James Halliday has announced Australia’s best-value white wines of the year as part of his Top 100 wines list for 2020.

This year’s Top 100 was drawn from Halliday’s database of more than 2800 wineries, 1165 of which were profiled in the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion. Of the top-rated wineries, 325 were invited to send six of their best wines. Of these, 338 were white wines.

From there, Halliday chose his best-value white wines priced at $25 and under. The cheapest wine to make the list was Deep Woods Estate Ivory Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2020 at $15. The other most wallet-friendly drops were Stella Bella Skuttlebutt Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2020 at $19, Tahbilk Marsanne 2020 at $19.50, Thomas Synergy Vineyard Selection Hunter Valley Semillon 2020 at $20 and Mount Langi Ghiran Vineyards Billi Billi Pinot Gris 2020, also at $20.

“The 1055 wines submitted for this year’s Top 100 were extremely good,” Halliday noted in The Australian.

“If there was one issue that impacted every region in every state in the 2020 vintage, it was low yields. First drought then adverse windy and wet weather during flowering reduced berry and bunch sizes.” 

The best value white wines

Best’s Great Western Riesling 2020 – 96 points – $25

Henschke Peggy’s Hill Eden Valley Riesling 2020 – 96 points – $25

Jim Barry Jim’s Garden Clare Valley Riesling 2020 – 95 points – $25

Pikes Traditionale Clare Valley Riesling 2020 – 96 points – $25

Thomas Synergy Vineyard Selection Hunter Valley Semillon 2020 – 95 points – $20

Mistletoe Reserve Hunter Valley Semillon 2019 – 95 points – $25

Deep Woods Estate Ivory Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – 93 points – $15

Stella Bella Skuttlebutt Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2020 – 94 points – $19

Sidewood Estate Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – 95 points – $22

Murdoch Hill Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – 95 points – $24

Dominique Portet Fontaine Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2019 – 93 points – $22

Juniper Crossing Margaret River Chardonnay 2019 – 93 points – $22.50

Oakdene Bellarine Peninsula Chardonnay 2019 – 94 points – $24

De Iuliis Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2019 – 93 points – $25

Devil’s Lair Dance with the Devil Margaret River Chardonnay 2019 – 94 points – $25

Tahbilk Marsanne 2020 – 93 points – $19.50

Mount Langi Ghiran Vineyards Billi Billi Pinot Gris 2020 – 93 points – $20

Hahndorf Hill White Mischief Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner 2020 – 95 points – $24

Shadowfax Minnow Roussanne 2019 – 95 points – $24

Shingleback The Bio Project McLaren Vale Fiano 2020 – 94 points – $24.95