2025 Ministry of Clouds Riesling, Clare Valley

The 2025 Clare Valley Riesling is floral and lithe, with plush citrus fruits (ripe and fleshy), bath salts and even a hint of musk stick woven through the finish. This is a beautiful wine, one that expresses the typicity of Clare Valley and Riesling in equ al measure. The wine was first made in 2013, and the regional adherence is always to Clare Valley. The fruit is 100% Watervale this year, from one vineyard that was planted in the 1960s and another planted in the 1970s. The soil is a mix of Terra Rossa with quartz; one vineyard is dry -grown and the other has access to water. The fruit was picked in January—a first ever this early in the season. The winemaking is concentrated on purity and focus in the wine, and as such the ferments are inoculated for this cuvée. I applaud this decision because the wine shows the control and focus of that decision. The wine spends four to five months on the fine lees prior to bottling and release. I find wines like this utterly irresistible in summer. 11.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2035.

94 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, December 2025

Bernice Ong and Julian Forwood founded Ministry of Clouds with a simple ambition: to create wines that express the individuality of Australia's finest vineyards. As owner and winemaker, Julian Forwood has earned a reputation for crafting elegant, site driven wines that balance purity, texture and precision. Their Clare Valley Riesling has become one of the winery's signature releases, capturing the region's remarkable ability to produce Rieslings of both immediate appeal and impressive longevity.

The fruit is sourced from carefully selected vineyards in the Clare Valley, where ancient soils, warm sunny days and cool evenings create ideal conditions for world class Riesling. The outstanding 2025 vintage delivered beautifully balanced fruit with intense flavour, pristine natural acidity and exceptional aromatic lift. Gentle winemaking allows the vineyard character to take centre stage, resulting in a wine of clarity, finesse and unmistakable regional identity.

The colour is a brilliant pale straw with shimmering green hues. Fragrant aromas of Tahitian lime, lemon blossom and Granny Smith apple are layered with white flowers, citrus zest and a delicate chalky minerality. The palate is vibrant, finely textured and beautifully focused, with juicy lime and lemon fruit gliding across a backbone of crisp natural acidity. Subtle notes of green apple, wet stone and a whisper of citrus pith build complexity before a long, refreshing finish that lingers with remarkable purity.

A natural partner for freshly shucked oysters, grilled Spencer Gulf prawns, sashimi, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, asparagus with hollandaise or a tangy goat's cheese tart. Delicious from release for its freshness and precision, it will reward careful cellaring for ten to fifteen years, gradually developing the classic toast, honey and lime marmalade complexity that makes Clare Valley Riesling one of Australia's great wine styles.