14 South Australian wineries have been shortlisted in the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. Known as the premier authority on Australian wine, the Halliday Wine Companion’s showcases the best of the best in the wine industry through this prestigious shortlist.
This year, the Halliday Tasting Team reviewed over 7500 wines from more than 1100 wineries, with over 60 new producers included, showcasing their wines for the first time.
Other wineries nominated this year came from Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.
2025 Halliday Wine Companion Shortlist:
Winery of the Year:
- Alkina Wine, Barossa Valley
- Brokenwood, Hunter Valley
- Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
- House of Arras, Northern Tasmania
- Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley
- Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley
Winemaker of the Year:
- Colin McBride, Adelina, Clare Valley
- Jacinta Jenkins, Balnaves of Coonawarra, Coonawarra
- Andre Bondar, Bondar Wines, McLaren Vale
- Gareth Belton, Gentle Folk, Adelaide Hills
- Melanie Chester, Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
- Simon Osicka, Paul Osicka, Heathcote
- Liz Silkman, Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley
- Liam McElhinney, Tasmanian Vintners, Southern Tasmania
- Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix, Margaret River
Viticulturist of the Year:
- Troy McInnes, Chalmers, Murray Darling
- Steve Faulkner, Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley
- Justin Jarrett, See Saw Wines, Orange
- Rhys Thomas, Swinney, Frankland River
- Nigel Blieschke, Torbreck, Barossa Valley
- Bart Molony, Vasse Felix, Margaret River
- Bernard & Wayne Smart, Smart Vineyards, Various
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
The judging for the Halliday Wine Companion Awards took place in March, with the Halliday Tasting Team conducting blind tastings over two days to select the winners. The team was made up of esteemed members including Founder James Halliday, Chief Editor Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale, and Toni Paterson MW.
While the annual Halliday Wine Companion Awards celebrate the best of Australia’s wine industry, the Halliday Wine Companion People’s Choice Award highlights the nation’s top winery experience. Wine lovers can vote for the 2025 People’s Choice Award, with nominations considering outstanding cellar door experiences, exceptional restaurant offerings, friendly and knowledgeable staff, scenic views, and overall wine quality.
Submissions are open until 11.59pm on Wednesday July 24th. Participants will go in the running to win a prize pack valued at over $1200, with the award winner to be announced on Saturday August 3rd.
For more information and to VOTE, click here.
More News
