2023 'Polish Hill' Riesling

The Adelina vineyards are situated in Spring Farm Valley, just south of the township of Clare. Their neighbours include the vineyards of Wendouree, Aberfeldy and Sevenhill Cellars. The small Adelina plantings were originally established around 1910; mostly Shiraz and Grenache with small plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The vineyard is right next door to Birk’s Wendouree so we know the terroir is good! The Gardner family has owned the Spring Farm Estate, which is the site of both the Adelina winery and vineyards, since 1986. Prior to the inception of Adelina Wines in 2000, the property was managed by Will and Elaine Gardner, and the fruit was sold to Tim Adams. In 2002, Col McBryde and Jen Gardner, Will and Elaine’s daughter, took over responsibility for the vineyards and launched Adelina wines which are made exclusively from the Estate vineyards.

Adelina's Polish Hill  Riesling is drawn from Lyn and Robert Jaeschke's Hill River Estate, planted in 2000 on grey brown loam on shale and sandy limestone. As with the Watervale Riesling, the Polish Hill River fruit is handpicked, whole bunch pressed, fermented and raised in stainless tanks. The difference here is that the balance of fruit and acidity is such that Col ferments the Polish Hill River bone-dry, whereas the Watervale is bottled with a little residual. It's the more linear expression of the two Rieslings but it's no less impressive. 2018 has produced a set of Adelina Rieslings with more succulence and power than 2017, yet there's no getting away from the fact that here we have an Australian Riesling of wonderful grace and class.

Clare Valley, South Australia