The Dry Dam Riesling
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 1 to 10 years from vintage, showing fresh citrus in its youth and developing complex, toasty, and honeyed notes with age.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Spicy Thai curry, fresh oysters, salt and pepper squid
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The story of 'The Dry Dam' dates back to 1992 when a dam was built on the d'Arenberg property, only for a dry spell to set in, leaving it completely empty. While the dam remained dry, the nearby Riesling vines thrived, prompting winemaker Chester Osborn to dedicate the name to this resilient block. Sourced from cool-climate vineyards in McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills, this wine is crafted to highlight the delicate, aromatic potential of the grape. Unlike many bone-dry Australian Rieslings, The Dry Dam is traditionally made in an off-dry style, where a touch of residual sugar is masterfully balanced by a spine of bracing, electric acidity. The grapes undergo gentle basket pressing and cool fermentation to preserve the pristine primary fruit characters of lime, green apple, and white flowers.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn in the heart of McLaren Vale, South Australia, d'Arenberg is a historic, family-owned winery currently guided by fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn. Renowned for its traditional, hands-on approach, the estate utilizes very old basket presses and practices foot-treading for all its red wines, maintaining a steadfast commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The winery is celebrated for its highly characterful, complex wines with distinctive, quirky names, most notably its flagship 'The Dead Arm' Shiraz, alongside exceptional Grenache and Rhône-style blends. Today, the estate seamlessly blends its rich heritage with avant-garde innovation, epitomized by the iconic d'Arenberg Cube visitor center rising above the ancient vines.