Winner announced for Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2015

A New York sweet wine has taken out the top award at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge.

But there were accolades for Tasmania and a young winemaker from Murrumbateman.

Nearly 500 wines from across the world were entered the challenge which is held in Canberra at the Hyatt Hotel and Albert Hall over three days.

The Best Wine award went to Sheldrake Point Winery from Finger Lakes, in New York state, for its 2014 Wild Ferment riesling ice wine.

The American winery also took out the award for Best Sweet Riesling.

The award for the best Australian riesling and Best Dry Riesling were won by Tasmania's Chartley Estate Winery with the Chartley Estate 2014 riesling.

Ken Helm, the face of Canberra riesling and the event's chairman, said in a statement that he saw the Riesling Challenge's reputation growing further in the next five years leading up to its 20th anniversary.

The award for the Best Riesling from the Canberra District went to the Vintner's Daughter's 2015 riesling - a drop that Canberra Times' wine critic Chris Shanahan recently chose as his wine of the week.

Shanahan praised the "absolutely delicious" riesling for its "pure, varietal, floral and citrus flavours, cut through with shimmering fresh acidity".

The Vintner's Daughter is a new Murrumbateman label owned by winemaker Stephanie Helm, daughter of Ken, and her husband Ben Osborne.

Stephanie Helm took out the Encouragement Award for up-and-coming Australian riesling makers, beating out 19 other nominees from across the nation.