Mentions in the media
24th November 2025
Written by Max Allen
Every autumn for the last few years, winemaker Bridget Mac has hopped in her car in Melbourne and driven 450 kilometres west to Mount Gambier on South Australia’s limestone coast. Here, Mac buys riesling and pinot noir grapes, then trucks them back to turn into wine for her Werkstatt label.
Nine hundred kilometres seems like a heck of a long way to travel to buy grapes – let alone all the extra visits to the vineyard during the growing season. What’s so special about Mount Gambier?
“It’s an amazing place to grow riesling and pinot,” says Mac. “It’s a cool climate: a mix of inland and coastal weather patterns, so it gets pretty cold. The soil of the vineyard where I buy my grapes, west of the Mount Gambier volcano, is full of chunks of this heavy, metamorphosed limestone, which gives the riesling a beautiful minerality.”
2025 Werkstatt Riesling [Mount Gambier]
Inspired by the feinherb and kabinett styles of off-dry riesling made in Germany, this has beautiful delicate, grapey, fresh aromas, a wonderful vitality and brightness on the tongue, with tingly acidity balancing a slight lick of gentle sweetness, all wrapping up with a clean, moreish finish, thanks to the moderate 9.6 per cent alcohol. $37
24th October 2025
Halliday Wine Companion - Werkstatt 25 Mount Gambier Riesling
Score: 95 points
2025 Mount Gambier Riesling
“Made in a Kabinett style; the juice is slowly fermented in stainless steel; two months on gross lees and two months on fine lees; 13.5g/l in the final wine. A bite of loquat, pineapple skin and lemonade fruit. There is apple leaf and sparks of lime. The palate is bedazzled with salinity and pick-me-up freshness. Fruit sweetness is well worked into the body of the wine. It's hard to imagine a white wine that is more approachable, with acidity that rolls throughout the palate in cascading waves. This is so tastefully curated, shining a light on the suitability of riesling in Mount Gambier. A wine of total elation for breakfast, lunch, pre-dinner and throughout.”
— Shanteh Wale
Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : 14 October 2025
Drink : 2025 - 2035
24th October 2025
Halliday Wine Companion - Werkstatt 25 Pétillant Naturel Riesling
Score: 93 points
2025 Pétillant Naturel Riesling
“Fruit is from an organically managed site called Coola Road, German Creek. This is full of yellow melon and lemon balm. Some just-ripe tropical notes and a touch of kernel. Its total dryness on the finish allows for a clean sweep of talc and powdery lemon sherbet. The purity and elegance of riesling can be found here with the spritz of sea foam. Utterly thirst quenching and perfectly sessionable. If this continues down its style line in the future it will gain a cult following, as both varietal integrity and drinkability are the heroes here.”
— Shanteh Wale
Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : 14 October 2025
Drink : 2025 - 2026
8th October 2025
Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wines - 2025 Whitfield Gewürztraminer
This year the Werkstatt ‘25 Gewürztraminer from Whitfield in King Valley has been named as one of the top 100 wines of the year in the Halliday Wine Companion top 100 wines.
“The wines are highlights from the tasting season and showcase the diversity that Australian wine has to offer. The lists celebrate value, focus on availability of the selected wines.”
The ‘25 Gewürztraminer features in the category: Best Australian white wines over $40.
This being the first year I have made this wine from the varietal and site, I am extremely proud to have it recognised and celebrated.
30th August 2025
Halliday Wine Companion - Werkstatt 25 Whitfield Gewürztraminer
Score: 95 points
2025 Whitfield Gewürztraminer
“It's fine boned and delicately delivered, delightfully so, with a spiciness that jumps out of the glass. Aromas of musky florals, lychee, rose petal, tangerine and candied ginger. Builds on the palate and just keeps on going, replete in apple, citrus, high aromatics, spring florals and that gorgeous, lasting spiciness. Essentially off-dry in style, matched to bright acidity.”
— Jeni Port
Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : 13 August 2025
Drink : 2025 - 2030
25th August 2025
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 25 Whitfield Gewürztraminer.
“Fruit comes from Darling Estate in Whitfield, King Valley. Twelve hours skin contact, pressed off, left to mellow in stainless steel, a whisper of residual sugar to set things alight.
