A Barossa Valley vineyard believed to be home to the world’s oldest surviving Shiraz vines has been recognised on the international stage, with Langmeil Winery shortlisted in the Old Vine Photography Competition 2026.
The winery’s The Freedom 1843 Shiraz vineyard has been named as a finalist in the Landscape & Plants category for a striking image of its historic vines. The photo, captured in 2016 by Dragan Radocaj, showcases the extraordinary age and character of the Barossa Ancestor vine, which was planted in 1843.
Langmeil Winery traces its roots back to the Prussian settlers who founded the village of Langmeil in 1842. Today, the winery is guided by the Lindner family, with Shirley, Paul Lindner, Director of Winemaking, and James Lindner, Sales and Marketing Director, serving as the current custodians of Langmeil and its Old Vine Garden vineyards.
The Freedom 1843 Shiraz vineyard sits at the heart of Langmeil Winery’s Old Vine Garden Collection, a range that honours the heritage of some of the Barossa’s most remarkable vineyard sites. More than just a historic landmark, the Freedom vineyard remains a working vineyard, continuing to produce fruit after more than 183 years of Barossa seasons.
The Old Vine Photography Competition attracted nearly 300 entries from 18 countries across four continents, with submissions coming from Bolivia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Iran and beyond.
Competition judge Randy Caparoso praised the image for the way it captured the age and continuing vitality of the vines.
“If I were to look at this photo without knowing its provenance, I would guess it is a grapevine over 100 years old. The camera lens successfully captures the etched crevices, long spurs and muscular enough trunk indicative of age, like the face of a wily 90-year-old man or sharp-eyed 100-year-old woman. Of course, knowing that it is a 183-year-old Shiraz makes it even more impressive; particularly the cluster sizes, demonstrating that old or ancient vines also exist for this reason: Because these vines are still vigorous enough to produce a healthy crop. There is a lot ‘here’ here.”
For Langmeil, the shortlisting is a significant recognition of the vineyard’s place in global wine history. The Freedom 1843 Shiraz represents a rare piece of living heritage, with vines that continue to tell the story of the Barossa through each vintage.
Voting for the Old Vine Photography Competition 2026 is now open and closes on 8 July 2026. Winners will be announced on Old Vine Day on 15 July 2026.
To vote, visit oldvines.org/the-old-vine-photography-competition-2026-shortlist-and-voting.
