Victoria
Blue Pyrenees Estate – Pyrenees, VIC
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Blue Pyrenees Estate was established by Remy Martin as Château Remy in 1963 after their Australia-wide search for the optimum cool-climate terroir. They were followed into the Victorian Pyrenees by the French Goelet, Portet and Chapoutier families. Today, the estate is a fully integrated member of the Vinesmith group (Glenlofty, Decameron and Blue Pyrenees) developed by the low-profile Richmond-Smith family, agricultural pioneers in Australia since 1824. The family’s 5th generation earned credits in ultrafine merino wool production, oil-free thermodynamics and molecular biology before turning in 2010 to the crafting of world-competitive wines.
5 ★ winery | bluepyrenees.com.au | Halliday profile
Campbells – Rutherglen, VIC
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Campbells has a long and rich history, with five generations of wine making. There were difficult times: phylloxera’s arrival in the Bobbie Burns Vineyard in 1898; the Depression of the 1930s. But the Scottish blood of founder John Campbell has ensured that the business flourished. There have been spectacular successes in unexpected quarters (white table wines, especially riesling) and expected success with muscat and topaque. Following the death of Colin Campbell in 19, daughters Jane and Julie Campbell are now at the helm, as managing director and head winemaker respectively. A founding member of Australia’s First Families of Wine. – James Halliday
5 ★ winery | campbellswines.com.au | Halliday profile
Granjoux – Beechworth, VIC
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Granjoux is the passion project of Peter Bartholomew and Donna Pelka, inspired by the research and ongoing input of legendary viticulturist Mark Walpole. Situated on the Beechworth Gorge, the relatively steep site (1.1ha) had been planted in the 1860s. Armed with historical records, the trio embarked on both honouring the history and fine-tuning the methods to densely plant an individually staked vineyard that is in part inspired by the vineyards of the Northern Rhône, but also committed to the regional star, chardonnay. That, and the local history, made shiraz an easy choice alongside the chardonnay, with a seasoning of viognier for blending purposes. The ultra-premium, micro-production wines are made by Walpole and Adrian Rodda, with the first vintage (2021) released in November 2023. Granjoux does not currently accept visitors, online only.
granjoux.com | Halliday profile
Scotchmans Hill – Geelong, VIC
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Scotchmans Hill is located in the heart of the Bellarine Peninsula. It is the region's oldest and largest winery, producing premium cool maritime-climate wines. Scotchmans Hill has been a leading local winery for 40 years. The wines are released under the Scotchmans Hill, Cornelius, Jack and Jill, Mount Bellarine and Swan Bay labels. The winery is currently under the stewardship of chief winemaker Robin Brockett and winemaker Marcus Holt.
5 ★ winery | scotchmans.com.au | Halliday profile
Yarra Edge – Yarra Valley, VIC
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Yarra Edge was established by the Bingeman family in 1983, advised and guided by John Middleton (of Mount Mary). The advice was, of course, good and Yarra Edge was always able to produce high-quality fruit if the vineyard was properly managed. From 1998 the vineyard was leased, receiving minimal care until it was purchased by new owners in 2013, who set about restoring it to its full glory. This has been achieved with Andrew Smith as the vineyard manager and winemaking by Dylan McMahon. The quality of the wines speaks for itself. – James Halliday
4.5 ★ winery | yarraedge.com.au | Halliday profile
South Australia
Jacob's Creek – Barossa Valley, SA
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Jacob’s Creek (owned by Pernod Ricard) is one of the largest-selling brands in the world, and the global success of the base range has had the perverse effect of prejudicing many critics and wine writers who sometimes fail to objectively look behind the label and taste what is in fact in the glass. Exports include the UK, the US, Canada and other major markets. – James Halliday
4 ★ winery | jacobscreek.com | Halliday profile
Mount Benson Estate – Mount Benson, SA
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The future of Mount Benson isn’t easy to foresee. Both climate and soil offer rich rewards for those who understand the extreme differences between the four seasons (for humans as well as vines). The owners of Mount Benson Estate have one obvious advantage: husband Brian Nitschinsk served for 39 years in the Australian Navy, retiring as a commander engineer. Figuratively, Mount Benson (a puny rise measured in only tens of metres) has one foot in the Southern Ocean and one foot on the ground, so Brian should feel right at home. Wife Carolyn was a secondary school teacher specialising in art and visual communication. Thus, the cold windswept landscape of winter is something they can surely cope with. The legacy of two generations of the founding Wehl family already demonstrated the ability of the vineyard to produce shiraz of exceptional quality, cabernet sauvignon not far behind. – James Halliday
mountbensonestate.com.au | Halliday profile
Rymill Coonawarra – Coonawarra, SA
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The Rymills are descendants of John Riddoch and have long owned some of the finest Coonawarra soil, upon which they have grown grapes since 1970. In 2016 the Rymill family sold the business, but the management, vineyard and winery teams remained in place, with new capital financing improvements in the vineyards and cellar. The winery building also houses the cellar door with viewing platforms over the winery. – James Halliday
4 ★ winery | rymill.com.au | Halliday profile
Turkey Flat – Barossa Valley, SA
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Turkey Flat's establishment date is marked as 1990, yet its roots trace back to around 1870 when the Schulz family acquired the Turkey Flat vineyard. The vineyard's history dates even further, to 1847 when the first shiraz vines were planted, which still thrive today. Additionally, the grenache bush vines have a lineage reaching back to the early 1920s. Over time, the plantings have significantly expanded to include shiraz, grenache, mataro, along with smaller plantings of marsanne, viognier, and roussanne. The business is run by sole proprietor Christie Schulz, representing the fourth generation of the Schulz family's involvement.
