About
Rieslingfreak was born from a long-running love for the Riesling variety. Established by John Hughes in 2009, Rieslingfreak started as a passion-project and has grown to a portfolio of 11 different Riesling styles.
Since the beginning, our mission for Rieslingfreak has been to produce quality Rieslings that best represent both style and region. We craft Rieslings that showcase the strength of various South Australian wine regions, including Clare Valley, Eden Valley and Polish Hill River. Our collection has been created with each of the Rieslingfreak wines being assigned a number, and the number represents both the region where the grape is grown, and the style of the Riesling in the bottle.
Our Rieslingfreak collection includes dry, sweet, sparkling, and fortified Riesling styles. There are not many grape varieties in the world that provides a winemaker the same level of versatility that Riesling does.
2026 - a vintage of refined elegance
In the business of growing grapes and making Riesling, the only certainty is Mother Nature is firmly in the driving seat. Our job as winemakers to make the very best of what she delivers, with the livelihoods of our loyal growers and the quality and character of our wines ever at the forefront of our minds during vintage.
Some of the most rewarding vintages are those where nature puts us to the test. Pushing us and testing our skills to produce perfectly pure and balanced Rieslings. With steadfast dedication, ingenuity and deploying every tool of the winemaking trade to the utmost of our skill and experience, this tale of the 2026 vintage has a very happy ending indeed.
In the lead up to this year’s harvest, lower than average winter rainfalls in 2025 were somewhat compensated by higher than average Spring rains which encouraged good early canopy growth in the vineyards. Colder and wetter conditions through November delayed flowering and fruit set, exacerbated by a late season frost on 12th of November which impacted a lot of the new growth. This set the early agenda for what was to be a relatively late harvest by recent standards.
What followed was an extended period of dry weather. Warmer than average temperatures in December and January delaying the onset of veraison and pushing back the beginning of harvest even further. The warm and dry weather continued through February and early March - perfect for slow and steady ripening, the typical harbingers of an outstanding year for Riesling. By early March the vineyards were a picture of health, bearing perfectly formed bunches of grapes. Sun protection for the vine canopies and judicious irrigation were critical throughout the ripening period.
Vintage finally kicked off on the 5th of March with the first harvest from our family vineyard at White Hutt in the Clare Valley. Five days later the summer drought broke in spectacular fashion, with almost 90mm of rain falling in 48 hours. The effects of this rain event were felt across both Clare and Eden Valleys. However, the quick response of our growers and cool heads in the winery ensured grape quality was maintained. Harvest was delayed, and when the remaining grapes were ripe and ready to make their way into the winery tensions were certainly high. However, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. By the time the juices made their way into ferment they were among the purest expressions of Riesling the Freaks have ever seen.
While this vintage certainly put our winemaking skills to the test, we are truly excited about the 2026 Rieslings. The near perfect growing conditions leading into harvest clearly determined exceptional quality and refined and elegant style parameters which endured the impact of the late season rains. When we consider our German winemaking counterparts who encounter wet vintages more often than not and continue to produce world class wines of impeccable purity, it should come as no great surprise that we too have crafted a range of Rieslings that perfectly embody the Rieslingfreak style. Wines of purity, conveying a compelling sense of regionality and the distinctive mark of each vineyard. Our 2026 Rieslings will be immensely enjoyable upon release and will certainly reward patient cellaring for our friends who enjoy aged Riesling.”
- John and Belinda Hughes – June 2026
2026 No.2 Polish Hill River Riesling
2026 Clare Valley
Sourced from the Polish Hill River vineyard, situated 5km South-East of the Clare township. The vineyard is owned by Rob and Lyn Jaeschke, who purchased the vineyard from Penfolds in 2010. The vineyard is planted on grey-brown loam-based soils, over sandy limestone and shale rock. The Riesling vines are almost 20 years old, planted on 50-year-old root stock.
After narrowly escaping the devastating effects of a November frost that wiped out much of the Polish Hill River subregion, the Jaeschke family nurtured a spectacular crop of Riesling to ripeness through both drought and then flooding rains. The unique blend of vintage conditions has delivered a wine of both richness and elegance. The bouquet is highly perfumed with aromas of Nashi pear, gardenia, and yuzu, with hints of passionfruit, papaya and fresh lime juice. The palate is crisp yet richly textured, with a fine, talc-like minerality imparting a pleasing slipperiness to the texture in the mouth. Bright flavours of Honeycrisp apple and guava run a fine line between sweet and tart, balanced by decadent, spice-laden richness evocative of marzipan, saffron kulfi, and almond biscotti. The elegant and complex palate is punctuated with an electric line of acidity, imparting exceptional length and a clean, crisp finish.
