ALDI’s 2026 Freya and Jules Riesling has won Best Riesling at the nation’s oldest wine competition, the 2026 Sydney Royal Wine Show.

It’s another coup for the $10 wine after it took out Elite Gold at the 2025 Canberra International Riesling Challenge, Gold at the 2025 Royal Queensland Wine Show and Gold at the 2025 Melbourne International Wine Competition.

It’s also the wine that fooled afficionados at an ALDI stunt during the Sydney’s Polo in the City event in 2024.

Posing as fine wine merchant ‘Fin D’Itinaldi’, ALDI convinced unsuspecting Polo-goers they were sipping on exclusive vintages from the non-existent ‘Bargain Valley’, which they guessed were worth up to $100 a bottle.

They were in fact enjoying Freya and Jules Riesling. Attendees praised the taste of the wine, describing it as “effervescent”, “beautiful” and “lovely on the palate”.

The big reveal sparked priceless reactions including “Are you serious? Amazing!”, “I’m actually very surprised” and “I don’t believe it!” with many proclaiming ALDI had gained a new customer.

Fast forward to the 2026 Sydney Royal Wine Show and the riesling was critiqued by some of the most experienced and diverse wine judging palates in the country. More that 1500 wines were assessed blindly over the week to determine the best of the best.

Chair of Judges Mike De Iuliis said three wines stood out for being both award-winning and extremely good value for money.

“For the value wines this year, consumers can’t go past ALDI’s 2026 Freya and Jules Riesling, and the 2026 Jacob’s Creek Le Petite Rosé for less than $15,” he said.

“Both have been well recognised across the Australian show circuit and have taken home a trophy for Best Riesling and Best Rosé this year. And our Best Value Wine of Show was given to the 2025 Whipbird GSM – which comes in at $22.”

View all the 2026 Sydney Royal Wine Show major winners here.

Sydney food and drink lovers can sample hundreds of Sydney Royal medal-winning wines, beers, ciders, spirits and fine foods when the Grape, Grain & Graze Festival returns to Sydney Showground on 19 September 2026.

General admission tickets start at $128.25 and include entry; tastings of wines, beers, ciders and spirits; grazing stations; live music; and access to the Sydney Royal Marketplace. Learn more here.