Halliday Wine Companion has announced its highly anticipated Award winners for the year. Celebrating the very best in Australian wine, the coveted 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards recognise the nation’s top wines, winemakers, viticulturists and wineries.
Hosted at Ormond Hall, part of Melbourne’s iconic The Commons Collective, the Awards ceremony featured a first look at the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion and revealed winners across seven major categories including Wine of the Year, Winery of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Viticulturist of the Year, Best New Winery*, Dark Horse Winery, and Best Value Winery.
The ceremony also honoured a new inductee into the James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry, an award that acknowledges individuals in the Australian wine industry who are deemed to be of the highest regard and significance. Sixteen of Australia’s best wines were also celebrated as award winners for their varietal categories.
The Halliday Wine Companion Award winners were determined collaboratively by the Halliday Tasting Team, including chief editor Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale, and Toni Paterson MW.
“We’re delighted to announce the 2025 Award winners and extend our congratulations to each of them. We’re blown away by the quality of this year’s winners and tonight we celebrate the strength and perseverance of the Australian wine industry with winners representing regions from across the country. The Tasting Team reviewed over 7500 wines for the 2025 Companion and we’re proud to be able to share the best of Australian wine with fellow enthusiasts, industry peers, and those new to the world of wine,” said Halliday Wine Companion’s Head of Tasting, Katrina Butler.
The Awards also mark the release of the wine-enthusiast’s bible, the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, which is available in stores nationally from Thursday August 8. The Companion is the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wines, wineries, and grape-growing regions. The 2025 edition of the Companion includes over 5000 tasting notes and scores, and there are more than 7500 new notes available online at winecompanion.com.au.
The 2025 Awards featured winners from regions across Australia, providing a wonderful picture of the strength and diversity of the Nation’s wine industry. Victoria’s Yarra Valley shone, with two major awards hailing from the region, alongside winners from Hunter Valley, Margaret River, Geelong, Barossa Valley and Orange, and Hall of Fame inductee, Sue Hodder, from Coonawarra’s icon winery Wynn’s Coonawarra Estate. The varietal winners represent a range of Australian regions including the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Rutherglen, Central Victoria, the King Valley, Hunter Valley, Eden Valley, Wrattonbully, along with Frankland River, and Tasmania.
*All the producers nominated for Best New Winery represent exciting additions either to the Australian wine landscape, to Halliday Wine Companion, or both.
JAMES HALLIDAY HALL OF FAME
James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry – Sue Hodder, Wynns Coonawarra Estate, SA
2025 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Winery of the Year – Giant Steps, Yarra Valley, VIC
Winemaker of the Year – Liz Silkman, First Creek Wines and Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley, NSW
Viticulturist of the Year – Bart Molony, Vasse Felix, Margaret River, WA
Best Value Winery – Mulline, Geelong, VIC
Best New Winery* – Sami-Odi, Barossa Valley, SA
Dark Horse Winery – ChaLou Wines, Orange, NSW
Wine of the Year – Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022, Yarra Valley, VIC
2025 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION VARIETAL WINNERS
Chardonnay of the Year | White Wine of the Year – Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022, Yarra Valley, VIC – 98 points
Shiraz of the Year | Red Wine of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2 2022, Yarra Valley, VIC – 99 points
Sparkling Wine of the Year – Brown Brothers Patricia Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2018, King Valley, VIC – 98 points
Riesling of the Year – Rieslingfreak No. 12 Riesling 2023, Eden Valley, SA – 98 points
Semillon of the Year – Silkman Wines Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon 2023, Hunter Valley, NSW – 98 points
Sauvignon Blanc of the Year – Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Wrattonbully, SA – 97 points
Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year – Quealy Winemakers Feri Maris Single Block Pinot Grigio 2023, Mornington Peninsula, VIC – 96 points
Other Whites & Blends of the Year – MMAD Vineyard Blewitt Springs Chenin Blanc 2022, McLaren Vale, VIC – 97 points
Rosé of the Year – Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2023, Central Victoria, VIC – 96 points
Pinot Noir of the Year – Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023, Yarra Valley, VIC – 98 points
Grenache & Blends of the Year – Thistledown Wines This Charming Man Single Vineyard Clarendon Grenache 2023, McLaren Vale, SA – 98 points
Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Houghton Jack Mann Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Frankland River, WA – 98 points
Cabernet & Blends of the Year – Mount Mary Quintet 2022, Yarra Valley, VIC – 98 points
Other Reds & Blends of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 2022, Yarra Valley, VIC – 98 points
Sweet Wine of the Year – Pressing Matters R139 Riesling 2022, Tasmania – 97 points
Fortified Wine of the Year – All Saints Estate Museum Muscat NV, Rutherglen, VIC – 100 points
*All the producers nominated for Best New Winery represent exciting additions either to the Australian wine landscape, to Halliday Wine Companion, or both.