It’s a ripper. Length, presence, so much spice, the exotic things of the variety, lychee, pink grapefruit, talc, briny minerality, a glossy, light honeycomb note. It sits compact and tense in the palate, almost vibrating with energy, precision through the piercing, extended finish. The sleek, wound up nature of the wine is something else – rarely do you see gewurz do this, unless you’re drinking upper echelon. Ipso…”
- Mike Bennie
Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : AUG25
Alcohol : 12%
Price : $42
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2025 - 2033
25th August 2025
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 25 Mount Gambier Riesling.
“Set to an idea of Kabinett riesling. Holds about twelve grams of residual sugar. Matured in stainless for a few months, sees a bit of lees time in that. From vines at Coola Rd, German Creek, Mount Gambier.
An easy access riesling of prettiness, frisky, sweet-sour citrus characters, frangipani floral notes, some waxy, green apple, grapefruit pulp dashed in, with some grassiness and a touch of white mushroom in the mix. It has good personality, a revelry of riesling, though does feel just a touch loose knit and the sweetness, though pleasing, does feel like it runs away with the wine a little. The wine does open up beautifully, give it some time, and there is a clatter of mandarin tang to zest things up as that happens. The wine a yum, pleasing drink all over.” - Mike Bennie
Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : AUG25
Alcohol : 9.6%
Price : $37
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2025 - 2030.
25th August 2025
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 25 Pétillant Naturel Riesling
“A stellar track record with riesling and a must-drink across the range, for me. New releases giving me a little neck injury for snapping to attention. From a single site. The wine ferments partly (until bottling) in old French oak.
This is delicious, super easy drinking. Perhaps not with the intensity of past releases, but the motif of charm is all here. A strong, almost ubiquitous lemon sorbet vibe to this wine. A fluffiness to texture, a pleasing, bitter lemonade bite, a little, faint, lemon cream generosity too. Bright, tight, teeny bubbles make for fun. It’s a delight.” - Mike Bennie
Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : AUG25
Alcohol : 11.5%
Price : $37
Closure : Crownseal
Drink : 2025 - 2027
21st August 2025
Bridget Mac of Werkstatt Wine featured in:
“A question of balance: Marcus Ellis on why sugar shouldn't be a dirty word when it comes to riesling” - Halliday Wine Companion.
“I’m not sure what the residual sugar is on the wine yet,” says Bridget Mac, referring to her 2025 Werkstatt Riesling. “The number isn’t important to me; my focus is on whether the wine is balanced.”
That wine comes from Mount Gambier, where limestone soils and the Southern Ocean’s lashing winds produce wines of striking tension. Prior releases have carried up to 17 grams per litre of sugar – well beyond the trocken threshold – while still finishing with an impression of dryness.
“Mount Gambier is seriously cool climate, and riesling is always the last to be picked – I have to leave some RS in these wines so that they are drinkable,” Bridget continues. “During vintage, I pretty much live at the winery, too scared to leave... I taste every few hours, which means I’m sometimes there at 2am. When the perfect moment hits, it’s crucial to stop the yeast. Too late, and there’s no way to get it back, like catching a sunset or sunrise.”
13th June 2025
Werkstatt Wine awarded silver at the 2025 National Wine Show Awards
2024 Werkstatt Mount Gambier Riesling
Score: 90 points - Silver
05th May 2025
Australia’s Best Young Wine Labels & Winemakers in 2025
Werkstatt Wine - Finalist in the Young Gun of Wine Awards
The Young Gun of Wine Winemaker Awards is a showcase of the best young and emerging Australian winemakers.
“Bridget Mac, the creative force behind Werkstatt Wine, embodies the spirit of an artist-turned-winemaker, melding her passion for German, Austrian, and Swiss wines and varieties with the distinct terroirs of Australia. Her label debuted in 2022, with releases thus far including riesling (in still, pét-nat, and traditional method sparkling forms) and pinot noir, with wines based on gewürztraminer and weissburgunder (better known as pinot blanc) in the wings.”
03rd March 2025
Halliday Wine Companion - Werkstatt 24 Mount Gambier Pinot Noir.
Score: 91 points
2024 Mount Gambier Pinot Noir
“This is full of confidence, vitality and wondrous fruit intensity. Bing cherries, red apple and raspberry straps. Tannins sit firmly in place to fence in the wine from becoming too slurpy. Acidity matches tempo. The portion of new oak brings star anise and some kampot pepper to the table. A compelling wine and a very strong start.”
- Shanteh Wale
Rated : 91 Points
Tasted : 18th February 2025
Drink : 2024 - 2028
03rd March 2025
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 24 Mount Gambier Pinot Noir.
