Who makes it?
Loosen Barry Wolta Wolta is one the wines available from the collaboration between the team at Jim Barry wines and Ernst Loosen. Another is the Loosen Barry Slate Hill Riesling. Jim Barry winery is a family winery in Australia’s Clare Valley. Ernst Loosen is one of Germany’s eminent winemakers. Of course, the connection is Riesling.
Not just Riesling though, but some of the best Rieslings in the world.
So, it is no wonder that this team up works so well. It is not the only collaborative wine range that that Loosen does. He also has a joint wine brand with the winemaker from Chateau Ste Michelle, Katie Nelson, Eroica. A Washington Riesling range with a German accent.
To read a review of Loosen Barry Slate Hill Riesling, please click here.
This is a little different though. With the Loosen Barry range, the wines are made in the style each partner has become beloved for. Meaning the Wolta Wolta has been made using the techniques that Loosen has refined for his fine wines in the Mosel region of Germany.
In return, the Barry family team has helped create the Loosen Barry Walhalla from Mosel grapes in the style of their finest wines from the Clare Valley.
This is also not the first innovative white wine the Barry family produce. The family also introduced Assyrtiko to Australian vineyards... and a fine addition it makes too.
Please click here to read a review for Jim Barry Assyrtiko.
To read more about this collaboration between Jim Barry Wines and Loosen, please click here to read: When the Clare and the Mosel meet... The Loosen Barry Story.
How do they make it?
Like the Slate Hill Riesling, the grapes for the Wolta Wolta come from the Spring Farm vineyard in the Clare Valley. The Spring Farm vineyards were planted in 1977. They are higher altitude vineyards with not only plantings of Riesling, but also Shiraz, Cabernet and Malbec. Wolta Wolta was the original name for the estate and the grapes are sourced from Block 18.
The Wolta Wolta Riesling ferments in a 3000 litre German oak ‘Fuder’ cask. The wine was cool fermented in that cask. When the wine reached around 10 grams per litre of remaining sugar, the ferment was chilled to stop ferment. This wine remains in that state, on lees and in cask, for 16 months. Then the team transfers the wine and lees to stainless steel and it remains at around 1o C.
The wine’s pre sale journey doesn’t stop there though. Once in bottle, the Wolta Wolta stays in bottle for a further 18 months to further meld and settle.
This is not a bone dry Clare Valley Riesling. Different vintages may have residual sugar levels of between 5 - 10 grams per litre to ensure balance. The alcohol sits around 12% alcohol reflecting the ripeness level of those grapes.
What does it taste like?
Like the Slate Hill Riesling, this is a drier style of Clare Valley Riesling that is impeccably balanced. The result is a melody that moves along your palate. The balance adds fleshy support for that melody to play out giving the wine a fuller body. It is very intense and spicy. And the lingering length of the finish allows the detail of the wine to be experienced in full.
The aromas of minerally saline and honeyed citrus, of grapefruit and lime begins the experience. The experience finishes with slatey mineral, spice, lemon and peach on the finish. Honey and spice are base notes to the citrus highs and that honey will increase over decades of cellaring. This is after all, a wine that has been made for a long life. However, it is a very good wine to enjoy now.
What to drink it with?
Loosen Barry Wolta Wolta Riesling is a great match for chicken dishes or roast fish and seafood dishes with buttery sauces.
Cheese
Enjoy this Riesling with bloomy cheeses, even something like Sainte Nectaire or Epoisses. Also semi hard cheese.
Quickie review « A very fine wine from Jim Barry that delivers a Riesling experience that is quite different from the usual. »
Country of Origin: Clare Valley, Australia
Tasting Date: January 2026
Price: UK £77| AU$ 120
Drink: now – 15+ years
Needs food: no
Source: tasting
If you like Australian Riesling wines, why not check out:
Sons of Eden Freya Riesling
Henschke Julius Riesling
Loosen Barry Slate Hill Riesling
To read more about this collaboration between Jim Barry Wines and Loosen, please click here to read: When the Clare and the Mosel meet... The Loosen Barry Story.
Visit jimbarry for more.
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