Rieslingfreak 'Reverence of Riesling' No. 33, Clare Valley, Australia

Crisp apple, guava and white peach meet orange blossom and elderflower in 2025 Rieslingfreak Reverence of Riesling No. 33, a dry Clare Valley Riesling with generous fruit, softly textured weight and bright natural acidity. No.33 brings together fruit from growers across Clare Valley, balancing the richness of White Hutt with the perfume of Watervale and the lean, mineral character of Polish Hill River. Gentle juice extraction and precise handling preserve purity and freshness, reflecting founder and winemaker John Hughes' singular devotion to exploring Riesling through distinct regional and stylistic expressions.

Product Details:

• Founder & Winemaker: John Hughes
• Winemaker: Belinda Hughes
• Grape Variety: 100% Riesling
• Vineyard Sources: Grower vineyards spanning White Hutt, Watervale and Polish Hill River
• Growers: Richard and Anne Hughes; Robert and Lyn Jaeschke among the contributing Clare Valley growers
• Harvest: Machine harvested at night
• Juice Extraction: Spin-and-drain method for gentle extraction of free-run juice rather than conventional pressing
• Vinification: Juice settled for 5 days, then clear juice racked and fermented for approximately 10-12 days before fermentation was stopped at the desired sugar level
• Finishing: Heat and cold stabilized, filtered, and bottled in June
• Farming & Production: Sustainable; vegan friendly
• Alcohol: 10.7%
• pH: 2.80
• Acidity: 8.6 g/L
• Residual Sugar: 0.9 g/L

Sensory Description:

Highly aromatic, opening with crisp apple, guava and white peach beneath floral notes of orange blossom and elderflower. The palate is softly textured and fruit-driven, bringing nectarine, blood orange and passionfruit together with a taut line of natural acidity. Citrus zest, green apple and mineral notes add definition, while the wine's low residual sugar keeps the profile distinctly dry. The finish is crisp, clean and focused, balancing generous fruit with the energetic acidity characteristic of the 2025 vintage.

Awards & Accolades:

• James Suckling: 95 Points
• Wine Enthusiast: 94 Points
• Vinous: 90 Points

Winemaker's Background:

Rieslingfreak was established by John Hughes in 2009 from a longstanding fascination with Riesling that began while growing up around his family's vineyard in Clare Valley. Rather than treating Riesling as a single stylistic proposition, Hughes built the winery around the grape's versatility, assigning each bottling a number that relates to its regional origin and style and producing expressions ranging from bone-dry to sweet, sparkling and fortified. Belinda Hughes joined Rieslingfreak in 2021 as an experienced winemaker in her own right, and together John and Belinda work with vineyards across Clare Valley, Polish Hill River and Eden Valley to emphasize regional distinctions while maintaining purity and precision in the cellar. Rieslingfreak's winemaking favors cool nighttime harvesting and particularly gentle juice handling, including a spin-and-drain technique rather than conventional pressing. No.33 extends that philosophy across multiple Clare Valley grower sites, combining contrasting subregional expressions into a dry Riesling designed for immediate accessibility without sacrificing the acidity and mineral definition associated with the region.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve well chilled at approximately 8-10°C in a medium-sized white wine or Riesling glass. Its dry profile, bright acidity and combination of citrus, stone fruit and tropical character make it particularly versatile with food, especially Southeast Asian dishes, sushi, fresh seafood, lightly spiced curries and aromatic herb-driven preparations. The wine's combination of low alcohol, crisp acidity and generous fruit also makes it especially approachable as an aperitif.