“Bridget Mac goes red wine. We know her riesling credentials are righteous, here’s the look at Mt Gambier pinot from her.
A snappy, tight and fresh version of the variety. Tart, black cherry, green, brined olive, light cinnamon dusting with white pepper and bergamot tea too. Some very gentle rhubarb and grated beetroot characters in there as well. It’s got good energy, freshness, sleek feel overall. A discreet wine of pleasing, energetic feel. Lovely.” - Mike Bennie
Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : FEB25
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : $48
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2025 - 2030
09 December 2024
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 24 Pétillant Naturel.
“Winemaker Bridget Mac seems to have done a deal with the devil. Well, she’s also very clever and diligent and drinks broadly and kept things focused. The end result has been a fresh producer that is all hits. This sits right up at the top of the pile of Australian pet nats; precise, focused, vividly bright and clean. It’s fancy, fun, fantastic and so damn delicious.
First thoughts were Margaritas and Palomas. It has this lemony zing, pink grapefruit freshness, coursing saline minerality. So fresh, so frisky. Laser like in its carriage of flavour across the palate, whip crack refreshing and pulsing with tiny, energetic bubbles. While light weight there’s a sense of control, rapier-like thrusts of flavour and lightly chalky tension. It’s superb. It’s so damn drinkable. Ludicrously good.”
- Mike Bennie
Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : DEC24
Alcohol : 11%
Price : $35
Closure : Crownseal
Drink : 2024 - 2027
29th November 2024
Australian Financial Review Magazine - Max Allen’s top 20 drinks of the year
2024 Mount Gambier Riesling
“In just three vintages, photographer Bridget Mac has also proven herself to be one of the most promising new winemakers in Australia: named “Best New Act” at this year’s Young Gun of Wine Awards. She sources riesling grapes from a vineyard near Mount Gambier and turns them into a scintillating expression of the variety: it treads a perfect line between pure green apple crunch and a tantalising thread of sweetness.”
- Max Allen
15th November 2024
Halliday Wine Companion - Werkstatt 24 Mount Gambier Riesling.
Score: 95 points
2024 Mount Gambier Riesling
“Organically managed fruit from Mount Gambier. 2 months on gross lees and 2 months on fine lees. Peach cheeks, cider apples and kumquat skin. Yellow guava, ginger candy and nutmeg. There is a cascade of acidity, graceful and sumptuous. Everything promised is delivered in truckloads
on the palate, with the added notes of treacle tart, almond butter and lemon pith. A stylish wine created with precision, focus and utmost care of the fruit. This is a winery to watch.”
- Shanteh Wale
Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : October 2024
Drink : 2024 - 2034
15th November 2024
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 23 Riesling Sekt.
“A sparkling wine of riesling from winemaker Bridget Mac, working with select fruit from Mount Gambier. A stellar project with great consideration behind it. And wonderful wines.
This is brisk and crisp with hallmarks of Werkstatt’s table riesling, lime, ginger, faint nuttiness, briny minerality bolstered through the wine in flavour and textural nuance of pumice stone and chalkiness. It’s vividly perfumed, lime and sea spray with gentle almond notes, so wonderful to sniff on and a refreshing segue into drinking. It’s got quiet complexity on hand and an unreal sense of drinkability. I love it.”
- Mike Bennie
Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : OCT24
Alcohol : 11%
Price : $48
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2024 - 2027
21st October 2024
Werkstatt Wine awarded gold & silver at the ‘24 Canberra International Riesling Challenge
2024 Werkstatt Mount Gambier Riesling
Score: 95 points - Gold - Elite
2023 Werkstatt Riesling Sekt
Score: 90 points - Silver - Premium
2nd September 2024
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 24 Mount Gambier Riesling.
“Mount Gambier the source and an outstanding riesling producer from the get-go. Organic farmed. Bridget Mac is focused and on fire. You need these wines in your life if you are enthused by riesling.
This has a mix of tension and suppleness, if you get the drift. Soft, fruity, citrusy elements, a touch of honeycomb, some cashew nut savouriness, a distinct line of pink grapefruit freshness and an undertow of saline minerality. It’s so well balanced, and in that, delicious and moreish. A gulpability at play with complexity on hand. Geez, it nails the brief.”
