A winner...
If you love wine and drink it regularly, how would you describe Riesling?
This wine of the week can be accurately described as a winner thanks to taking home the Antipodes Trophy for Champion Riesling at the National Wine Awards of Aotearoa New Zealand 2025; a competition that began in 2022 and has grown to become one of the most significant wine competitions on the annual calendar in this country.
This wine has a great story behind its name and even more enticing flavours in the glass.
Wine of the week
2025 Saint Clair Block 9 Big John Riesling RRP $33
The name of this wine reflects the man who grew the grapes; six-foot-ten-inch vineyard owner John Walsh, who is affectionately known as Big John in the wine scene in Marlborough. John and Lynne Walsh grow the Riesling grapes in this wine in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough, for Saint Clair's winemaking team, who lightly pressed the grapes, stopping fermentation with 10% alcohol 33 grams of residual sugar, which retains pronounced aromas of lime zest, ripe peach and honey in a medium sweet style - with a crisp fresh finish making it a juicy, delicious sunny day wine. Perfect for the warm summer that has arrived early.
