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19 must-try Australian wines for 2026

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Last night, winemakers and producers from across Australia gathered in Melbourne for one of the most prestigious events in the industry’s calendar: the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

Culminating a year of tastings from more than 1000 wineries, varietal awards were announced across 19 categories.

Victoria was a standout state in this year’s awards and claimed the final trophy of the night, the highly anticipated Wine of the Year. The accolade was awarded to the soon-to-be-released Mount Mary Triolet 2024 from the Yarra Valley, which also secured the White Wine of the Year title.

Varietal Awards

Red Wine of the Year & Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year: Xanadu Wines Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Margaret River)

Australia’s Winery of the Year

Tasmania’s House of Arras took out the night’s top honour, winning Winery of the Year. Helmed by Australia’s most celebrated sparkling winemaker, Ed Carr, the dedicated sparkling producer is globally renowned for its exceptional traditional method wines, crafted through Carr’s signature extended maturation in tirage programme. Cementing its mastery of the style, the winery also took home the trophy for Sparkling Wine of the Year. 

Halliday’s Head of Tasting Katrina Butler said: “Surely overdue, but never more deserving, we are delighted to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Ed Carr, and endorse the sentiment that Tasmanian sparkling wine is at the apex of quality wine in this country and primed for the world stage.”

Steve Flamsteed was named Winemaker of the Year, recognised for his exceptional work across his new Tasmanian venture, Decades, his Victorian side project, Salo in the Yarra Valley, and his work for Eldridge Estate on the Mornington Peninsula. With thousands of winemakers nationwide up for consideration, Flamsteed achieved the rare feat of receiving two independent nominations from the nine-member Halliday Tasting Team (one from Tasmania reviewer Dave Brookes, and another from Mornington Peninsula reviewer Jane Faulkner).

Highlighting a meteoric rise, Flamsteed’s Decades label was named Best New Winery. Decades is Flamsteed’s new project started by Flamsteed and his good friend, Stone & Wood Co-founder and Brewer, Brad Rogers. Despite having just two wines in its range and two vintages released to date, Decades is rapidly becoming one of Tasmania’s most exciting wine offerings. 

Butler said:“Flamo, as he is affectionately known, is revered for his winemaking, but his authenticity and quiet leadership have also created a tidal wave of impact that has swept across the entire wine industry. From his breakthrough work in establishing the Yarra Valley’s Giant Steps, to small (and large) project consultation via his multifaceted firm Wine Network Consulting, his influence has been seismic, and Australian wine as a whole is undoubtedly better for it.”

Demonstrating Victoria’s exceptional quality, local producers claimed half of the varietal awards, dominating categories including Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Chardonnay, and Fortified Wine.

Yarra Valley’s Medhurst was crowned Best Value Winery, proving that the region can deliver exceptional value for money. Boasting Halliday’s highest rating of Top 5 Red Stars (reserved for wineries with a long track record of excellence), the winery offers highly rated bottles starting from $30.

For the first time in Halliday Awards history, a Queensland producer took home a major trophy. Granite Belt-based Balancing Heart was crowned Dark Horse Winery. Located at high altitude and named after a unique heart-shaped rock formation within its vineyard, this much-loved winery was praised for its dynamic approach and consistently high-quality wines.

Halliday Tasting Team member Mike Bennie said of the victory: “This is a boon for the Granite Belt, which often misses the gaze of wine enthusiasts. All of this is framed by arguably some of the region’s most experienced winemaking nous. [Winemaker Mike] Hayes is tapping into a region still writing its own rulebook and is landing outstanding wines with disarming regularity.”

In a poignant moment for the industry, Hunter Valley legend Bruce Tyrrell AM was inducted into the James Halliday Hall of Fame. Recognised for his unparalleled contribution to the Australian wine industry, he became only the fourth person to ever receive Halliday’s highest honour. Bruce is unrivalled among his peers, not only as an advocate for the ageability of Australian semillon, but foremost as a champion of the Hunter Valley.

South Australian winery, Down the Rabbit Hole took home the People’s Choice Award, which recognises Australia’s favourite winery winery experience. With over 8000 votes cast, the McLaren Vale winery took the crown, with voters citing its ‘incredible social atmosphere’, ‘thoughtful approach to customer service’, ‘scenic views’, and ‘value for money’.

With the Tasting Team reviewing and scoring over 7,000 wines and 1,000 wineries annually, Halliday’s year’s-worth of reviews show a macro-level snapshot of the Australian wine industry. When looking at top-rated producers, the Barossa Valley leads the charge nationally with the highest number of five-star wineries, closely followed by the Yarra Valley and McLaren Vale. The Yarra Valley continues to demonstrate exceptional quality at the absolute highest level, producing approximately 26% of all elite 97-to-100-point wines. 

Interestingly, the data also shows which regions performed the best when evaluating the greatest concentration of quality. An impressive 79% of all Beechworth wineries that submitted achieved a coveted 5-star rating, followed closely by the Yarra Valley at 73% and Rutherglen at 72%, showing that Victoria is home to the most concentrated pockets of winemaking excellence in the country. 

The announcement of the awards coincides with the upcoming release of The Halliday Wine Companion 2027, Australia’s most trusted wine guide.The 41st annual release features comprehensive reviews and judges’ tasting notes from the best wines reviewed across the year, with each winery given a star rating out of five. The Halliday Wine Companion 2027 is now available for RRP $50 via the Halliday Wine Companion website.

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