# 2024 Watervale Riesling (2024)

- **Producer:** Koerner Wine
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Riesling
- **Region:** South Australia, Australia
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.6%
- **Average price:** €22
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, apricot, blossom, honeysuckle, biscuit, pastry, petrol, cinnamon, ginger, almond

## About this wine

The 2024 Watervale Riesling from Koerner Wine is a distinctive expression from South Australia's Clare Valley, specifically the Watervale sub-region. Produced by brothers Damon and Jonathan Koerner, the wine is deeply connected to their family's Gullyview and Parish Vineyards, some of which feature vines planted in 1923 and 1973. The Koerner philosophy centers on vineyard-driven winemaking, with an emphasis on early picking and minimal intervention. This approach results in a wine that offers a unique textural profile and aromatic complexity, diverging from more traditional regional styles by incorporating elements like extended skin contact and aging on lees. The 2024 vintage was hand-harvested in late February, with winemaking focused on preserving the natural character of the fruit through indigenous yeast fermentation and aging in stainless steel and ceramic amphorae, followed by a period on fine lees. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, reflecting a commitment to a natural winemaking process.

## Interesting facts

- The wine is named 'Watervale 24' in honor of Poppy Edwina Koerner, born January 5, 2024.
- Fruit is sourced from historic vines planted as early as 1923.
- The winemaking is intentionally 'hands-off', relying on indigenous yeasts.
- The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, ensuring maximum expression.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright acidity and subtle texture cut through rich or fatty dishes, while its aromatic complexity and slight spice complement the vibrant flavors of Asian cuisine. The dry profile and palate-cleansing finish make it versatile with a range of proteins and preparations.

## Wine making process

The 2024 Watervale Riesling undergoes a minimal intervention winemaking process. Hand-harvested grapes are destemmed and receive approximately six hours of skin contact to enhance texture before pressing. Only free-run juice is utilized and cold-settled for three days. Fermentation is initiated by indigenous yeasts and takes place over two months in a mix of stainless steel and ceramic amphorae. Following fermentation, the wine matures for 10 months on its fine lees in stainless steel. The final wine is bottled without fining or filtration, preserving its natural character and integrity.