The Real Review has revealed its Top Wineries of Australia 2026, with the Victoria’s Yarra Yering named Winery of the Year.
It marks the third time the producer has taken the top spot, the most of any winery in the history of the rankings. It’s also the
sixth consecutive year a winery from Victoria has claimed the national title.
The Real Review’s most recent tasting panel addition, Melissa Moore, said: “To see Yarra Yering secure three Winery of the Year titles in the last six years is a remarkable demonstration of their consistency. It’s no mean feat for a winery to maintain this level of excellence year after year, but the partnership between Winemaker and General Manager Sarah Crowe and Vineyard Manager Andrew George is close and genuinely collaborative.
“This year, their lineup was headlined by a series of spectacular 98-point reviews, including the Dry Red Wine No. 1, Dry Red No. 2, Underhill Shiraz, and Carrodus Chardonnay. To have a suite of wines consistently reaching that top tier confirms that Yarra Yering remains at the absolute top of its game.”
Crowe (pictured main) said: “You can’t win this kind of recognition three times by chance, and you certainly can’t engineer it in a single year. It is the result of sustained effort, of decisions made and work done years earlier.”
Rounding out the elite top five are Levantine Hill (#2, Yarra Valley, VIC), Wendouree (#3, Clare Valley, SA), Penfolds (#4, SA), and Tyrrell’s Wines (#5, Hunter Valley, NSW).
Of the 429 highest-ranking wineries, South Australia claimed the largest share at 34.3%, followed closely by Victoria at 26.1%. NSW (15.2%), Western Australia (14.9%) and Tasmania (7.7%).
Regionally, the Barossa Valley remains a powerhouse, accounting for 11.7% of the ranked wineries, while the Margaret
River followed just behind on 9.3%.
Vigneron of the Year title was awarded to South Australian local Steve Pannell (above) of S.C. Pannell (McLaren Vale, SA), recognised for his alternative approach to site-specific winemaking.
Aaron Mercer (above) of Mercer Wines in the Hunter Valley nabbed the title of Rising Star of the Year, an acknowledgement of his pioneering work in alternative varieties and sustainable viticulture, and a nod to the innovation and movement happening in the region.
The Len Evans Prize is awarded to those in Australian wine who display wide-reaching leadership, innovation, and achievement. This year’s recipient is Louisa Rose of Yalumba, recognised for over 30 vintages with Australia’s oldest family-owned winery. Louisa has advanced the industry through her work with the Australian Wine Research Institute and her role as a judge across a multitude of wine competitions.
The Real Review Principal Wine Writer Huon Hooke said: “Victoria and South Australia were strongly represented in this year’s Top 10 wineries, each with four placements, reflecting their strength in Australia’s fine wine landscape. NSW also secured a notable entry, with the much-admired Tyrrell’s placing at number five, a reminder of the Hunter Valley’s continued relevance among the country’s leading producers.”
To determine the 2026 ranking, The Real Review’s expert tasting panel assessed more than 10,000 wines. This year, 429 producers received a Top Wineries Certificate, roughly 15.9% of Australia’s over 2700 producers.
The Real Review Top Wineries of Australia list is released annually to highlight excellence in Australian wine. To ensure consistency, the ranking is determined by a proprietary algorithm, which considers the rating and recency of reviews by The Real Review’s panel of leading critics over two years.
Tickets for The Real Review’s Top Wineries of Australia 2026 events in Sydney and Melbourne are now available here.