Halliday Wine Companion has officially announced its highly anticipated Award winners for the year. Celebrating the very best in Australian wine, the coveted 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Awards recognise the nation’s top wines, winemakers, viticulturists and wineries.
Hosted at Ormond House, part of Melbourne’s iconic The Commons Collective, the Awards ceremony featured a first look at the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion and revealed winners across seven major categories including Wine of the Year, Winery of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Viticulturist of the Year, Best New Winery, Dark Horse Winery and Best Value Winery.
Halliday also honoured Brian Croser, a new inductee into the James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry, an award that acknowledges individuals in the Australian wine industry who are deemed to be of the highest regard and significance.
Seventeen of Australia’s best wines were celebrated as award winners for their varietal categories. This year’s Awards also saw the introduction of an exciting new category, Wildcard of the Year, an award created to advocate for the lesser known – whether it be variety, technique, style or region.
The Halliday Wine Companion Award winners were determined collaboratively by the Halliday Tasting Team, including Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Katrina Butler, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW.
“We take great pleasure in announcing the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Award winners and extend our congratulations to each of them. The sheer magnitude of talent, the calibre of wines, the dedication to not only the art of winemaking but the restoration and preservation of our land was as apparent and resolute as the wines before us. We are immensely proud to acknowledge this year’s winners, and tonight we celebrate the very greats of the Australian wine industry, the winners representing the diversity of winemaking regions from across the country. The Tasting Team reviewed over 7000 wines for the 2026 Companion, and we’re proud to be able to share the results and indeed the new edition of the guide with fellow enthusiasts, industry peers and newcomers.”
– Halliday Wine Companion Head of Tasting Katrina Butler
The Awards also mark the release of the wine-enthusiast’s bible, the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion, which is available in stores nationally from Thursday August 21, and online at winecompanion.com.au.
The Companion is the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wines, wineries and grape-growing regions. The 2026 edition of the Companion includes over 5000 tasting notes and scores, and there are more than 7000 new notes available online at winecompanion.com.au.
The 2026 Awards featured winners from regions across Australia, providing a wonderful picture of the tenacity and diversity of the nation’s wine industry. Victoria took home more varietal awards than any other state, including Pinot Noir,
Pinot Grigio, Cabernet & Blends, Rosé, Fortified, and the inaugural Wildcard of the Year. South Australia shone too and represented our Red Wine and Wine of the Year winner alongside the 3rd inductee into the James Halliday Hall of Fame:
Australian Wine Industry, and Viticulturist of the Year. The Hunter Valley took home the prestigious Winery of the Year award, and WA also performed remarkably, being awarded White Wine of the Year and Winemaker of the Year alongside Other Whites & Blends and Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year.
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JAMES HALLIDAY HALL OF FAME
James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry – Brian Croser
2026 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Winery of the Year – Brokenwood, Hunter Valley, NSW
Winemaker of the Year – Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix, Margaret River, WA
Viticulturist of the Year – Dr Dylan Grigg, Vinya Vella and Meristem Viticulture
Best Value Winery – Bondar Wines, McLaren Vale, SA
Best New Winery – Elanto Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
Dark Horse Winery – bakkheia, Geographe, WA
Wine of the Year – Thistledown Wines This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2024, McLaren Vale
2026 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION VARIETAL WINNERS
Grenache of the Year | Red Wine of the Year | Wine of the Year – Thistledown Wines This Charming Man Single Vineyard,
Clarendon Grenache 2024, McLaren Vale – 98 points
Chardonnay of the Year | White Wine of the Year – Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023, Margaret River – 99 points
Shiraz of the Year – Koomilya JC Block Shiraz 2022, McLaren Vale – 99 points
Sparkling Wine of the Year – Stefano Lubiana Prestige 2011, Tasmania – 98 points
Riesling of the Year – Leo Buring DWB17 Leonay Riesling 2024, Eden Valley – 98 points
Semillon of the Year – First Creek Wines Museum Release Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon 2017, Hunter Valley – 98 points
Sauvignon Blanc of the Year – Weaver Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Adelaide Hills – 97 points
Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year – Tar & Roses Pinot Grigio 2024, Central Victoria Zone – 96 points
Other Whites & Blends of the Year – tripe.Iscariot Kroos Chenin Blanc 2023, Margaret River – 98 points
Rosé of the Year – Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2024, Central Victoria Zone – 96 points
Pinot Noir of the Year – Mount Mary Pinot Noir 2023, Yarra Valley – 98 points
Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Margaret River – 98 points
Cabernet & Blends of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2023, Yarra Valley – 99 points
Other Reds & Blends of the Year – Tyrrell’s Wines Vat 8 Winemaker’s Selection Shiraz Cabernet 2023, Hunter Valley – 98 points
Sweet Wine of the Year – Calabria Family Wines 3 Bridges Botrytis Semillon 2024, Riverina – 96 points
Fortified Wine of the Year – All Saints Estate Museum Muscadelle NV, Rutherglen – 100 points
Wildcard of the Year – Lethbridge Wines Yellow NV, Geelong – 96 points
The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Awards are proudly brought to you by:
2026 HALLIDAY
WINE COMPANION BOOK
More than 7000 wines were tasted for the 2026 Halliday Wine
Companion from over 1000 wineries (including over 60 new wineries).
