SA winemakers dominate prestigious awards shortlist
South Australian wines have put on a big showing in the country’s most prestigious awards, with one region dominating the shortlist. See which SA wines are in the running.
South Australian wines from McLaren Vale are dominating the shortlist for the nation’s most prestigious wine awards: the Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
To be released in August 2026, the Halliday Wine Companion Awards celebrate the best of the best of Australian wine and those who make it.
This year, South Australia leads the national charge and secured the largest share of finalists.
McLaren Vale stood out as the top-performing region in the country, with nine shortlisted producers. It was closely followed by Victoria’s Yarra Valley with six finalists, while Tasmania and New South Wales’ Hunter Valley both boast five each.
Two McLaren Vale wineries are up for the prestigious Winery of the Year Award – Bekkers and Koomilya – while Sami-Odi in the Barossa is also in the running against wineries from other states.
Three South Australian winemakers – Skillogalee’s Kerri Thompson, Murdoch Hill’s Michael Downer and Willunga 100’s Renae Hirsch – are vying for the Winemaker of the Year Award.
As for viticulturalists, SA’s Adrian Hoffman, Richard Wellsmore and Ashley Ratfcliff are in the running for the Viticulturalist of the Year award.
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Two SA incumbent McLaren Vale wineries – L’Anima and S. Caica – are gunning for the Best New Winery Award.
The finalists were determined following a three-day blind tasting process.
“We are immensely blessed with the quality and diversity of our Australian wine regions,” Halliday’s head of tasting Katrina Butler said.
McLaren Vale Wine Region CEO Erin Leggat said the strong showing from her region “sends a clear message”.
“Through its 185-year history of excellence, we can now confidently say McLaren Vale has never made better wine than it is making right now,” Leggat said.
“The region is producing wines with exceptional pedigree, distinctive character and proven quality, from highly collectible old-vine Shiraz to elegant Grenache, to exciting new labels and wines that deliver remarkable value.
“For wine lovers new and old alike, these recognitions are a reminder that McLaren Vale is one of the most rewarding regions to explore right now.”
The Halliday Wine Companion Award winners will be unveiled on August 19.
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The full list of finalists:
Winery of the Year:
- Bekkers (McLaren Vale, SA)
- Forest Hill Vineyard (Great Southern, WA)
- House of Arras (TAS)
- Koomilya (McLaren Vale, SA)
- Oakridge (Yarra Valley, VIC)
- Sami-Odi (Barossa Valley, SA)
- Tolpuddle (TAS)
- Yerringberg (Yarra Valley, VIC)
Winemaker of the Year:
- Adrian Sparks | Mount Pleasant (Hunter Valley, NSW)
- Drew Tuckwell | Printhie (Orange, NSW)
- Kerri Thompson | Skillogalee, Wines by KT (Clare Valley, SA)
- Mark Walpole | Fighting Gully Road (Beechworth, VIC)
- Michael Downer | Murdoch Hill (Adelaide Hills, SA)
- Renae Hirsch | Willunga 100 (McLaren Vale, SA)
- Rohan Smith | Medhurst (Yarra Valley, VIC)
- Steve Flamsteed | Decades | Salo (TAS and Yarra Valley, VIC)
Viticulturist of the Year:
- Adrian Hoffmann (Barossa Valley, SA)
- Andrew George, Yarra Yering (Yarra Valley, SA)
- Ashley Ratcliff, Ricca Terra (Riverland, SA)
- Ben Thomson, Best’s (Grampians, VIC)
- Louise Eather | Tyrrells (Hunter Valley, NSW)
- Richard Wellsmore, Maxwell Wines (McLaren Vale, SA)
- Ross Pike, Forest Hill Vineyards (Great Southern, WA)
Best Value Winery:
- Evans & Tate (Margaret River, WA)
- Medhurst (Yarra Valley, VIC)
- Ministry of Clouds (McLaren Vale, SA)
- MMAD (McLaren Vale, SA)
- Thomas Wines (Hunter Valley, NSW)
- Wirra Wirra Vineyards (McLaren Vale, SA)
Best New Winery:
- Decades (TAS)
- Fervor (Great Southern, WA)
- Foreign Friends (Beechworth, VIC)
- L’Anima (McLaren Vale, SA)
- Caica (McLaren Vale, SA)
- Thunderstone (Porongurup, WA)
Dark Horse Winery:
- Balancing Heart (Granite Belt, QLD)
- Black & Ginger (Grampians, VIC)
- Cobaw Ridge (Macedon Ranges, VIC)
- Heroes (Geelong, VIC)
- Krinklewood (Hunter Valley, NSW)
- Mercer Wines (Hunter Valley, NSW)
- Ngeringa (Adelaide Hills, SA)
- Sailor Seeks Horse (TAS)
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