It could be said that Anna Pooley was destined to become a winemaker. In 1985 her grandparents planted 17 rows of vines in the Coal River Valley: 7 rows of Pinot Noir and 10 rows of Riesling on their farm in Cooinda Vale. At the time, it was their retirement plan. Little did they know this site would become what is still the source of the estate’s finest wines and led to Pooley Wines being James Halliday’s Wine Companion Winery of the Year 2023.

Sparked with fascination from the family’s first vintage, Anna has worked for some of Australia’s biggest names in wine before taking over as winemaker at Pooley in 2013. She is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in Tasmanian, if not Australian, winemaking.

Fruit for the Cooinda Vale Riesling was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. Fermented in stainless steel and matured on fine lees for 5 months before bottling. The result is a delicate, pure Riesling with generous aromas of honey blossom and orange zest. The palate is refined and elegant with notes of grapefruit pith, cumquat and finger lime, with acid for days and long and waxy finish.

Bravo Anna Pooley, keep doing what you’re doing.