Polish Hill

Jeffrey Grosset produced the first Polish Hill Riesling in 1981 from a leased block owned by Professor Ray Molloy. In 1996, Grosset purchased and planted his own 8-hectare Polish Hill vineyard. The first vintage incorporating fruit from the estate-owned site was 2000, and from the 2005 vintage onward, the wine has been fully estate-grown. The vineyard takes its name from the Polish Hill River Settlement, established in the 1840s by Polish immigrants. Grosset Wines has produced a Polish Hill Riesling continuously every vintage since 1981.

• First vintage: 1981, from leased Professor Ray Molloy block
• Grosset purchased and planted own 8-hectare site in 1996
• Estate fruit entered the blend from 2000; fully estate-grown from 2005
• Named for a Polish immigrant settlement established in the 1840s

Polish Hill sits at 460 metres above sea level, making it the highest elevation vineyard in Clare Valley and ensuring cooler growing conditions than sites at lower altitudes. The bedrock is blue slate estimated at 500 million years old, overlaid with silt, shallow shales, and a thin crust of clay and gravel. The site is described as a low-fertility hard rock site, which forces vines to struggle, producing small, thick-skinned berries in tight bunches weighing only around 100 grams. Warm summer days and cool nights define the climate, preserving the natural acidity that makes Clare Valley Riesling so age-worthy.

• 460 metres elevation, coolest site in the Clare Valley
• 500-million-year-old blue slate bedrock drives intense mineral expression
• Low-fertility soils produce small bunches (100 grams) and thick-skinned berries
• Continental-influenced climate with warm days and cool nights preserves acidity

Polish Hill Riesling is produced as a dry style with crisp acidity and pronounced citrus character, typically showing lime, lemon, and grapefruit alongside floral notes and a distinctive mineral quality derived from the slate soils. The vineyard is close-planted and intensively hand-tended to manage variable vigor, with hand-harvesting required in early April, often weeks later than the neighbouring Springvale vineyard. Yields are extremely low at approximately two bottles per vine. Three Riesling clones are grown: two of German origin and one rare local clone. The wine is released under screw cap, and Grosset was a pioneer of screw cap adoption in the Clare Valley.

• Dry Riesling with citrus, floral, and slate-driven mineral character
• Harvested by hand in early April, weeks after Springvale vineyard
• Three clones: two German, one rare local; yields approximately two bottles per vine
• Released under screw cap; Grosset pioneered screw cap use in Clare Valley

Polish Hill holds Exceptional status in Langton's Classification of Australian Wine, the highest tier in that ranking system, and is among the top ten most highly rated Clare Valley wines. Robert Parker described it as the finest Riesling he had ever tasted from Australia. The 2024 vintage received 98 points from critic Tyson Stelzer and was awarded both White Wine of the Year and Riesling of the Year. The wine is counted among Australia's most collected bottles, with strong demand at auction and a track record of graceful evolution over decades in the cellar.

• Langton's Classification: Exceptional, the highest tier
• Robert Parker called it 'The finest riesling I have ever tasted from Australia'
• 2024 vintage: 98 points, White Wine of the Year and Riesling of the Year (Tyson Stelzer)
• Among Australia's most collected wines, with strong auction demand

The Polish Hill vineyard is biodynamically farmed and holds ACO (Australian Certified Organic) certification. The combination of biodynamic practices, low-fertility hard rock soils, and extremely low yields reflects a commitment to expressing the site's terroir with minimal intervention. The wine ages gracefully for decades, with many examples showing compelling evolution after more than ten years in bottle.

• Biodynamically farmed with ACO certified organic status
• Low-fertility soils and hard rock conditions limit intervention in the vineyard
• Age-worthy for decades; many examples evolve well beyond ten years
• Screw cap closure supports consistent long-term cellaring