All the medal-winning wines from the Global Riesling Masters 2022

The expressions in the Riesling Masters reminded our judges why they love wine, with thrilling drops from top producers in Germany, Chile, Australia, and Canada. 

December’s Riesling competition – which was our final tasting of 2022 – proved “a joyous end” to our annual series, to quote longstanding Global Wine Masters judge Jonathan Pedley MW. Only a few days before the sampling session, Pedley had been taken to “the outer reaches of the vinous solar system”, when judging our inaugural Global Low and No Alcohol Wine Masters. As a result, he expressed his delight to be “back on earth” with Riesling. Indeed, praising its “crystalline purity and grace”, he said that this grape “reminded us why we love wine so much”.

Such a sentiment was shared by the rest of the judges, who took pleasure in tasting the myriad samples, many of which brought cheering refreshment to their palates, and smiles to their faces.

But such enjoyment didn’t hail from high-priced bottles. In fact, the delights of this day’s sampling could be experienced without major expense, with many of the top scoring wines selling for below £30, and one of the Gold medallists retailing for just £7.99. Declaring this sub-£10 sample a triumph, Pedley said its producers should be proud. It was only later on in the blind tasting that we learnt where it was from: Clare Valley, and sourced by Aldi for the discount retailers’ customers. This wasn’t the only Gold medal winning Riesling selling for less than £10. Retailing for just under this price was a sample from Germany, and another from Chile, although these were made in the medium-dry style, with 8.5g/l and 5g/l of residual sugar respectively. However, a large number of the top-scoring Rieslings of the competition were dry – with this style accounting for a Master, two Golds, and nine Silvers. Not only that, but the majority of these wines were from Australia, with Eden and Clare Valleys “flying the flag for premium dry Riesling outside Europe”, according to Pedley.

Among the off- and medium-dry wines, there were plenty of delicious Rieslings too. Although it was an Eden Valley Riesling from Australia that picked up the Master, it was the Germans that collected four Golds, followed by Chile, with two Golds, while New Zealand and Austria picked up one Gold each.

In contrast, the medium style of Riesling, with up to 45g/l, proved to be the weakest category, garnering two Silvers, but nothing deemed deserving of a higher medal. The wines seemed to lack flavour intensity, with Pedley commenting on “a lack of fruit definition and concentration”, along with “a waxy character that just did not thrill”.

But it was the sweetest Riesling that proved the most exciting wine of the day. This Master-winning sample was an Icewine from Canada with almost 200g/l of residual sugar. Unctuous, with layers of fruit flavours from raisins to apricot and orange zest, it was powerful and complex, while benefitting from Riesling’s remarkable natural acidity, ensuring that such a richly-sweet wine was still a refreshing drink.

Dry (up to 9 g/l)

Medium Dry (up to 12 g/l)

Medium Dry (up to 12 g/l) continued

Medium Dry (up to 45 g/l) 

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Riesling Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The competition was judged on 9 November at the Novotel, London Bridge, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding in their field received the ultimate accolade – the title of Riesling Master. This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com