2026 No.3 Clare Valley Riesling
2026 Clare Valley
The No.3 is harvested primarily from the family vineyard, situated in White Hutt, Clare Valley. The grapes are grown on heavy red clay soils that are rich in nutrients and have significant water holding capacity. These classic Terra Rossa soils are responsible for the rich flavours and generous palate weight that has become the hallmark of the No.3.
The family vineyard in White Hutt always produces wines of great generosity, and the 2026 No.3 is a uniquely balanced wine that exhibits both richness and delicacy. The nose is richly seductive with aromas of Meyer lemon, tangelo, and fresh nectarines. The palate is intensely flavoured with zesty citrus-driven flavours of lemon and pink grapefruit, complemented by rich fruity notes of rockmelon, guava and papaya. The lusciously flavoured palate is classically generous yet deceptively delicate, deftly bound by a tight line of crisp acidity that carries through to a long, zesty finish.
2026 No.4 Eden Valley Riesling
Rieslingfreak No.4 is made from selected vineyards across the southern ranges of the Eden Valley region. The No.4 brings together the elegance, structure and acid drive of the High Eden subregion of Flaxman Valley, with the intense flavour and rich aromatics produced by vineyards on the outskirts of Angaston and Springton, imparting complexity to the bouquet and opulence to the palate.
Eden Valley is renowned for Riesling of elegance, perfume and minerality; and the 2026 No.4 brings all this and more. The bouquet leaps forth with intense aromas of fresh lime zest, passionfruit, and guava; complemented by floral topnotes of rosewater, jasmine and elderflower. The evocative summertime scent of rain falling on warm slate transitions onto the elegant yet assuredly structured palate; educing a foundational minerality running beneath the punchy flavours of popping finger lime pearls, poached quince and kiwi sorbet. The tightly wound acidity, which is a hallmark of both the region and the 2026 vintage, drives the length of the palate drawing through to a fine, crisp finish; while the flavours lingering lusciously in the mouth long after the wine has gone.
The Winefront review by Mike Bennie
Pubished 31 August 2026
"Neighbourhood Freak by SWOOP plays loudly. This comes from a blend of Eden sites.
It’s very good. It’s all that an Aussie riesling lover seeks, or so. Blackcurrant leaf and berry with tart lime, a touch of pickled Japanese ginger, some alpine herb and menthol notes, a scratch of dried and fresh green apple. It’s got some very, very frisky acid veins, briny almost, plenty of flavour, lots of get up and go. Quiet complexity in all this and a great sense of tension and energy. Right on. Pow. Rock the house."
95 Points
2026 No.5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling
2026 Clare Valley
Harvested from the family vineyard, situated in White Hutt, just north of the Clare township. The block selected for No.5 is grey clay over limestone, with the vines planted in an east/west direction. The nature of this block results in fruit of unique elegance and flavour with high natural acid retention; perfectly suited to producing exquisitely balanced Off Dry Riesling.
The 2026 vintage is marked by distinctive elegance, generous flavours and an abundance of electric acidity, providing a perfect vintage to produce beautifully balanced Off Dry Riesling. The bouquet is richly imbued with the aromas of sweet red apple, white peach and mandarin, complemented by fragrant floral scents of orange blossom and honeysuckle. These seductive aromas transition seamlessly onto the lusciously flavoured palate, where the sweet flavours of apple crisp, apricot delight and fresh nectarine are balanced by a delightful zing of sherbet-like acidity. The natural sweetness of the style adds an unctuous richness to the mid-palate, while a core of driving acidity imparts linearity and length with a crisp, clean finish.
2026 No.8 Schatzkammer Clare Valley Riesling
2026 Clare Valley
Sourced from our Polish Hill River vineyard, situated 5km South-East of the Clare township. The vineyard is owned by Rob and Lyn Jaeschke, who purchased the vineyard from Penfolds in 2010. The vineyard is on grey-brown loam, over sandy limestone and shale rock. Riesling Block “D6” which is specially selected for the No.8 is a tiny planting of just 0.4 ha, situated in a small gully bordered by a steep hill to the North, and the tree-lined bank of a creek to the South. The vines are approximately 20 years old, planted on 44-year-old root stock and are planted in an East-West direction.
A year like 2026 which is marked by refined elegance, punchy flavours and an abundance of electric acidity, provides for an exciting vintage for our iconic “Schatzkammer” Riesling. The bouquet is sweetly scented with aromas of lemon sherbet, guava and hibiscus, which carry through onto the lusciously flavoured palate. This wine is low in alcohol, with a finely-tuned balance of succulent residual sweetness and crackling acidity that balances perfectly on a knife edge of precision. The luscious sweetness flows across the tip of the tongue, carrying with it an array of sweet tropical and zesty citrus flavours, before seamlessly giving way to a line of electric acidity that drives the length of the palate to a clean, crisp finish. The perfect play of succulent sweetness versus zingy acidity is the ultimate hallmark of the very best examples of this unique style of Riesling.
