Capital Wines Riesling 2021

If you didn’t already know it, the Canberra District produces some fantastic Riesling. It’s the hero white variety for the region. The continental climate with cool nights and warm dry days give the vines a rest overnight and helps the fruit retain acidity and aromatics, the two key elements for top class Riesling.

Capital are amongst the best makers, frequently producing wines of style and grace. The 2021 vintage was arguably one of the best for the whites in the district. I’ve been fortunate to try quite a few and they all have a hallmark of flavour intensity and line.

Typical lime and blossom aromas leap from the glass along with crunchy granny smith apple notes. On the palate there’s lovely intensity of fruit flavours, more lime and apple. The finish, long and elegant. Quite impressive overall, there’s no doubt the Capital Riesling will last many more years to come, so long as you can resist the temptation to drink it tonight.

Fergus McGhie

A native Canberran, Fergus is a wine fanatic who happily works in one of Australia’s finest small vineyards right in his own back yard. His fine dining restaurant training proved more useful and nearly more interesting than an arts degree at the ANU and a love of wine followed. Vintages as a cellar hand removed the mystique but didn’t quell the love. As a wine retailer, Fergus learned there is always another great wine around the corner and as a wine writer for The Canberra Times he learned that the stories behind the wines make them taste better. An occasional show judge and snowboarder, he has a guilty love of simple, uncomplicated wine, craft beers and a well-made Negroni.