Congratulations are in order for Yarra Valley winery, Yarra Yering, who were just named Australia’s best winery for 2026. It’s the third time Yarra Yering has taken out the top spot, after achieving the title in 2024 and 2021 as well.
Every year, The Real Review releases its Top Wineries of Australia list. Yarra Yering is frequently placed on the list and has topped it three times now! Wine writer Huon Hook led the tasting team for The Real Review.
Led by winemaker Sarah Crowe in collaboration with vineyard manager Andrew George, Yarra Yering is one of the oldest and most established wineries in the Yarra, with vines dating back to 1969.
It’s also included in our top woman-led wineries in Australia. Discover the others to add to your tasting list in 2026 here.
Sarah joined in 2013 after cutting her vineyard chops in NSW winery Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley. She also went on to win the James Halliday Winemaker of the Year in 2017, a major prize in the wine industry. Gourmet Traveller also named Sarah Winemaker of the Year in 2021.
Whereas Andrew is Yarra Valley born and bred. He spent over a decade at Yeringberg (another Yarra Valley spot) before shifting to Yarra Yering in 2012.
“It reflects the commitment that Sarah and the whole team have to just doing the best we can, trying to make very good wine, and for that to be acknowledged is a real recognition of the property,” Andrew also said after the win.
Fellow Yarra Valley winery Levantine Hill came in second. Furthermore, other wineries in the top ten include Henschke at #6, Geelong’s Wine by Farr (#7), women-led winery Cullen Wines at #8, and Rutherglen’s Chambers Rosewood (#9) and Thistledown Wines at #10.
Wineries from across Australia also placed, including Yalumba (#11), women-led winery Giant Steps at #13, Stanton & Killeen, de Iuliis, Robert Oatley, McLeish Estate, Oakdene, Kooyong, Port Phillip Estate, Krinklewood, Dexter, Shanahans Wines, and Deviation Road, Best’s Wines, Small Island Wines, Terre à Terre Wines (for its 9th time), Scarborough Wines, Gentle Folk and Hewitson.
“The Yarra Valley is such a special place to grow wine,” Sarah said after the win. “We’ve got some excellent producers who always do well in The Real Review, so I think if you’re buying wine from the Yarra Valley, you’re probably on to a good thing. We’re super excited to now be a sustainable wine-growing Australia-certified. We’re always trying to improve on what we’re doing.”
“It’s pretty amazing to win Winery of the Year for the third time, and I think this just really highlights the whole team and the work ethic… to make the best wine we can,” Sarah continued.
If you’re ever travelling to the Yarra on a wine-tasting jaunt, be sure to add this winery to your itinerary. You have little excuse, as their tasting room is open seven days a week! So, go on and book it here.
Other top winners this year include:
- Vigneron of the Year: Stephen Pannell of S.C. Pannell Wines.
- Rising Star of the Year: Aaron Mercer of Mercer Wines
- Len Evans Prize: Louisa Rose of Yalumba (which came in #11) and Hill-Smith Family Estates.
- Sparkling Wine of the Year: Deviation Road Beltana Blanc de Blancs 2018
- White Wine of the Year: Fighting Gulling Road Smith Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
- Rosé Wine of the Year: Chaffey Bros Wine Co. Not Your Grandma’s Rosé 2025. I’m rather partial to their chilled red.
- Red Wine of the Year: Thistledown Sands of Time Old Vine Blewitt Springs Grenache 2024
- Sweet Wine of the Year: Rieslingfreak No. 8 Polish Hill River Schatzkammer Riesling 2025
- Fortified Wine of the Year: Campbells Merchant Prince Rare Muscat NV
For more information, head to The Real Review website.