- Mike Bennie
Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : AUG24
Alcohol : 10.5%
Price : $35
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2024 - 2032
24th June 2024
WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine
“Bridget Mac, Werkstatt Wine (VIC/SA)
Bridget Mac from West Melbourne has burst onto the Australian wine scene, releasing exceptional wines – a feat that often takes winemakers decades to achieve.
As the creative force behind Werkstatt Wine, Bridget is an artist turned winemaker. Her debut Riesling and sparkling Riesling (pet nat) have wowed judges, combining European sophistication with New World terroir. Produced in the underappreciated region of Mount Gambier, her debut wines put her centre stage as a future rockstar of the industry.”
21st June 2024
Winner - Young Gun of Wine ‘Best New Act’ Award
The Young Gun of Wine Best New Act award goes to a first-time finalist in their winemaker awards who is making a profound impression.
“The Best New Act is an award to single out the hottest new wine label. “Best New Act was a real thrill this year,” said Stock. “Bridget Mac’s Werkstatt project just lit up the room from the get-go. Rarely is wine this utterly delicious and thrilling.”
11th of April 2024
Australia’s Best Young Wine Labels & Winemakers in 2024
Werkstatt Wine - Finalist in the Young Gun of Wine Awards
The Young Gun of Wine Winemaker Awards is a showcase of emerging and inspiring Australian winemakers under 40 years old.
“Bridget Mac, the creative force behind Werkstatt Wine – with a focus on Riesling (thus far) – embodies the spirit of an artist turned winemaker, melding her passion for German, Austrian, Swiss wines with the distinct terroirs of Australia. Her label debuted in 2022 with releases including a Riesling and a Pétillant Naturel Riesling. A Pinot Noir to be released in due course from the 2024 vintage.”
15th of December 2023
Young Gun of Wine - Deep Dive - Australia’s Best Pét-Nat
2023 Werkstatt Pétillant Naturel Riesling Mount Gambier
“Vibrant lemon with green hues,” wrote Andrea Infimo in giving this a top-six berth. “Very focused nose, extremely fresh with notes of lemongrass, lime pith and tart yellow grapefruit. Dry, acid-driven palate with well-managed phenolics and a non-intrusive autolytic note that adds savouriness and almost becomes one with the phenolics.” We are prizing a really well-made bone-dry style here that shows energy and balance and some weight without needing the support of sugar.
October 2023
Werkstatt Wine awarded bronze at the ‘23 Limestone Coast Wine Show
2023 Werkstatt Riesling Mount Gambier
Score 88 points - Bronze
27th of October 2023
Young Gun of Wine - Wines of Now - Wines We Love
2023 Werkstatt Pétillant Naturel Riesling Mount Gambier
“The second release from Werkstatt sees a pét-nat join the roster, and what a vibrantly racy wine it is, rippling with citrus, apple and floral notes and driven by bracing acidity that is cushioned by pulpy texture.
From Riesling specialist Bridget Mac, this is her first take on the grape as a pét-nat. That decision to go the bubbly route was informed by the racy drive of both the cool, windswept location (from an organically farmed, though not certified vineyard) and the doubling down of a particularly cool vintage. The second release from Werkstatt sees a pét-nat join the roster, and what a vibrantly racy wine it is, rippling with citrus, apple and floral notes and driven by bracing acidity that is cushioned by pulpy texture.
Tasting note
This has an agreeable haze to it with a lemony hue, and that citric theme carries through to the nose. More lemon than lime, with crisp barely ripe golden apples, yellow grapefruit pith and white florals. Super zesty and bright the palate is fleshed out with the pithiness of that leesy sediment (it provides the haze), giving mid-palate flex, before a whip crack of acidity drives things home with achingly pleasant mineral dryness.”
27th of October 2023
Young Gun of Wine - Wines of Now - Wines We Love
2023 Werkstatt Riesling Mount Gambier
“This is thrilling stuff. Scented with lime, tart grapefruit and wet stone. A small amount of unfermented grape sugar is electrified by the acidity, gifting weight and texture while drying out through the considerably long finish.
Bridget Mac’s choice to make a pét-nat in 2023 due to the cool vintage and intense acidity also saw her opt for a little more balancing residual sugar in her still Riesling than her debut vintage (that was from Victoria, though). The result is a wine that sits at a 10.5% alcohol with about 17 grams of sugar per litre, but it’s easily swallowed by that acid drive. From a cool vintage and a cool region, this is thrilling stuff, scented with lime, tart grapefruit and wet stone. The small amount of unfermented grape sugar is electrified by the acidity, gifting weight and texture while drying out through the considerably long finish.
