Images Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate
The Royal Adelaide Show has crowned this year’s finest chocolatiers, with South Australian makers serving up a seriously rich showing at the prestigious 2026 Chocolates Awards.
If you’re looking to indulge in some of the state’s best chocolate, build a gift box guaranteed to impress, or simply need an excuse to treat yourself, consider this your official cheat sheet.
Adelaide chocolatier, Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate has taken out the top honour at the 2026 Royal Adelaide Show Chocolate Awards, claiming Grand Champion Chocolate alongside three Champion titles. The recognition means a great deal to head chocolatier Carolyn, who said she was honoured to accept the award.
Bracegirdle’s Signature Selection took out two big titles, being named Grand Champion Chocolate and Champion Individual Chocolate. The collection covers cult classics like milk, dark and white mixed with some of their indulgent truffles and ganaches, crafted into a single box.
Carolyn said considerable thought goes into how each chocolate works alongside the next and that every chocolate plays an important role in the box.
“We are always very conscious of the combination of flavours, colours and textures that are in the box so the customer has a very interesting experience when they eat it,” Carolyn said.
But it wasn’t just Bracegirdle’s established favourites that impressed the judges.
Their brand-new Crunchy Hazelnut Chunky Block was named Champion Chocolate Block, giving the team a major win for a product that has only just been created. Rather than simply sprinkling the good stuff over the back of a traditional chocolate block, this creation takes a different, even more delicious approach.
“This is all contained within the block,” Carolyn explained.
“We have a shell of a block and fill it with heaps and heaps of fillings, and in this case it’s caramelised hazelnuts, hazelnut praline and chocolate … then we put more hazelnuts on top.”
The loaded hazelnut block forms part of an entirely new range being released in time for Father’s Day, with Bracegirdle’s experimenting with several chunky blocks. The other flavours include a sweet and salty combination of peanut, pretzel and salted caramel; shortbread, jelly and marshmallow; and a caramelised almond and apricot.
Bracegirdle’s third Champion title came with an extra splash of fun, courtesy of its NYE Cocktail Collection, named Champion Specialties Chocolate. And despite their polished appearance, Carolyn doesn’t shy away from what makes the chocolates particularly fun.
“They’re quite boozy, they pack a punch!” she said.
The collection takes inspiration from the cocktail bar, with flavours including Limoncello, Pink Lemonade, Espresso Martini, Piña Colada, Mudslide, Margarita, Strawberry Daiquiri, Gin & Chocolate and Vodka Sunrise.
For the competition, the team expanded the offering even further, entering additional creations including a Shiraz truffle and a winter spiced caramel made with rum, real nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon.
With three category Champion awards ultimately leading to the Grand Champion title, Carolyn said the scale of the result wasn’t something the team had expected.
“We were really surprised … but very happy.”
Bracegirdle’s was one of several chocolatiers recognised in the major awards, alongside Quinzi’s Confectionery, Chocolate on Purpose and amateur chocolatier Tara Maddigan.
But with a Grand Champion title, three Champion wins and a brand-new Father’s Day collection arriving, it has been a particularly sweet result for the Adelaide chocolate maker.
READ THE FULL LIST OF 2026 ROYAL ADELAIDE SHOW CHOCOLATE AWARDS WINNERS
Grand Champion Chocolate: Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate – Signature Selection
Champion Individual Chocolate: Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate – Signature Selection
Champion Chocolate Block: Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate – Crunchy Hazelnut Chunky Block
Champion Specialties Chocolate: Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate – NYE Cocktail Collection
Other Variety: Quinzi’s Confectionery – Triple Choc Almonds
Chocolate Bar: Chocolate on Purpose – Yulang (ripples)
Amateur: Tara Maddigan – Gift Box
