellow pear, white peach and lemon before moving towards quince, citrus blossom and green melon. Fresh fennel, chamomile and almond add a savoury edge. The palate is juicy and gently rounded, with pear and peach balanced by lemony acidity. Preserved citrus, almond and a subtle waxy texture build through the middle before a dry, lightly salty finish.

Salt and pepper squid with chilli and lime would be right at home here, alongside grilled prawns with garlic, spaghetti vongole, zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta or roast cauliflower with capers and almonds. Our pick is the vongole. Sweet clams, garlic, parsley and salty cooking juices have Fiano written all over them.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2031.