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.
Brokenwood
Where: Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Established: 1970
Winemakers: Stuart Hordern, Kate Sturgess
Viticulturist: Katrina Barry
Winery website: brokenwood.com.au
Why this Australian winery has been nominated for the 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year: “We reviewed 18 wines from the Hunter Valley stalwart for the 2026 Companion, and 16 were awarded 95 points or over; no mean feat. Some of these wines have graced the pages of the guide since its inception. Beyond the flagships, we must also consider that Brokenwood produces wines at many price points and of excellent quality.”
Giaconda
Where: Beechworth, Victoria
Established: 1982
Winemakers: Rick Kinzbrunner, Nathan Kinzbrunner
Viticulturist: Casey White
Winery website: giaconda.com.au
Why this Australian winery has been nominated for the 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year: “There is an enigma surrounding Giaconda. And, each year, under the guidance of father and son winemaking team Rick and Nathan Kinzbrunner, the ceiling on what’s possible for this site is broken for new heights. Single-handedly one of the most important Australian producers of our time.”
House of Arras
Where: Northern Tasmania
Established: 1995
Winemaker: Ed Carr
Viticulturist: Ben Bussell
Winery website: houseofarras.com.au
Why this Australian winery has been nominated for the 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year: "House of Arras is undoubtedly the pinnacle of Australian sparkling wine. Its history not only in the Companion but in the wine show system is one that is highly decorated and celebrated. We should be incredibly proud to call House of Arras ours.”
Oakridge
Where: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Established: 1995
Winemakers: David Bicknell, Tim Dexter
Viticulturist: Steve Faulkner
Winery website: oakridgewines.com.au
Why this Australian winery has been nominated for the 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year: “There are very few things left unsaid about Oakridge and the monumental impact of both David Bicknell and his team. Out of the 20 wines submitted this year, 16 achieved 95 points or over. The quality here is unwavering and the consistency across vintages borders on the supernatural.”
Rieslingfreak
Where: Clare Valley, South Australia
Established: 2009
Winemakers: Belinda Hughes, John Hughes
Viticulturist: Richard Hughes
Winery website: rieslingfreak.com
Why this Australian winery has been nominated for the 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year: “John Hughes’ amiable nature has made him a much-loved favourite in the wine industry, but his pertinacity in the pursuit of crafting exceptional riesling is undeniably why Rieslingfreak is both respected and revered. Together with wife Belinda Hughes, the pair now make a slew of rieslings from the Clare and Eden Valley.”
Standish Wine Company
Where: Barossa Valley, South Australia
Established:1999
Winemaker: Dan Standish
Why this Australian winery has been nominated for the 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year: “Dan and Nicole Standish craft exceptional shiraz year in, year out, with a focus on expression of site, sourcing fruit from legacy vineyards in Greenock, Marananga, Krondorf and the Eden Valley. Not one of the four wines submitted for the 2026 Companion was awarded less than 96 points. A winery with its stake firmly planted upon the ‘new classics’ of the Barossa.”
Yangarra Estate Vineyard
Where: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Established: 2000
Winemaker: Peter Fraser
Viticulturist: Michael Lane
Winery website: yangarra.com
Why this Australian winery has been nominated for the 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year: “Arguably the best site in Blewitt Springs and, indeed, exceedingly beautiful, Yangarra Estate is one of the most consistent producers in McLaren Vale... Marcus Ellis awarded 11 out of the 13 submitted wines 95 points or over, with the esteemed 2023 High Sands Grenache landing at the pinnacle with 98 points.”
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.
