Crawford River 2025 Rieslings - Best Release Yet?!

Crawford River 2025 Rieslings - best release yet?!

​​​Considered by many to be Australia’s best riesling producer. CAMPBELL MATTINSON

A multifaceted bouquet of pure lemon zest, orange blossom, jasmine and wet stone. Concentrated, gently textured and very energetic on the palate, culminating in a long, mouth-watering finish. (97+) WINE COMPANION

Once a tiny outpost in a little-known wine region, Crawford River is now a foremost producer of riesling (and other excellent wines), originally thanks to the unremitting attention to detail and skill of its founder and winemaker, John Thomson. Daughter Belinda has been chief winemaker since ’12 and has experience in Marlborough, Bordeaux, Tuscany and the Nahe. Between '08 and '16, she was a senior winemaker and technical director of a winery in Rueda, Spain. JAMES HALLIDAY

Crawford River wines always bring a smile to me dial. Such a good producer, unnervingly consistent, unique site and reflection in the wines, and geez, the quality ain’t hard to miss. MIKE BENNIE, winecompanion.com.au

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Hello,

Crawford River makes Australia’s best rieslings. They are incredibly flavoursome, reliable, age-worthy, and impeccably balanced. I am very lucky to have drunk many different Crawford River rieslings in my time and at many different maturities (and I plan to keep doing so!). Never have I seen a disappointing bottle, even a “meh” bottle. There is a lot of wine packed inside those stylish bottles - these are banker fine wines at bang for your buck prices.

I’m not alone in my praise for Crawford River; they have fans near and wide. You know the story. Second-generation Belinda Thomson, working off their small estate in Henty, tends the vines her folks planted in 1975. You can literally see all of their plantings from on top of the hill where the winery is. Sheep farmers turned riesling specialists, it’s one of Australia’s greatest wine success stories. 

2025 was a warmish year in the cold Henty region. Belinda talked about the extra attention to detail required in the vineyard and the hard work to ensure optimal grape balance and typicity. Once again, they have kicked it out of the park. On tasting, there’s no mistaking where the wines have come from or who made them. This release is a little stonier and more tightly wound than the 24’s. Very intriguing, they reminded me of the smell when it rains. I can’t wait to drink these again and see them evolve with time in bottle. 

Banker fine wines, and bang for your buck. Not something we get to say... ever! These are wines you just know you will love instantly and for the years to follow. You will not regret these in your fridge and/or cellar. Never have I regretted a Crawford River riesling, I cannot recommend these more highly.

TO ORDER: Please follow the links below for email [email protected]