I’ve been trying to get my hands on some of the Aussie Rieslings, but very few of them are available here. The odd Grosset or Jim Barry, maybe a Pikes, but not much else. Some of the highest regarded ones are nowhere to be found this side. Found this Vivino list and almost all of them are no-shows:
Is that a general Aussie lack of representation across the board, or just specific to Riesling? Is the same for Shiraz and Chard?
Here’s a two part video talking Aussie Rieslings that seem very interesting (a fellow Berserker posted them a few months back, but can’t remember who), but again, almost impossible to find here:
A savvy importer willing to put time and effort in could probably do well with Aussie Riesling. Traditionally, U.S Importers have chased big reds with big scores.
I don’t think people understand the wines at all. The top Aussie Rieslings need age, and I think American importers get very impatient over their slow sales because of this (let’s face it, they are SO bone dry when young they can rip the tongue right out of your throat).
AND - Most serious wine consumers know German Rieslings age well, and prefer (and feel safer) purchasing more well known commodities.
I happen to love those rippin’ young Aussie Rieslings - but they are a really tough sale when they sell for $18-$40 a bottle on average.
The key to developing the market is to educate consumers through the restaurant market, but I suspect if there is a spot for a Riesling on the by the glass list, Germany, Austria or domestic wines out.
As identified they are almost a category of their own and pairing them with the right food can be critical. Simply grilled white flesh fish like our King George Whiting and Riesling is a match made in heaven.
Although the acidity can be be bracing they are good aperitif wines, a good alternative to Champagne to start.
I linked those videos to you a while ago. I had a look at wine-searcher and yes, many popular Rieslings widely available over here are no-shows in the US, such as Clos Clare and Crawford River. However, you can find Rieslingfreak, a Riesling specialist that farms grapes in the Clare and Eden Valley. They number their wines and will have anything from the lime pith, mineral-driven style to the off-dry and fruity. Not so familiar with their whole line-up but the odd glass I ordered at restaurants was nice and they are dirty cheap (around A$25 here).
I have felt frustration on many occasions when seeking out anything from Australia that could be considered remotely unusual.
Several wines I enjoyed disappeared from American shelves after Epicurean Imports was restructured, following the death of Ben Hammerschlag. In general, however, whenever I discover some delicious-sounding Aussie wine, it typically ends up being unavailable.
(And varietal bottlings of Mataro? Fuggettaboutit).
I have felt frustration on many occasions when seeking out anything from Australia that could be considered > remotely > unusual.
Several wines I enjoyed disappeared from American shelves after Epicurean Imports was restructured, following the death of Ben Hammerschlag. In general, however, whenever I discover some delicious-sounding Aussie wine, it typically ends up being unavailable.
(> And varietal bottlings of Mataro? Fuggettaboutit> ).
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Don’t sell, feel free to put your money behind them, import them and hold inventory in a warehouse. Best of luck.
Doesn’t change they are good wines, they just don’t move.
