A cricket ground, a pile of timber and the Brokenback Ranges: Go behind the label of Australia's best winery for 2026, Brokenwood

When three Sydney solicitors – Tony Albert, John Beeston and our very own James Halliday – planted shiraz and cabernet sauvignon on a Pokolbin block earmarked for a cricket ground back in 1970, few could have imagined the legacy they were starting. None of the partners claimed to know much about viticulture at the time, and the name, Brokenwood, came quite literally from looking across the recently cleared property at a pile of broken timber lying at the base of the Brokenback Ranges.

From those humble beginnings 55 years ago, Brokenwood has become one of Australia’s most respected wineries, and this year was crowned Halliday Wine Companion’s Winery of the Year. Chief winemaker Stuart Hordern says the award is both an honour and a reflection of the winery’s enduring ethos.

“Over the decades, Brokenwood's founding spirit of humour, curiosity and fun has evolved into a professional, benchmark standard of winemaking," Stuart explains. "Yet through all this growth, the original ethos still rings true: make great wine and have fun.”

Chief winemaker Stuart Hordern and winemaker Kate Sturgess

Brokenwood’s philosophy has always balanced respect for the Hunter Valley’s unique terroir with a willingness to source fruit from elsewhere as well, embracing the best regions across Australia. This approach has delivered some of Australia’s most celebrated wines, including the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz and the ILR Reserve Semillon, widely recognised as a benchmark of its style.

“The Hunter Valley is one of the world’s most unique wine regions, renowned for producing semillon of extraordinary purity and longevity, as well as elegant shiraz,” Hordern says. "Beyond the Hunter, our philosophy of sourcing from 'all the right regions, for all the right reasons' ensures that each wine speaks authentically of its place, whether that’s Beechworth chardonnay, McLaren Vale shiraz, or Hunter semillon."

That pursuit of quality has meant making hard calls in challenging times. The 2020 bushfires saw the winery forego Hunter Valley reds altogether due to smoke taint. “It was a significant commercial setback, but it reinforced our philosophy that quality must always come first. By being transparent with our customers and redirecting focus toward unaffected regions, we strengthened trust and loyalty rather than compromising our standards,” Hordern reflects.

Brokenwood's cellar door, Terrace Wine Bar and The Wood Restaurant in Pokolbin

Adaptability has long been a strength. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Brokenwood leaned into digital platforms and strengthened its wine club, ensuring loyal drinkers could still engage with the brand. Today, its state-of-the-art cellar door, Terrace Wine Bar and The Wood Restaurant offer one of the Hunter’s most dynamic visitor experiences, recently earning Brokenwood a spot in the 2026 Halliday People's Choice Award top 3 – making it the top-voted winery in NSW.

Looking ahead, Hordern is clear-eyed about the future of the brand: “Our vision is to continue nurturing that tradition while building for the next generation. The strength of Brokenwood has always been its people, from our vineyard and winery crews to the teams in sales, finance, marketing and hospitality. Their tireless work ensures that our winemakers can focus on crafting wines that speak of their place and time. That collaborative spirit is what will drive Brokenwood into the future."

For Brokenwood, being Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year is not an endpoint, but a milestone in a journey that began with broken timber beneath the Brokenback Ranges – and continues with bold ambition and innovation today.

Find out more about Brokenwood and shop the wines at brokenwood.com.au.

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