Stefano Lubiana Riesling 2022: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Lime, apple & mineral

A beautifully balanced biodynamic Riesling from Stefano Lubiana’s Derwent Valley estate in Tasmania, shaped by floral lift, fresh lime, crisp green apple, white flowers, crushed stone, makrut lime and a hint of fennel. It sits in an off-dry style at around 7 g/L residual sugar, but the acidity is bright, sherbety and incisive, so the finish feels fresh, clean and mineral rather than sweet. This is Riesling with both prettiness and precision.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Stefano Lubiana — Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard
• Fresh lime, crisp green apple, white flowers, crushed stone, makrut lime, fennel and almond blossom
• 100% estate-grown Riesling from a single Derwent Valley block on grey gravelly loams over gravel
• 94 Points and Special Value — Halliday Wine Companion; previous vintage 94 Points — Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
• 12.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Floral and fresh lime notes lead the nose, with crisp green apple, white flowers, crushed stone, makrut lime and a delicate fennel lift adding detail. The palate is off-dry but finely balanced, showing green apple crunch, subtle mid-palate fruit sweetness and a bright sherbety acid line. A slight phenolic texture gives grip before the finish runs long with almond blossom, apple, lime and cool-climate clarity.

Winemaking

This Riesling is whole-bunch pressed and minimally handled, with wild yeast fermentation in large-format Austrian oak. The oak is used for shape and texture rather than flavour, helping build middle-palate body and very soft tannin while preserving the wine’s floral, lime and green-apple aromatics. The result is crisp, incisive and dry-feeling, with enough texture to work with food.

Vineyard & Vintage

The fruit is 100% estate-grown Riesling from a single Derwent Valley block on grey gravelly loams over gravel. The vineyard is certified biodynamic, and Tasmania’s ultra-cool climate gives the wine its fine acidity, floral lift and citrus precision. The 2022 release is 12.5% ABV, with approximately 7 g/L residual sugar, less than 1 gram of sugar per 100mL and a 5–10 year cellaring window.

Why We Love It

This is Riesling for drinkers who love freshness but do not want a painfully sharp wine. The lime, apple and white flowers are pure and pretty, while the subtle fruit sweetness and Austrian oak texture make the palate feel complete. It is biodynamic, vegan suitable and excellent value for a 94-point Tasmanian Riesling with real cellaring potential.

Food Pairing

With lime, green apple, white flowers, fennel, crushed stone and bright acidity, this Riesling is brilliant with seafood, spice, creamy textures and salty snacks. The off-dry balance works especially well with chilli, ginger, citrus, oily fish and soft cheeses.

Try matching this wine with →

• Thai green papaya salad with prawns — Find a Recipe
• Oysters with lime and ginger dressing — Find a Recipe
• Goat’s cheese, fennel and apple salad — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Pour it for oysters, spicy noodles, Thai salads, seafood lunches or a crisp glass before dinner when you want something elegant, lifted and refreshing. It is precise enough for a special table but easy enough to open midweek.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2032. Stefano Lubiana gives this Riesling a 5–10 year cellaring window, and the acidity, phenolic texture and citrus intensity should support graceful development. Expect more honeyed, toasty and savoury complexity with time.

Producer

Stefano Lubiana is based in Granton in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley, where Steve and Monique Lubiana have built one of Australia’s leading biodynamic wine estates. The vineyard has been farmed biodynamically since 2010 and is recognised as Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard. The estate avoids synthetic treatments, additives and pesticides, working with soil regeneration, seasonal rhythms and low-intervention practices to produce wines with elegance, quality and a clear sense of place.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy biodynamic cool-climate whites with citrus, texture and mineral drive, these are lovely bottles to explore next:

• Same producer, textural Pinot Gris with pear, quince and savoury grip — Stefano Lubiana Pinot Gris
• Same producer, fresh Chardonnay with grapefruit and white peach — Stefano Lubiana Primavera Chardonnay
• Cool-climate organic Riesling with lime and floral lift — See Saw Organic Riesling

FAQ

What does Stefano Lubiana Riesling 2022 taste like?

It tastes floral, citrusy and mineral, with fresh lime, crisp green apple, white flowers, crushed stone, makrut lime and a hint of fennel. The palate has a subtle off-dry softness through the middle, then finishes bright, crisp and long with sherbety acidity.

Is this Riesling dry or sweet?

This Riesling sits in an off-dry style at around 7 g/L residual sugar. It does show a small touch of fruit sweetness through the mid-palate, but the high acidity makes the finish feel crisp, clean and dry. It is not a sweet dessert-style Riesling.

What is the body and acidity like?

The body is light to medium, with a little textural grip from whole-bunch pressing and Austrian oak fermentation. Acidity is high, bright and sherbety, giving the wine its precision and energy. The balance is fresh rather than sharp because of the subtle fruit sweetness.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a certified organic and certified biodynamic Riesling, not a No Added Preservative wine. It may contain sulphites, as most wines do, and organic/biodynamic wines are made to lower allowable sulphur limits than conventional wines. It is vegan suitable.

How should I serve Stefano Lubiana Riesling?

Serve chilled at around 7–9°C in a Riesling or white wine glass. If it is very cold from the fridge, give it a few minutes in the glass so the lime, apple, white flower and fennel notes can open. No decanting is needed.

What food pairs well with this Riesling?

It pairs beautifully with oysters, prawns, sashimi, Thai salads, Vietnamese herbs, dumplings, soft cheese and dishes with lime, ginger or chilli. The acidity refreshes seafood and salty food, while the off-dry balance works with spice. For a vegetarian match, try fennel, apple and goat’s cheese salad.

Can this Riesling be cellared?

Yes, this wine can be cellared. Drink now to 2032 for a balance of fresh citrus, green apple and developing complexity. The producer gives it a 5–10 year cellaring window.

Is Stefano Lubiana Riesling vegan friendly?

Yes, this wine is vegan suitable. It is also certified organic and certified biodynamic. It is a strong choice for drinkers wanting premium Tasmanian Riesling with serious farming credentials.

Who will enjoy this Riesling the most?

This is ideal for drinkers who enjoy Riesling with lime, green apple, florals, mineral detail and crisp acidity. If you like Riesling, cool-climate aromatic whites or off-dry whites that still finish fresh, this will suit you well.

Is this wine keto friendly?

This wine is low in sugar per 100mL, but it is off-dry rather than bone-dry. It may suit moderate low-sugar drinkers, while strict keto customers may prefer a drier Riesling or another dry white. Alcohol still contributes calories, so enjoy it mindfully as part of your broader plan.

(SKU: SL_Rie_CV)