Over the past year, our Tasting Team has worked tirelessly, assessing and reviewing a slew of wines from across the country – 8000 wines from 945 Australian wineries.
Aside from sipping and spitting hundreds of wines each, with a looming wall of wine as their backdrop, the Tasting Team is frequently on the road, discovering the latest notable producers from our expansive and evolving wine regions.
Connecting both the site and the wine is key to understanding the impact of provenance, viticultural investment, climatic influence and sacrifices (or improvements) made in the vineyard and winery. And only after all these variables are understood can we then separate the cream from the crop. Below are seven wineries that have consistently produced outstanding wines of quality. They are producers who elevate and exemplify the reputation of Australian wine.
Only one winery can be awarded the prestigious Halliday Winery of the Year for the 2026 Companion. Celebrate the finalists below with us and learn more about what makes them strong contenders for the award.
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Bekkers
Where: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Established: 2010
Winemaker: Emmanuelle Bekkers
Viticulturists: Toby Bekkers
Winery website: bekkerswines.com
Why they've been nominated for the 2026 Best New Winery of the Year award: “xxx”
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Forest Hill Vineyard
Where: Great Southern, Western Australia
Established: 1965
Winemaker: Liam Carmody, Guy Lyons
Viticulturists: Ross Pike
Winery website: foresthillwines.com.au
Why they've been nominated for the 2027 Winery of the Year award: “xxx”
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House of Arras
Where: Northern Tasmania, Tasmania
Established: 1995
Winemaker: Ed Carr
Viticulturists: Ben Bussell
Winery website: houseofarras.com.au
Why they've been nominated for the 2027 Winery of the Year award: “xxx”
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Koomilya
Where: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Established: 2015
Winemaker: Stephen Pannell
Viticulturist: Stephen Pannell
Winery website: pannell.com.au
Why they've been nominated for the 2027 Winery of the Year award: “xxx”
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Oakridge
Where: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Established: 1978
Winemakers: David Bicknell, Tim Dexter
Viticulturists: Steve Faulkner
Winery website: oakridgewines.com.au
Why they've been nominated for the 2026 Best New Winery of the Year award: “xxx"
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Sami-Odi
Where: Barossa Valley, South Australia
Established: 2006
Winemakers: Fraser McKinley
Viticulturists: Fraser McKinley
Winery website: sami-odi.com
Why they've been nominated for the 2027 Winery of the Year award: “xxx"
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Tolpuddle Vineyard
Where: Southern Tasmania, Tasmania
Established: 2011
Winemakers: Adam Wadewitz
Viticulturists: Carlos Souris
Winery website: tolpuddlevineyard.com
Why they've been nominated for the 2027 Winery of the Year award: “xxx"
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Yeringberg
Where: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Established: 1863
Winemakers: Sandra de Pury
Viticulturists: David de Pury
Winery website: yeringberg.com.au
Why they've been nominated for the 2027 Winery of the Year award: “xxx"
2026 People's Choice Award
Voting is now open for the 2026 Halliday People's Choice Award. While the Awards celebrates the best of the best in Australian wine, the People's Choice Award honours the best winery experience from around the country. Cast your vote and go into the running to win the ultimate prize pack valued at over $1400. Vote now.
2026 Taste the Awards events
Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Taste the Awards events. Meet some of the winning winemakers and be the first to taste the top wines of the year. Taste the Awards 2026 is an exclusive showcase of award-winning wines and wineries from the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. Secure your tickets below.Taste the Awards: Melbourne
Thursday August 21, 2025
Sophia, Prahran
Book here
Taste the Awards: Sydney
Thursday August 28, 2025
Hyde Park Ballroom, Sydney
Book here
The winner of each category will be announced at the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Awards on Wednesday August 20, 2025.
The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion – Australia's most comprehensive wine guide – will then be available from August 21.
*This is an edited extract from the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Katrina Butler, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by James Coe.
Quotes by Head of Tasting Katrina Butler.