The Companion provides an overview of the best of the best wines by
variety, best wineries by region, regional vintage reports, a region map
and an index listing to wineries’ food, accommodation, events and cellar
door offerings.
The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion is now available nationwide at an RRP of $45.00.
HIGHLIGHTS AND INSIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR’S TASTING AND JUDGING INCLUDE:
Over 7000 wines were reviewed for the 2026 Companion Shiraz/syrah and blends was the most reviewed red wine variety/blend (37%)
Chardonnay was the most reviewed white variety/blend (34%) The Barossa Valley has the most 5-star wineries in the 2026 Companion
Sutton Grange Winery in Central Victoria won Rosé of the Year for the third time running with its Fairbank Rosé Fiano holds the title as Australia’s best-value grape variety, with 59% earning the Companion’s Special Value icon, taking the crown from last year’s winner, riesling.
Chenin blanc won the Other Whites & Blends varietal category for the third year in a row. The Kroos Chenin Blanc from tripe.Iscariot, Remi Guise’s label, wowed the judges with its 2023 vintage.
The overall submissions for chenin blanc were up by 6% for the 2026 Companion.
A sparkling wine from Tasmania won Sparkling of the Year this year, with Tasmania accounting for the highest number of shortlisted sparkling overall, followed by Orange, Adelaide Hills and newcomer Geelong.
Grenache is appointed its own stand-alone category. Grenache made up around 7.9% of all the red wines tasted for this guide, compared to grenache-dominant blends, which made up only 3.6%. And it took out Red Wine of the Year and Wine of the Year.
The Barossa Valley has once again retained the most 5-star wineries in the 2026 edition, with Margaret River and the Yarra Valley following closely behind.
VIC won more varietal awards than any other state for this edition, including Pinot Noir of the Year, Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year, Fortified of the Year, Rosé of the Year and Cabernet & Blends of the Year. Followed closely by SA, where McLaren Vale claims Shiraz of the Year and Grenache of the Year, which went on to win Red Wine of the Year and Wine of the Year.
McLaren Vale, with its improvements in viticulture and winemaking, produced the most special value wines by region for the 2026 Companion.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
SA takes home Shiraz, Riesling, Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc of the Year alongside Red Wine of the Year and Wine of the Year
Winner, Riesling of the Year: Leo Buring DWB17 Leonay Riesling 2024, Eden Valley
Winner, Sauvignon Blanc of the Year: Weaver Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Adelaide Hills
Winner, Shiraz of the Year: Koomilya JC Block Shiraz 2022, McLaren Vale
Winner, Grenache: Thistledown Wines This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2024, McLaren Vale
Third inductee into the James Halliday Hall of Fame calls SA home – Person: Brian Croser
SA is also home of the 2026 Best Value Winery of the Year, Bondar Wines
Dr Dylan Grigg takes home Viticulturist of the Year.
