Australia’s best wine has been named, and it’s one that’ll set you back a cool $95.
The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Awards rank the best wines and wineries across the country every year.
This year, Thistledown Wines, in McLaren Vale, took home the award for best wine, with their This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache (2024).
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This year, Thistledown Wines, in McLaren Vale, took home the award for best wine, with their This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache (2024). (Supplied)
A bottle of the red wine costs $95, meaning it’s not exactly a bargain purchase for wine lovers.
The wine comes from a vineyard that’s over 100 years old.
“The entire site, planted high in the picturesque Clarendon subregion, is dry-grown bush vines and has been farmed by the Smart family for 3 generations,” the company says.
“Decades passed where precious few valued their crop, and yet they endured.”
The wine was named after the man known as the “godfather” of the McLaren Valley vineyard, Bernard Smart.
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The wine was named after the man known as the “godfather” of the McLaren Valley vineyard, Bernard Smart. (Supplied)
“That this remarkable vineyard has sustained is down to one man, Bernard Smart, and this wine pays homage to this charming man.”
The website also says there are very limited bottles of the wine, with orders restricted to 3 per customer.
The wine beat out more than 7000 wines from across the country, Halliday Wine Companion Head of Tasting Katrina Butler said.
“We take great pleasure in announcing the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Award winners and extend our congratulations to each of them,” she said.
“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.
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Hunter Valley winery Brokenwood took home Winery of the Year. (Supplied)
“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.”
Hunter Valley winery Brokenwood took home Winery of the Year.
Virginia Willcock, founder of the Vasse Felix estate in Margaret River, Western Australia, was awarded Winemaker of the Year.
Dr Dylan Grigg from Vinya Vella and Meristem Viticulture was awarded Viticulturist of the Year.
Bondar Wines in the McLaren Vale, South Australia, was awarded the best value winery, with good quality bottles of wine at affordable price points.
Elanto Vineyard in the Mornington Peninsula, VIC was awarded the best new winery.
Full list of award winners below:Winery of the Year – Brokenwood, Hunter Valley, NSWWinemaker of the Year – Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix, Margaret River, WAViticulturist of the Year – Dr Dylan Grigg, Vinya Vella & Meristem ViticultureBest Value Winery – Bondar Wines, McLaren Vale, SABest New Winery – Elanto Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula, VICDark Horse Winery – bakkheia, Geographe, WAWine of the Year – Thistledown Wines This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2024, McLaren ValeGrenache 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 pointsChardonnay of the Year | White Wine of the Year – Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023, Margaret River – 99 pointsShiraz of the Year – Koomilya JC Block Shiraz 2022, McLaren Vale – 99 points .Sparkling Wine of the Year – Stefano Lubiana Prestige 2011, Tasmania – 98 pointsRiesling of the Year – Leo Buring DWB17 Leonay Riesling 2024, Eden Valley – 98 pointsSemillon of the Year – First Creek Wines Museum Release Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon 2017, Hunter Valley – 98 pointsSauvignon Blanc of the Year – Weaver Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Adelaide Hills – 97 pointsPinot Gris/Grigio of the Year – Tar & Roses Pinot Grigio 2024, Central Victoria Zone – 96 pointsOther Whites & Blends of the Year – tripe.Iscariot Kroos Chenin Blanc 2023, Margaret River – 98 pointsRosé of the Year – Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2024, Central Victoria Zone – 96 pointsPinot Noir of the Year – Mount Mary Pinot Noir 2023, Yarra Valley – 98 pointsCabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Margaret River – 98 pointsCabernet & Blends of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2023, Yarra Valley – 99 pointsOther Reds & Blends of the Year – Tyrrell’s Wines Vat 8 Winemaker’s Selection Shiraz Cabernet 2023, Hunter Valley – 98 pointsSweet Wine of the Year – Calabria Family Wines 3 Bridges Botrytis Semillon 2024, Riverina – 96 pointsFortified Wine of the Year – All Saints Estate Museum Muscadelle NV, Rutherglen – 100 pointsWildcard of the Year – Lethbridge Wines Yellow NV, Geelong – 96 points
9Honey Kitchen encourages readers to drink responsibly.
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Dining and Cooking