2025 Greystone Organic Riesling, Waipara

Gold & Champion Riesling at the 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Wine Awards

Clear, lifted aromas of citrus and fresh stone fruit greet you on the nose of this wine. The palate is long and finely textured, carrying complex flavours of mandarin, mango and lime zest. The balance of natural sweetness and acidity lends it structure and drive, the wine remaining light on its feet, with an upward movement to it.

Off-dry Riesling is one of the most versatile wines to have on hand. The balance of sweetness and acid cuts complements spice and heat, and easily wraps around rich, slippery textures. This is the perfect wine for the late afternoon dinner preparation on a weekend, and would pair well with Bún Thịt Nướng, Vietnamese lemongrass pork chops, served with a vermicelli salad.

About this wine

The 2025 season started warm and dry, but summer months saw the arrival of cooler and wetter conditions that required careful canopy management in the vineyard. In the end, a prolonged mild Autumn weather brought in a healthy harvest of good quality fruit.

The fruit for this Riesling draws on five estate blocks that span both clay and limestone soils. Each parcel was hand-picked over a period of ten days and whole bunch pressed into stainless steel, with fermentation allowed to start at a leisurely pace with indigenous yeasts. The wine is naturally off-dry and rested on lees for three months to build subtle texture and depth.

About this producer

Greystone is a certified organic producer of wines in the Omihi Hills area of Waipara on New Zealand’s South Island. Established in 2000, it remains in the hands of the Thomas family, whose love of the land extends well beyond organics, with sustainability woven into all aspects of the business, and rejuvenation of the land an ongoing part of life.

The winemaking is currently led by the talented Georgia Mehlhopt.