South Australia continues to cement its reputation as a wine powerhouse with 5 wineries shortlisted in the prestigious Top Wineries Awards 2025 by The Real Review. The awards include 24 finalists from five states with SA accounting for just over 20%, closely chasing Victoria’s tail.
The Real Review has assessed nearly 15,000 wines to determine this year’s results, marking its eighth edition of the Top Wineries ranking. Over 400 wineries – around 19% of all producers nationally – have received Top Wineries Certification for 2025.
In an exciting move in this year, the awards now feature eight brand new category titles, among them ‘Vigneron of the Year,’ ‘Rising Star of the Year,’ and style-specific categories.
“It’s hugely exciting to unveil these new categories for the first time, but even more exciting to reveal the names shortlisted. The finalists encompass exceptional talent, innovation, and some of the tasting team’s all-time favourite wines,” commented Huon Hooke from The Real Review.
“Introducing new categories like ‘Rising Star’ and ‘Vigneron of the Year’ allows us to spotlight the diverse achievements across Australia’s wine landscape. It’s an exciting evolution that reflects the dynamic nature of our industry.”
Now, what we’ve all been waiting for. Drum roll please.
Here are the fantastic SA wineries, winemakers and wines that have made the cut and their respective categories.
Rising Star of the Year: Gareth Belton – Gentle Folk (Adelaide Hills)
Gareth Belton along with his wife Rainbo are the masterminds behind the delicious Gentle Folk Wines in the Adelaide Hills. Since launching with just three barrels in 2013, the Belton pair have built a reputation for crafting expressive, natural wines rooted in organic and biodynamic principles. With a background in science and biodiversity, a focus on natural and minimal intervention wines was inevitable.
Today, the Gentle Folk label boasts eight hectares of vines and produces between six and seven thousand cases annually, focusing on variety and site. Gareth was also a Young Gun finalist in 2014.
Sparkling Wine of the Year: Deviation Road Beltana Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2017 (Adelaide Hills)
Made by the family-owned boutique winery Deviation Road, this hot little number isn’t new to the spotlight. Made exclusively from 100% Chardonnay grown on the cool, high-altitude slopes of the Adelaide Hills, this elegant méthode traditionnelle sparkling is part of the label’s ‘Small Batch Series’. I
Its flavour profile is nutty and sweet with notes of candied lemon. It was crowned top in its category and took out the title of Best Sparkling White at the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, so it comes as no shock that it’s in the draw for Sparkling Wine of the Year.
Deviation Road crafts vibrant cool-climate wines sourced from mature vineyards in the Adelaide Hills. Owners Hamish and Kate Laurie carry forward five generations of winemaking heritage, blending tradition with innovation. With a strong commitment to the region’s high-altitude sites and Kate’s oenology training in France, their wines reflect both classic techniques and a modern edge.
Rosé Wine of the Year: S.C. Pannell Arido Rosé 2024 (McLaren Vale)
This rosé is summer in a bottle. With notes of watermelon, strawberry, pink grapefruit and sherbet, it is the perfect seafood companion, and deserves all the positive recognition it recieves.
Stephen Pannell is regarded as one of Australia’s most accomplished winemakers, having twice claimed the country’s top wine honour, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy. Named Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Winemaker of the Year and a three-time McLaren Vale Bushing King, Pannell’s accolades speak to his exceptional talent.
Red Wine of the Year: Yalumba The Caley Cabernet & Shiraz 2019 (Barossa Valley)
The Caley is Yalumba’s “extraordinarily sleek and polished” offering. Think of the wine as symbolic of a black tie dinner – refined freshness, control that captures the senses, and the result of meticulous winemaking and careful husbandry.
Since planting its first vines in 1849, Yalumba has been a pioneering force in Australian winemaking, shaping the nation’s wine culture from everyday table wines to globally recognised fine wines. At the heart of its legacy are its iconic Cabernet and Shiraz blends. The shortlising is no surprise nor a hit of good luck – this wine reflects generations of craftsmanship and are stellar examples of true premium Barossa Valley winemaking.
Fortified Wine of the Year: Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny 1925 (Barossa Valley)
Seppeltsfield is world renowned for its selection of fortifieds, and is the only unbroken lineage of single vintage Tawny, dating all the way back to 1878. This special little number is described by Chief Winemaker Fiona Donald as “Immediately luscious, with incredible volume and mouthfeel, lingering flavours of bittersweet dark chocolate.”
Established in the Barossa Valley just 15 years after the European settlement of South Australia, Seppeltsfield holds a significant place in the history of Australian winemaking. The vineyard’s legacy dates back to the mid-19th century when Joseph Seppelt, an emigrant from Silesia, purchased the land and focused on grape growing and winemaking. Today, under the custodianship of proprietor Warren Randall, it remains a true national treasure.
The winners of the style-specific categories will be unveiled on May 19, followed by the talent-based awards on May 21. The all-important Top Wineries of Australia rankings – including Winery of the Year -will all be revealed on May 22. Stay tuned.
WHAT: The Real Review Top Wineries Awards 2025
WHEN: Style-specific winner announced May 19, talent-based awards May 21, top wineries May 22
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