2026 No.10 Zenit Riesling
No.10 is our ultimate multi-regional blend that captures the very essence of the vintage and is the definitive expression of Riesling. The label was originally created in 2017 to celebrate our Wedding and serve exclusively to our family and friends, but now this wine has come to represent the very best of Rieslingfreak. No.10 is only produced in minute amounts from the most exceptional vintages.
The 2026 No.10 is a blend of 80% Eden Valley and 20% Clare Valley, from specially selected sites across two of our most outstanding vineyards of the year; the Kosi & Kiwi Vineyards grown by Ben Zander in Flaxman Valley, and the Sandow Family vineyard in Watervale in the Clare Valley. The 2026 No.10 effortlessly harmonises the slick precision and heady perfume of Flaxman Valley, with the refined elegance and silky texture of Watervale; creating a Riesling that is perfectly balanced with knife-edge precision. The bouquet is exquisitely perfumed; an enticing symphony of fresh lemon, kiwifruit, green apple and guava, complemented by the fresh scents of spring blossoms and talc. The palate is equally seductive; perfectly pure and pristine with a soft, velvety texture wrapped around a core of crackling acidity that courses through to a crisp and persistent finish. The ultimate expression of what makes the Clare and Eden Valleys the pinnacle regions for growing world class Riesling, and the unique harmony that can be achieved by marrying these two very different styles together as one.
The Winefront review by Mike Bennie
Published on 31 August 2026
"This one is 80% Flaxman Valley of Eden and 20% Watervale of Clare. A strong combo.
A stellar riesling, so intense, so concentrated, so fresh feeling all at once. Grippy, pumice stone texture with a juicy core, brine in veins through the wine, a cumquat pucker and grip to finish. Lemon-lime, tonic water, strong ginger tea around that. Quite breathtaking in its velocity and refreshment factor, a little dewy under the eyes with each approach. All the layers and length here."
96 Points
2026 No.12 Flaxmans Riesling
2026 Eden Valley
The 2026 Rieslingfreak No.12 was harvested from three small family-owned vineyards in Flaxman Valley in High Eden, a premium sub-region of Eden Valley. For the first time, this wine is an equal blend of all three vineyards; exhibiting an exquisite balance between the unique characters of each of the three sites. Renown for growing world-class Riesling of unrivalled elegance, this wine captures the very essence of the High Eden subregion in all its splendour.
The 2026 No.12 is intensely perfumed with Kaffir lime, kiwifruit, dragonfruit and rose petals, complemented by the earthy, mineral accent of ground limestone and wet-slate. The palate is ultra-refined and exceptionally delicate, with a slick and satiny texture wrapped around a core of crackling acidity. Exhibiting a symphony of zesty citrus flavours including yuzu and finger lime, combined with the sweet-floral pungency of fresh quince, the palate is grounded by a lick of flinty minerality with a sharpened steely edge. The crisp natural acidity imparts length and vibrancy, bringing laser-sharp focus to the driving, persistent finish.
The Winefront review by Mike Bennie
Published on 31 August 2026
"From three vineyards up in Flaxman Valley, Eden Valley. The dress circle, if you will.
Golly, this is a delight to drink, or more so it should really scratch an itch for the acid hound riesling enthusiast. It’s a little more open weave than some other 2026 releases from Rieslingfreak, not better, not lesser, just very inviting from hello. Quite a bit of that Eden blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaf thing here, a piquancy and pleasing bitterness almost like a proper, citrus-led vermouth here too. Acid is bright, very intense, prominent, super refreshing and palate drying. Chalkiness and saline notes in tow. Lots of bones and wet pebble-laced lime juice hanging off them. Impressive stuff."
95 Points
Halliday Wine Companion review by Dave Brookes
Published on 1 September 2026
"Flaxman Valley–sourced riesling is really delivering the goods. There's a little more concentration of aromas and flavours here compared to the other Eden Valley offering from the Freak. That classic regional Bickford's lime cordial note is there, along with achingly pure fresh lime, green apple and grapefruit cut with hints of lemongrass, ozone, orange blossom, Christmas lily, crushed stone and lime zest. Bone dry, taut and sleek, with a scorching mineral cadence and long, porcelain core of limey fruit that shoots forth like a laser. Woah!"
96 Points
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