Each year Osteiner is one of our popular sellers for summer drinking, and it is rarely available outside the cellar door. The 2026 release of Rippon Osteiner is a juicy white, made from a Riesling and Sylvaner cross.
The Mills family farms the Wanaka lakeside vineyards biodynamically. It is estimated that there are only about 2 hectares of the Osteiner grape worldwide, with 1 hectare at Rippon.
Rippon describes it as a juicy wine to enjoy next to the lake. Nick Mills says the lake moderates temperatures in Central Otago's continental climate and lets grapes ripen with lower alcohol potential.
Who makes it
Rippon is a family property in Wānaka, farmed by four generations of the Mills family. Rolf "Tinker" Mills began planting in the 1970s after noticing schist geology similar to Portugal's Douro Valley, and he trialled about 25 varieties. Six proved suited to the site.
When Nick and Jo Mills took over management in 2003, the vineyard had already been organic and dry-farmed for nearly 30 years. They moved it to biodynamic certification.
The soils are shallow glacial and alluvial topsoils over schist. Osteiner itself was bred in Germany around 1928, according to Cameron Douglas MS, and Vinography reported that very little of it is planted anywhere. You can see the rest of the range on our Rippon page.
About the vintage
Sophie Preece reported a dry winter and a wet spring in Central Otago, with high wind run and harvest running seven to 10 days behind the usual schedule.
Sophie Parker-Thomson MW wrote that the 2026 season was one of the coolest and latest in recent memory for the region, at 978 growing degree days, about 83 below the long-term average. She noted that winemaker Austin Black described flavour ripeness as more closely aligned with sugar and acid than in the warmer 2025 vintage, and that the season favoured line, length and longevity over power.
Technical details
| Winery: |
Rippon |
| Wine: |
Rippon Osteiner |
| Vintage: |
2026 |
| Variety: |
Osteiner (a Riesling and Sylvaner cross) |
| Region: |
Wānaka, Central Otago |
| Country: |
New Zealand |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Rippon Osteiner 2026 is available from our winenz.com website. For delivery within New Zealand, buy it from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. On both websites and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines, and if you are visiting from overseas, we can ship it home for you.
Questions we are often asked
What is Osteiner?
Osteiner is a white grape bred in Germany around 1928 by crossing Riesling with Sylvaner, according to Cameron Douglas MS.
Where does Rippon Osteiner come from?
It comes from Rippon, on the edge of Lake Wānaka in Central Otago, where the vines grow on schist soils.
How rare is Osteiner?
Vinography reported that roughly 2 hectares of Osteiner exist worldwide, and Rippon grows 1 of them.
Is Rippon a biodynamic vineyard?
Yes. Nick and Jo Mills converted Rippon to biodynamic certification after they took over management in 2003, according to Vinography.
Where can I buy Rippon Osteiner 2026?
The Winery ships Rippon Osteiner 2026 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
