Published on 9 December 2021
An exceptional wine at an exceptional price: Duncan Peppiatt with the Victorian riesling that bodies the competition.
“The first thing that I love about this is that it’s just delicious.” As far as Duncan Peppiatt is concerned, the best riesling in Australia is Crawford River Young Vines. Peppiatt, wine boss at fine dining restaurant Amaru and its sister wine bar, Auterra, reckons its value can’t be beat – a beautiful and complex (and delicious) wine that’s priced at entry level.
“I also love that it’s a wine that can change people's perception of riesling, showing that Australian examples of the grape can be more than austere acidity and citrus fruits.” The wine, which is made from grapes grown in Henty, locates the perfect balance between acidity and sweetness.
If you were drinking it at Amaru, Peppiatt would nudge you towards the scallop tartare as a perfect match, but if you’re drinking it at home with friends, he says picking up a nice, fatty piece of snapper from your local fishmonger and attempting a DIY sashimi situation makes for a very happy adventure in food and wine.
Crawford River riesling, $34, available online here.
By Claire Adey
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