2025 Mr. Riggs Ein Riese Riesling, Adelaide Hills

This is a medium-dry Riesling, made in that slightly off-dry Germanic style, but the influence of Adelaide Hills fruit ensures it retains its fine, linear mouthfeel and certainly never falls into that cloying category. Nice lemon, citrus, and a little orange peel on the nose, and a palate that has a degree of texture thanks to that slightly off-dry character, and yet it’s still fine and precise through to the finish. Drink to 2029.

91 points Ray Jordan for Wine Pilot, November 2025

Pale, almost water-clear appearance. Aromas of pastry, straw, a hint of talc, while the riesling fruit is somewhat hidden at this stage. The wine has some obvious sweetness and this is countered by acidity which has a trace of hardness at this juncture. This may come out of its shell given more time.

88 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, November 2025

Founded in 2001, the Mr in Mr Riggs is winemaker Ben Riggs, whose wines, in his own words, are inspired by Ella Fitzgerald – bombastic and powerful with a huge vocal range, yet with purity of tone and a gentle sensibility when needed.

Ein Riese translates as A Giant, the wine paying homage to traditional sweeter style of German Rieslings.  The grapes for this off-dry Riesling come from a mature vineyard in Woodside at an elevation of 358 metres, with the Onkaparinga River running through its eastern side. From the warm and early 2025 season, the hand-picked grapes were whole bunch pressed, with the cold settled juice left somewhat cloudy for fermentation which was halted through chilling at 23g/L residual sugar.

Serve well-chilled as an aperitif or with lighter salty and sour food for an appealing contrast in flavours.