After a seven-year pause, Rosehall Run Vineyards proudly reintroduces the Righteous Dude Riesling, a wine that first captured hearts back in 2013. Its revival celebrates both the beauty of bench-grown Riesling and the loyal “Dude-ites” who kept asking for its comeback.
Sourced from a 27-year-old plot on the Nedelko Vineyard, located where the Twenty Mile and Beamsville Benches meet, this wine reflects the power of place. The vineyard’s dolomite limestone soils lend structure and minerality, framing the wine’s intense floral and citrus notes.
The 2023 growing season brought a mix of challenges and triumphs. A cool spring slowed development, but late-summer sunshine pushed the fruit to perfect ripeness. Careful vineyard management and precise picking ensured flavour concentration and bright acidity.
In the winery, the Riesling underwent a long, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Winemakers Dan Sullivan and Lee Baker closely monitored the process, halting fermentation at the perfect moment to achieve balance between natural sweetness and crisp acidity. The result is a Riesling that shimmers with clarity, freshness, and energy.
Awarded Bronze at the National Wine Awards of Canada 2024, the Righteous Dude Riesling 2023 is a joyful reminder of why bench-grown Ontario Riesling continues to turn heads — and why some legends deserve an encore.