Tasting note
A wine that sits at a 10.5% alcohol with about 17 grams of sugar per litre, but it’s easily swallowed by its acid drive. That kick of sugar also transforms the nose, with the rapier citrus notes of the pét-nat accompanied with elements of pink grapefruit pith, green apple, makrut lime zest, brine and wet stone. There’s an understandable generosity to the front palate, but that’s mustered into a drilling line with the aforementioned crispness.
14th of October 2023
The Wine Front - Petillant Naturel Riesling 2023
“No gush. From organic farmed grapes in Mount Gambier. Bridget Mac the winemaker delivering some striking wines from this fresh project.
Superb pet nat that finds quiet complexity, strong saline scaffolding, a touch of yeasty, nutty savouriness and a course of scintillating riesling citrus and floral character. Tightly wound with tiny, persistent bubbles, vivacious in scent, crisp and very, very refreshing to drink. A stellar sparkling wine of energy and deliciousness.”
- Mike Bennie
Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : OCT23
Alcohol : 11%
Price : $35
Closure : Crownseal
Drink : 2023 - 2025
5th of September 2023
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 23 Mount Gambier Riesling.
“Bridget Mac is the winemaker, focusing on a single release again of Riesling. The 2022 was outstanding, this follows suit. The cooler growing season saw Bridget hold on to some residual sugar (17 grams) to produce a ‘Kabinett style’. The growers are in Mount Gambier for this release.
It’s a brilliant, crystalline, acid driven style with poise and precision writ large. Sure, it’s a huge squeeze of fresh lime, a lick of honeyed undertow plays a card, but the compact, rapier thrust of Riesling is all there and the finish a mix of powdery, brine-and-talc-like minerality woven through juiciness and a faint tickle of sweeter, lime and green apple fruit character. It’s layered, complex, mouth-watering and refreshing while still being off-dry and ‘wow’ in its ballistic drinkability. Stellar wine, should be shouted from hill tops.”
- Mike Bennie
Rated : 95+ Points
Tasted : SEP23
Alcohol : 10.5%
Price : $33
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2023 - 2035
9th of June 2023
Vision Australia Radio - Vine to Wine: Bridget Mac Werkstatt.
“From award winning fine art photographer to winemaker, hear what influences Bridget's wine.” Bridget Mac talks with Peter Madden about the project so far.
Vine to Wine is a weekly radio program on 99.5 FM in Geelong, it reveals the secret that is vineyards and wineries in the Geelong, Bellarine, Moorabool Valley Region and beyond. Each week a different winery owner or winemaker is interviewed in a 30 minute program.
15th of October 2022
The Wine Front - Werkstatt 22 Delatite Riesling.
“A first release from a fresh-as wine producer, Bridget Mac, who has worked her way around a bunch of interesting wineries pursuing wine knowledge and experience. The fruit comes from (a biodynamically managed) Mansfield vineyard and sourced very specifically for soil profile as Bridget prefers wines off granite. A lick of residual sugar lends character.
Well, that’s a stunning first release. Nails it. Texture, gentle fruit sweetness, steely acidity, pulsing minerality and a very strong sense of racy, pristine riesling. Scents of warm slate, tart lime, lemongrass and faint honeycomb, flavours race through the palate similarly but with poise, energy and persistence, as other things to say. There’s a lot of fine detail and a strong sense of complexity right here. In a few less words, bloody delicious.”
- Mike Bennie
Rated : 95 Points
Tasted : OCT22
Alcohol : 11.5%
Price : $32
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2022 - 2030
15th November 2024
Halliday Wine Companion - Werkstatt 23 Riesling Sekt.
Score: 92 points
2023 Werkstatt Riesling Sekt
“Organically managed fruit from Mount Gambier, crafted in the traditional method and also inspired by the German sekt style.
Notes of Granny Smith apple skin, white pear and star jasmine flowers, with a hint of honeysuckle.
The palate is luscious yet balanced by a fine line of vibrant acidity. A touch of sweetness (4g/L) presents as a subtle fruit nectar.
This is a stunning example of Werkstatt’s synthesis of beautiful Australian fruit, influenced by the styles of Germany and Central Europe.
It has been executed with an understanding and respect for both worlds, achieving balance and cohesion.”
- Shanteh Wale
Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : October 2024
Drink : 2024 - 2028