5 ★ winery | turkeyflat.com.au | Halliday profile
Utopos – Barossa Valley, SA
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The fates were kind when Neil Panuja, a friend of Kym Teusner’s from ‘the big smoke’, said he had the wish (and the cash) to get into fine-wine production and asked that Kym keep an eye out for something special. Shortly thereafter a vineyard that Kym had coveted from his beginnings in the Barossa Valley came onto the market. The 20ha site was duly acquired, Kym investing in a small share that he couldn’t really afford but had to have. The vineyard is on Roenfeldt Road at one of the highest points of the boundary between Greenock and Marananga. The depleted stoney soils consistently produce low yields of high-quality grapes that loudly proclaim their origin. The X-factor is the site-driven savoury balance that Kym says he always longs for. The name they have given the business is the root word of Utopia. Everything is just so right: great vineyard, great winemaker, great story, great packaging. – James Halliday
5 ★ winery | utopos.com.au | Halliday profile
Yalumba – Eden Valley, SA
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From 175 years comes a family legacy steeped in exceptional craft and brilliant fine wine stories. Passed down through six generations of the Hill-Smith Family is an unwavering commitment and inherent desire to forge a future for Australian fine wine. Iconic regions, distinctive varieties, from vines amongst the oldest in the world. Yalumba – a fine wine legacy 175 years in the making.
5 ★ winery | yalumba.com | Halliday profile
Western Australia
Brookland Valley & Houghton Cellar Door – Wilyabrup, WA
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Nestled in the picturesque Margaret River sub-region of Wilyabrup, the Brookland Valley & Houghton Cellar Door epitomises the essence of Western Australian winemaking. Overlooking the tranquil Wilyabrup Brook, the estate offers a sensory journey. Visitors can explore the vineyard, where vines thrive alongside native flora and fauna, and choose from a variety of tasting experiences. This unique setting, situated on the last land holding before the brook meets the ocean, is home to two iconic wine brands, Houghton Wines and Brookland Valley Wines, where every sip tells a story of terroir and tradition.
brooklandvalley.com.au | Halliday profile
Cullen – Margaret River, WA
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A pioneer of Margaret River, Cullen Wines has always produced long-lived wines of highly individual style. The vineyard has progressed beyond organic to biodynamic certification and, subsequently, has become the first vineyard and winery in Australia to be certified carbon neutral. Winemaking is in the hands of Vanya Cullen, daughter of founders Kevin and Diana Cullen and Andy Barrett-Lennard along with viticulturalist Brian Martin. Vanya is possessed of an extraordinarily good palate and generosity to the cause of fine wine. Vanya was awarded the Companion's inaugural Viticulturist of the Year in 2022, Cullen's 50th anniversary year and in 2023, awarded an Order of Australia for her services to viticulture and oenology. – James Halliday
5 ★ winery | cullenwines.com.au | Halliday profile
McHenry Hohnen Vintners – Margaret River, WA
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McHenry Hohnen was founded on the belief that the Margaret River region is capable of producing some of the very best single site wines in the world. Its grape growing philosophy is anchored in organic and biodynamic farming and the principles of regenerative agriculture. They aim to embrace the uniqueness of each of their sites and create wines that are a true representation of place and time.
5 ★ winery | mchenryhohnen.com.au | Halliday profile
