Canberra International Riesling Challenge

The largest collection of Riesling assembled in the Southern Hemisphere, the CIRC Toyota Material Handling Australia International Riesling Experience Trade Tasting is your opportunity to taste over 400 Rieslings from the best Riesling regions of the world. If understanding Riesling is important to you, this is a must attend event. This session is available to people who are employed in the liquor and hospitality industries. Attendance for Challenge Entrants and Trade is free. Contact the Secretariat to obtain a promotion code for free entry.

For four glorious hours armed with your Riedel tasting glass and a results catalogue you can travel the world of Riesling and compare wines from across the world in the largest collection of Riesling assembled in the Southern this year. Every year in October, Riesling producers from the major Riesling producing regions of the world send their wines to Canberra to compete in the Canberra International Riesling Challenge. When the judging is done, and the winners have been announced, the Challenge is opened up for you to come and taste these amazing wines – at the International Riesling Experience. If you are Riesling lover or want to understand more about this most versatile of grapes this is a must-attend event.

An evening of excellent food and wine in Louis Restaurant - Hotel Realm - Rare Rieslings from the CIRC cellar matched with food from Canberra’s most accomplished chef, Ben Willis. The wines from the CIRC Cellar have all won trophies or have been judged as elite wines at a Riesling Challenge. An opportunity to taste aged Rieslings that are generally not commercially available and enjoy the outstanding matched food. Louis transports you from the bustle of Canberra’s Parliamentary Triangle to the warm embrace of a classic European bistro. Located in Barton’s Hotel Realm, Louis puts the food of Canberra’s most accomplished chef, Ben Willis, centre stage. Elevated yet embracing, ambitious yet approachable, Louis is the restaurant Canberra has been waiting for. This is a very special opportunity - A "must attend"

A Taste of Eden: An expert guided tour of outstanding Rieslings. Presented by: Brock Harrison, Winemaker Elderton Wines,SA- "A View of Eden" - exploring one of the worlds greatest Riesling Regions via its current Riesling vintage, the influence of terroir and the characteristics of Eden Valley Riesling, and Tim Pelquest-Hunt, Chief Winemaker Orlando Wines, SA - "Orlando Steingarten- A vertical Tasting 2002-2022" - One of Australia's most iconic wines and considered the first Riesling of its kind in Australia. The grapes are taken from vineyards developed in the 1960s. The ability to taste these wines across this range is a very rare opportunity - not to be missed. Due to the scarcity of some of these wines tickets are limited. A "must attend" for any Riesling lover.

The largest collection of Riesling assembled in the Southern Hemisphere, the CIRC Toyota Material Handling Australia International Riesling Experience is your opportunity to taste over 400 Rieslings from the best Riesling regions of the world. Featuring a range of styles from Dry to sweet Desert wines and Aperitifs and sparkling Sekts, many of these wines are rare and not readily available commercially. If you are Riesling lover or want to understand more about this most versatile of grapes this is a must attend event

An expert guided tour of outstanding Rieslings. Presented by Cameron Douglas MS, "Five New Zealand Riesling Regions – Terroir and Character" and Jane Faulkner, "Riesling with texture - A new zeitgeist for Australian Riesling" The masterclass is presented by Riesling experts and explores the many characters of this versatile and complex wine, and the terroir that makes these special wines. A "must attend" for any Riesling lover. Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas is an experienced wine writer, commentator, judge, reviewer, presenter and consultant. He lives his life around his enthusiasm for all things beverage – teaching, travelling, tasting and talking. He judges and presents wine regularly in the USA, the UK, Australia and Asia. Jane Faulkner is a journalist by training and a wine writer by vocation. An experienced wine judge, she contributes to numerous publications including Halliday magazine, and is a reviewer for Australia’s leading wine guide, Halliday Wine Companion.