The Halliday Wine Companion, Australia’s most prestigious wine awards, has just dropped the 2025 winners of the country’s best wines and wineries. Since its inception almost 30 years ago, the Halliday Wine Companion Awards have become the undisputed authority on Australian wine. This year, their expert panel of wine tasters blind-reviewed over 7500 wines across more than 1100 wineries.
Here’s the wines and wineries that have been dubbed the best by Halliday Wine Companion Awards:
Wine of the Year
The best of the best Australian wines has been named as the Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022. Retailing for $96, this Victorian-based winery’s Chardonnay was dubbed the best wine in Australia. The winery, who have been in operation since 1978, also picked up a swathe of other accolades as well as Chardonnay of the Year and White Wine of the Year.
Winery of the Year
As well as awarding a best wine, The Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2025 also recognise excellent wineries, too. Whilst Giant Steps is hailed for housing great wine, its also being recognised for housing live music events, art exhibitions, cooking classes and luxurious accommodation. Not only were Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley crowned as the 2025 Winery of the Year, but their Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir also scored the best in its category with a score of 98/100. Other contenders for Australia’s best winery include:
Alkina Wine, Barossa Valley
Nestled in the heart of Australia’s premier wine region, the Barossa Valley, Alkina Wine is a boutique winery. Whilst they’re best known for their shiraz as well as their Grenache, Mataro, and Riesling, they’re also have luxurious accommodation options to stay in too. The Alkina Old Quarter Homestead and Cottage earned the winery the Global Best Of Wine Tourism Award for Wine Tourism Accommodation earlier this year.
Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley
After just 11 years in operation, Silkman Wines in the Hunter Valley have already received a substantial amount of recognition in the winemaking community, particularly from James Halliday. The winery have been recognised for their Semillon, chardonnay, and shiraz as well as their ethical vineyard practices and commitment to sustainability.
Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley
Since 1978, Oakridge Wines has been serving up delicious wines to the Yarra Valley and beyond. Best known for their stellar Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Oakridge Wines have clinched accolades at the International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards, and James Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
House of Arras, Northern Tasmania
The House of Arras winery is a testament to Tasmania’s cool climate and diverse terroir. The winery houses Australia’s most awarded sparkling wine brand with 110 trophies and over 290 gold medals received across the domestic and international wine show circuits.
Brokenwood, Hunter Valley
Brokenwood winery in the Hunter Valley is the last of the wineries to make the prestigious shortlist. With their award-winning Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, ILR Reserve Semillon, and beloved Cricket Pitch range, Brokenwood have been contributing outstanding varietals to Australia’s wine landscape since 1970.
As well as the best wineries, the Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2024 also have categories for best value, best new winery and the dark horse winery. The shortlisted contenders include:
- BEST VALUE WINERY:
- Billy Button Wines, Alpine Valleys
- Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek
- Bremerton Wines, Langhorne Creek
- De Bortoli, Yarra Valley
- Forest Hill Vineyard, Great Southern
- Mulline, Geelong
- Stella Bella Wines, Margaret River
- Trentham Estate, Murray Darling
- BEST NEW WINERY:
- Dilworth & Allain, Macedon Ranges
- Granjoux, Beechworth
- HATCH, Barossa Valley
- Iggy, Barossa Valley
- Jane Eyre, Yarra Valley
- Sami-Odi, Barossa Valley
- Utzinger, Tasmania
- Vinya Vella, Barossa Valley
- DARK HORSE WINERY:
- Amour Wines, Orange
- ChaLou, Orange
- Samson Tall, McLaren Vale
- See Saw Wines, Orange
- Solum, Mornington Peninsula
- The Pawn Wine Co., South Australia
