2025 Helm Classic Dry Riesling, Canberra District

This feels super relaxed and easy to enjoy, probably reflecting how good Ken Helm felt about the season (a great one, he says, and after five hard vintages, ’25 has made up for the heartbreak). Pleasing on all fronts. As expected, lots of florals – all citrus and waxy flowers with a light spray of ginger spice. The palate is giving yet accentuated by a tang and juiciness, but the acidity feels soft and a slip of sweetness adds texture and mouthfeel. It’s a dry wine, and delicious to the last drop. Drink 2025 to 2035.

95 points Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion (Special Value), October 2025

Light lemon hue. Jasmine and lime zest aromas. Light and fresh on the palate, lime fruit, florals and a hint of nettle adding character. Acidity is well balanced against a touch of sweetness, creating tension and good length. Drink 2025 to 2037.

92 points Stuart Knox for The Real Review, December 2025

The Helm Classic Dry Riesling from the Canberra District is a crisp, precise expression of cool-climate Riesling crafted by Ken Helm, one of the great champions of the variety in Australia. Helm Wines, established in 1973 in Murrumbateman, has become synonymous with Riesling, and the Classic Dry is their most approachable and widely enjoyed bottling, capturing both the purity of fruit and the district’s signature mineral drive.

The Canberra District’s high-altitude vineyards benefit from warm days, cold nights and a long growing season, which allows Riesling to ripen slowly while retaining bright acidity and aromatic lift. Fruit for the Classic Dry is hand-harvested from select vineyards, including sites with vines planted more than 40 years ago. Winemaking is deliberately restrained, with cool fermentation in stainless steel and no oak, ensuring focus on fruit expression and a clean, bone-dry finish.

In the glass, it is pale straw with green highlights. Aromas are zesty and fresh, bursting with lime, lemon and grapefruit, layered with white blossom and a chalky mineral edge. The palate is dry, taut and refreshing, with concentrated citrus and green apple flavours balanced by crisp acidity. The finish is long, racy and mouth-watering, making it a quintessential Canberra Riesling.

Food pairings highlight its freshness and zing: oysters, grilled prawns, sushi and sashimi, or vegetarian dishes such as zucchini fritters, Vietnamese salads or goat’s cheese tart. While designed for youthful enjoyment, it has the balance to develop beautifully for 8 to 10 years, gaining notes of toast, honey and lanolin with age.