VICTORIA:
Victoria wins more varietal award categories than any other state for the 2026 Companion
Winner, Best New Winery: Elanto Vineyard
Winner, Pinot Noir of the Year: Mount Mary Pinot Noir 2023, Yarra Valley
Winner, Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year: Tar & Roses Pinot Grigio 2024, Central Victoria Zone
Winner, Cabernet & Blends of the Year: Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2023, Yarra Valley
Winner, Rosé of the Year: Sutton Grange Winery, Fairbank Rosé 2024, Central Victoria (3rd
consecutive year!)
Winner, Fortified Wine of the Year: All Saints Estate Museum Muscadelle NV, Rutherglen
Winner, Wildcard of the Year (the inaugural recipient): Lethbridge Wines Yellow NV Geelong
Other Victorian wineries shortlisted for major Award categories: Giaconda and Oakridge for Winery of the Year, Adam Foster and Timo Mayer for Winemaker of the Year, Troy McInnes and Stephen Sadlier for Viticulturist of the Year, Altera Terra, Dappled Wines and Garagiste for Best Value Winery and Trapeze for Dark Horse Winery.
NEW SOUTH WALES:
NSW Winery Brokenwood wins Winery of the Year for the Hunter Valley
Brokenwood winemakers, Stuart Horden and Kate Sturgess, were also shortlisted for Winemaker of the Year alongside Emma Norbiato of Calabria Family Wines.
Three varietal winners came from NSW
Winner, Sweet Wine of the Year: Calabria Family Wines 3 Bridges Botrytis Semillon 2024, Riverina
Winner, Semillon of the Year: First Creek Wines Museum Release Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon 2017, Hunter Valley
Winner, Other Reds & Blends of the Year: Tyrrell’s Wines Vat 8 Winemaker’s Selection Shiraz Cabernet 2023, Hunter Valley
Shortlisted for Viticulturist of the Year: Tom Ward from Swinging Bridge Wines, Orange.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
WA wins Chardonnay of the Year and White Wine of the Year under the talent of Virginia Willcock, who also won Winemaker of the Year for the 2026 Companion
WA takes out Other Whites & Blends for another year, this year with chenin blanc from winemaker Remi Guise
Four Varietal winners came from WA:
Winner, Chardonnay of the Year and White Wine of the Year: Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023, Margaret River
Winner, Other Whites & Blends: tripe.Iscariot Kroos Chenin Blanc 2023, Margaret River
Winner, Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year: Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Margaret River
17 wines (10.5%) shortlisted for varietal categories, from all corners of the state: Margeret River (8),
Frankland River (4), and one each from Denmark, Geographe, Mount Barker, Porongurup and Swan Valley.
TASMANIA:
Tasmania wins Sparkling Wine of the Year!
Winner, Sparkling Wine of the Year, Stefano Lubiana Prestige 2011, Tasmania
Sparkling wine powerhouse House of Arras nominated for Winery of the Year and Anna Pooley of Pooley
Wines and Bubb + Pooley nominated for Winemaker of the Year.
ABOUT HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION
For nearly 40 years, Halliday Wine Companion has been the definitive guide to Australian wine. Each year, our expert tasting team reviews around 8000 wines, contributing to a collection of more than 185,000 tasting notes from over 3500 wineries on winecompanion.com.au – Australia’s most comprehensive wine review platform.
Published quarterly, Halliday magazine offers an accessible and engaging take on wine, spirits, food and travel. In 2022, we introduced Halliday Wine Club and Halliday Wine Academy to further support the Australian wine community. Our tasting remit expanded to include New Zealand wines in 2024, and in 2025 Halliday became the new home of Halliday Spirits.
We also publish the annual Halliday Wine Companion, the industry’s leading guide that sets the benchmark for winemakers, collectors and wine lovers alike. With Halliday, you’ll always find the right bottle.
ABOUT THE HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION AWARDS
Every year, the Halliday Wine Companion Tasting Team pinpoint the nation’s top wines, winemakers, viticulturists and wineries from a pool of several thousand featured in the annual Halliday Wine Companion guide. This year the Halliday Wine Companion Tasting Team, including Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Katrina Butler, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW, cherry-picked the high performers from a range of criteria to offer a true representation of Australia’s greatest names in wine. The Awards are one of the most anticipated events on the Australian drinks calendar.
Contact details:
Stacey McArdle| Managing Director | [email protected] | 0409 562 767
Isla McRae I Account Coordinator I [email protected] I 0484 642 100
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