2016 Hillersden Riesling Marlborough New Zealand 750 ml

Wines like this usually sell out before they come close to leaving New Zealand’s shores, so the fact that you don’t have to hop a 20-hour flight to drink this wine is reason enough to pop a bottle right now. But the added bonus is that this is by far the lowest price in the U.S. for the Hillersden Riesling. Citrus notes, ripe apricot, star fruit, and anise dance along the palate in this crisp, refreshing wine, whose juicy ripeness is perfectly balanced by cleansing acidity on the finish.

For a renowned wine-producing country, there is so much to discover about New Zealand. Though Sauvignon Blanc still has a stronghold, small, family-owned estates like Hillersden are making incredibly high-quality wines from a plethora of grape varieties—and Riesling thrives particularly well in the South Island’s sun-soaked, breezy vineyards. 

On the edge of Marlborough, in the upper Wairau Valley, Riesling grapes grow along Hillersden’s vineyard terraces, carved out over centuries by the Wairau River. Here, Riesling ripens fully in the region’s intense sunshine, creating uniquely vibrant and complex aromas and flavors—ones that can only come from New Zealand’s particular UV saturation. At night, temperatures drop sharply, cooling grapes rapidly to drive this wine’s buoyant acidity. Hillersden’s sustainable winemaking philosophy is rarely found in wines this affordable—there is little standing between these perfectly-balanced grapes and the bottle.

The Hillersden Riesling could easily pass for dry Riesling from Germany, given the floral, petrol-like aromas that burst from the glass. Like a tasty German trocken, with 9 grams per liter of residual sugar, this dry Riesling doesn’t just tiptoe along the tightrope between sugar and acidity—it dances along it, creating a vibrant, lip-smacking celebration of ripe citrus and apricot fruit, with hints of herbal spice. 

And though it’s deliciously refreshing on its own, all of that acidity will have your mouth watering for food. While this Riesling is ridiculously versatile, it’s a perfect match for seafood, a nod to Marlborough’s oceanside location. The plump, salty-sweet flavor of New Zealand’s local specialty, green-lipped mussels, would be amplified by the Hillersden’s zip. It’s also the perfect match for spicy, seasoned food; the ripe fruit adds a new dimension to spicy fish tacos, and the touch of residual sugar cools the palate from Thai or Indian curry on takeout night.

The 2016 Hillersden Riesling from Marlborough is a fantastic dry Riesling, and it’s one of the best deals you’ll find right now. Brimming with racy acidity and mineral-driven complexity at less than $15 per bottle, this is the kind of wine to stock up on by the case before word gets out about this New World gem.