Paulett's Clare Riesling – Best in the World
Media release
Paulett's 2005 Aged Release Polish Hill River Riesling
Neil Paulett is the proudest winemaker in Australia after bringing home four individual trophies for his 2005 Aged Release Polish Hill River Riesling at the 11th Canberra International Riesling Challenge recently.
Amongst some of the World's finest examples of the variety, the 2005 Paulett's Aged Release Riesling beat all comers winning Best Australian Museum Class, Best Dry Riesling in the World, Best Riesling in Australia and the competition's highest award, Best Riesling in the World.
Accepting his swag of trophies at the Gala Awards Dinner last Friday night Neil, with his wife Alison, celebrated the biggest win in their boutique winery's 27-year history.
'The whole experience was a bit surreal to be honest, the first one was a great surprise, I said a few words and thought that would be it for the night. Then they called me up for the second one and I thought ‘how good is this?’ When they called me a third time I must admit I started to get the shakes, it was absolutely incredible.
'The fourth trophy for Best Riesling in the World just blew me away, I literally couldn't speak.
'On the night of the awards we tasted many of the other trophy wines. That's when it really sunk in, it's quite humbling to have been recognised against our peers, such fantastic Riesling makers from around the world.'
A proud family owned and operated winery, tucked away in the Polish Hill River sub-region of the Clare Valley, Paulett’s has always maintained a quietly confident attitude towards producing regionally distinctive wines of finesse, elegance and intensity.
'We've never worried too much about what other people do, we have great vineyards and we just make great wines with the grapes we have.
'We're lucky here in Clare though. When we got home we had messages with a pat on the back from a couple of our neighbours who've won the same trophy and from many of our winemaking peers and the general community, it's wonderful to have their support.
'It's also just a wonderful jolt for our wine brand and shows the strength of both Riesling as a variety and that Clare does it better than anyone.
'Clare does produce fantastic Rieslings, of course they're different to a European style but so they should be, we're not Europeans.
'If this award gets a few new people trying aged Rieslings then it's a good thing.
'Riesling is like a person, when it’s young it's bright, full of life and energetic but when they get older, like me, they get a bit softer and rounder, develop great character and complexity.'
The Canberra International Riesling Challenge
The Canberra International Riesling Challenge is a unique wine competition dedicated to Riesling wines only, to showcase the wonders of the Riesling variety. Now in its 11th year The Challenge received a record 497 total entries from more than 10 countries.
The Challenge is the most significant event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere and continues to evolve in line with innovations in the production of Riesling around the world. With the judging being conducted on a regional basis, this allows the individual characteristics of each region’s wine to be highlighted – a feature unique to the Canberra International Riesling Challenge.
Regions
- Clare Valley (SA)
- Polish Hill River (SA)
Our Recommendations
To see our recommendations, ratings and reviews you must be a logged-in subscriber.
To subscribe please enter your email address in the "Subscribe Now - it's Free" box on the right and click the "Join" button, or fill in this form >
Tutor your nose to detect the subtle aromas in wine and learn to appreciate and enjoy its complexities. VisitVineyards.com subscribers purchasing Le Nez du Vin aroma sets can save up to $110 and get two Essential Wine Tasting Guides for the price of one. Read about the 
Thinking celebration? Then surely thinking Champagne, the wine that's always part of life's most important occasions. And sometimes just for the pure bubbly, enjoyment. Dine and sip with royalty, celebrity at history-making moments with your copy of Champagne and Chandeliers by Bernadette O'Shea. VisitVineyards.com subscribers, you receive a 15 per cent discount on purchase 
Le Figaro calls her "the undisputed mistress of the kingdom of wine". Receive an immediate introductory 
Like to discover more about this state's lifestyle, wine, food and more? Then ask us now for your free copy of Tasmania 40 Degrees South the magazine that showcases the best of Australia's island state. 
In our No 1 Wine Book of 2010, Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein matches distinctive wines with recipes from his favourite chefs in this book focussing on new and emerging grape varietals. VisitVineyards.com subscribers and Members buying this book will receive a 
Members experience complimentary beer tastings and a free 
Who has won the eleven day Whitsundays holiday? It could be you! Or will you be celebrating the Weekend Fit for a King or mingling with the winemakers at the International Cool Climate Wine Show? We've drawn The Champagne Guide, excellent WA Wine books, Tetsuya's DVD and other great wine and food books. New winners' names have just been added to our list so 