2025 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION BOOK
More than 7,500 wines were tasted for the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion from over 1,100 wineries (including over 61 new wineries).
A best-selling annual, the Halliday Wine Companion 2025 has been completely revised to bring readers the latest wine ratings, regions, best varietals, winery reviews and a curated selection of the best wines in Australia.
The Halliday Tasting Team, led for the second year by Campbell Mattinson in the role of chief editor, share their extensive knowledge of wine through detailed tasting notes, awarded scores, price and value, along with recommended drink-by dates and advice on cellaring.
The book provides information about wineries and winemakers, including opening times, contact details and advice on family and dog-friendly vineyards. It’s the essential guide to the country’s best drops, an ideal gift for any wine lover.
The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, published by Hardie Grant Books, is now available nationwide at an RRP of $45.00.
Highlights and insights from this year’s tasting and judging include:
- Over 7500 wines tasted from over 1100 wineries,
- 61 new wineries added to the 2025 edition,
- Shiraz/syrah and blends was the most reviewed red wine variety/blend (37%),
- Chardonnay was the most reviewed white variety/blend (34%),
- Riesling continues to hold the title as Australia’s best-value grape variety, with 59% earning Wine Companion’s special value rosette,
- A chenin blanc was awarded the varietal winner for Other Whites & Blends. This is the second year the variety has won in this category and should be considered a marker for the upward trajectory of this variety in the nation,
- The Barossa Valley has the most 5-star wineries in the 2025 Companion,
- Victoria won more varietal awards than any other state for this edition, including White Wine of the Year, Wine of the Year, Sparkling Wine of the Year, and Fortified Wine of the Year,
- Sutton Grange Winery in Central Victoria won Rosé of the Year for the second time running with its Fairbank Rosé,
- 32% of all wines reviewed for the 2025 Companion were awarded the coveted special value rosette,
- Pressing Matters winery is the first Tasmanian winery to win Sweet Wine of the Year.
South Australia:
- Winner of Best New Winery:
- Best New Winery – Sami-Odi, Barossa Valley
- Hall of Fame inductee:
- James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry – Sue Hodder, Wynns Coonawarra Estate
- South Australia is home to several varietal winners:
- Riesling of the Year
- Sauvignon Blanc of the Year
- Other Whites & Blends of the Year
- Grenache & Blends of the Year
- The Barossa Valley has the most 5-star wineries in the 2025 edition
Victoria:
- Victoria has won three of the major awards:
- Winery of the Year – Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
- Best Value Winery – Mulline, Geelong
- Wine of the Year – Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022, Yarra Valley
- Victoria has also won more varietal categories than any other state for the 2025 Companion:
- White Wine of the Year
- Chardonnay of the Year
- Sparkling Wine of the Year
- Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year
- Other Reds & Blends of the Year
- Shiraz of the Year
- Rosé of the Year
- Pinot Noir of the Year
- Cabernet & Blends
- Fortified of the Year
New South Wales:
- Two of the major award winners came from NSW:
- Winemaker of the Year – Liz Silkman, Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley
- Dark Horse Winery – ChaLou Wines, Orange
- 47% of Hunter Valley wineries that submitted to this edition achieved 5-Star status
- Semillon of the Year came from the nation’s premier semillon state again this year
- Silkman Wines Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon 2023, Hunter Valley
Western Australia:
- The Viticulturist of the Year winner is from Margaret River:
- Viticulturist of the Year – Bart Molony, Vasse Felix, Margaret River
- Winner of Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Houghton Jack Mann Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Frankland River
- Margaret River is home to some of the most outstanding (94–96 points) wines in this year’s Companion
- Margaret River is one of the regions with the most 5-star wineries (44 in total)
Tasmania
- Tasmania has won Sweet Wine of the Year for the first time:
- Sweet Wine of the Year – Pressing Matters R139 Riesling 2022, Tasmania
- Tasmania is one of the regions with the highest number of wines rated as ‘exceptional’ (97–99 points) in the 2025 Companion
