After a stunning 12 months on the wine show circuit and with vintage 2022 well underway, Mudgee’s Robert Stein Wines has released their 2021 Robert Stein Dry Riesling ($40) and 2021 Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling ($50).
With growing demand for the winery’s Rieslings, winemaker Jacob Stein made the bold move in 2021 to focus his 45-year-old Estate vineyard to just producing his Dry and Reserve Riesling, whilst looking further afield for grapes for his Half Dry Riesling. This has paid handsome dividends with his trio of Riesling receiving three trophies, five gold medals and six silver medals in the reduced wine show scene of 2021.
“2021 was my twelfth vintage back at the family winery,” explains Jacob. “Over this time, we’ve focused heavily on our Riesling and the perpetual growth of quality. This has culminated in back-to-back trophies at the renowned Sydney Royal Wine Show, which is no mean feat for a little Mudgee winery.
“Subsequently demand for our wine has grown as we reach wider distribution channels, so our Estate Riesling is now solely used for our Dry and Reserve Riesling. We have spent several years researching and working with growers of other vineyard sites to find a suitable plot for our Half Dry Riesling. It was not a decision we made lightly, given we have been a Mudgee regional winegrower for over 45 years and 3 generations.
“The 2021 Half Dry Riesling vintage comes from a vineyard situated in Orange at an elevation of just over 600 metres. Whilst their vineyard sits at the same elevation to our Mudgee vines, the fruit really lends itself to an off- dry style, with lovely crisp acidity balancing the residual sugar beautifully”.
The 2021 Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling was harvested in the cool of the morning to maintain the pristine quality of the grapes. It underwent a cool and slow fermentation, ceasing at 15 grams residual sugar. The wine was then matured in tank on lees for a further four months with occasional stirring to build complexity and palate texture.
The 2021 Robert Stein Dry Riesling was made predominately from Estate grown and hand-picked grapes from the Steins 1976 block. The vineyard employs organic and sustainable practices, and also includes cover cropping and mulching to ensure low input. The fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed, then fermented cool in stainless steel with extended lees contact to showcase the natural fruit purity of the variety.
Distribution: Distributed by Red+White or directly from their cellar door and robertstein.com.au
For further information, interviews, samples, or images please contact:
- David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
- Jacob Stein at Robert Stein Wines: 02 6373 3991 or jacob@robertstein.com.au
Robert Stein Wines can trace their winemaking history back to 1838, when the famous Macarthur family brought Johann Stein to Australia with the country’s first cuttings of Rhine Riesling. These vines flourished at Camden Park under Johann’s careful watch. 138 years later, in 1976, Robert ‘Bob’ Stein purchased 75 acres in Mudgee and renewed the Stein passion for viticulture. Jacob is the third-generation winemaker and was named 2012 Gourmet Traveller Young Winemaker of the Year as well as awarded Mudgee Winemaker of the Year in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. The 2016 Robert Stein Dry Riesling was awarded the Trophy for the Best Riesling at the 2019 and 2021 Sydney Royal Wine Show.