Best Australian white wines under $35
For years I’ve been thinking people are going to catch onto riesling. I hope they don’t. I want to keep it for us. Check out our top white whites under $35, including a prize-winning South Australian riesling for just $19. | FULL LIST
In 2018, Alexandra Wardlaw arrived in South Australia’s Clare Valley with a suitcase and a plan to stay for four months.
Hailing from the vaunted wine-growing region of Champagne, France, Wardlaw — then Alexandra Alavoine — had a penchant for making riesling, a white wine variety she had always loved.
Seven years later, not only is Wardlaw, 31, still there, she is now senior winemaker at Kirrihill, a winery outside Hill River that is producing some of the state’s finest rieslings.
One of those, her 2023 Kirrihill Regional Series Riesling — is a $19 bargain.
Wine critic Nick Ryan says rieslings such as Kirrihill are part of a wave of especially excellent whites coming out of South Australia.
“Rieslings are always a great buy,” he says. “Everyone for years has kept saying that people are going to catch onto riesling. I hope they don’t. I want to keep it for us.”
For her part, Wardlaw says her 2023 vintage was a perfect coming together of elements to make a brilliantly affordable and delicious wine.
“2023 was challenging with frost but we had quite a warm vintage which helped us retain natural acid and flavour in the fruit,” she says. “I wanted to make a wine that was very approachable, a wine that you just wanted to have another glass of.”
The wine has won four major trophies across Australia including best riesling in the National Wine Show held in Canberra in May and Wardlaw is rightly proud of her creation.
“I can’t believe the consistency of the judging,” she enthuses. “It is very exciting.”
Save on our top picks with The Australian Wine Club's Special Dozen offer.
This list is part of a broader series which sets out the best Australian wines of 2024 according to both price and quality. Discover more:
Best red wines over $35
Best white wines over $35
Best red wines under $35
Best spirits of the year
Festive champagne guide
