Feature image: Whisson Lake.
Eight premium South Australian red wines have been recognised among Australia’s finest in Halliday Wine Companion’s Top 100 Wines for 2026, with one Barossa Valley Shiraz achieving an impressive 98+ points.
The annual list celebrates exceptional Australian wines across different varieties and price points, with eight South Australian producers securing places in the Red Wines Over $50 category.
Spanning McLaren Vale, the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills, this year’s selections showcase everything from historic vineyards and old-vine Grenache to carefully crafted Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.
Leading the South Australian contingent is The Standish Wine Company’s The Schubert Theorem 2024, a Barossa Valley Shiraz awarded 98+ points. Priced at $145, the wine impressed Halliday’s tasting team with its layers of dark fruit, spice and finely structured tannins.
The Barossa earned a second place through Agricola Vintners K’Sands 2025, which received 97 points.
Priced at $100, the Shiraz comes from vineyards tended by the Asbroek family, including a remarkable site planted in the 1860s, making it one of the world’s oldest surviving Shiraz vineyards.
Asbroek vineyard.
Winemaker Callum Powell said the historic vineyard had produced exceptional fruit for generations, although it had traditionally been blended with wines from other sites.
“These are beautiful vines which have been very well taken care of by the Asbroek family for generations now,” Callum shared.
“It is a privilege to now be able to work with the Asbroeks and make a single vineyard wine from their home.”
McLaren Vale was particularly well represented, securing three places on the list, all through Grenache.
MMAD Vineyard’s Blewitt Springs Grenache 2024 received 97+ points, with the $77 wine celebrating the distinctive qualities of its historic vineyard.
Chief Winemaker and Co-Founder Adam Wadewitz said the team had been drawn to MMAD Vineyard for its extraordinary old-vine Grenache and the unique character of Blewitt Springs.
He explained that their ambition had always been to care for the rare old vines while creating a contemporary expression of Grenache that reflected the vineyard’s character, freshness and vibrancy.
Also earning 97+ points was Vanguardist Wines Grenache 2024, priced at $74.
The wine comes from the Rende Vineyard in Blewitt Springs, where old, dry-grown bush vines grow in deep silver sands over clay and ironstone.
Vanguardist has worked to showcase this vineyard since 2015, with Grenache remaining central to its range.
“The inclusion of our 2024 Vanguardist Grenache in the Halliday Top 100 Wines is a proud moment for us and for Blewitt Springs,” a representative said.
“Sourced from the Rende Vineyard, where old, dry-grown bush vines thrive in deep silver sands over clay and ironstone, this is a site of remarkable character and world-class standing. Since 2015, Vanguardist has been dedicated to championing this vineyard, with Grenache at the heart of our range.”
Aphelion Wine’s Rapture Pinot Noir.
Completing McLaren Vale’s representation was Aphelion Wine’s Rapture Grenache Noir 2024, which scored 97 points.
Priced at $150, Rapture is made using the finest barrels of Grenache selected from each vintage, with fruit sourced from the historic Hickinbotham vineyard.
“Rapture is our pinnacle wine, made from the best barrels of Grenache McLaren Vale gives us each vintage,” shared winemaker Rob Mack, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of the vineyard’s old bush vines, which produce a wine showing cranberry, cherry, blood orange and spice.
Further south-east, Balnaves of Coonawarra’s The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 received 96+ points.
The $90 wine combines 94 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon with six per cent Petit Verdot, bringing together the depth and structure of Coonawarra Cabernet with the perfume and red-fruit characteristics of Petit Verdot.
“It’s a fantastic acknowledgement of the care and hard work our whole team puts into our vineyards and wines here in Coonawarra, the early starts, the late nights and everything in between!”
“The 2024 Tally brings together 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot with the Cabernet providing the dark fruit, structure and ageing potential, while Petit Verdot adds vibrant perfume and red fruit lift. Our aim is to capture the depth and elegance of Coonawarra Cabernet, with each variety contributing to a balanced wine that will develop beautifully over time.”
Doug, Kirsty, and Pete of Balnaves of Coonawarra.
In the Clare Valley, Adelina Wines Estate Shiraz 2024 earned 96 points, making it the most affordable South Australian wine in this premium category at $60.
Halliday’s tasting team recognised the wine for its concentrated berry flavours, savoury character and mineral qualities, alongside its elegant structure.
The Whisson Lake Monopole Pinot Noir 2024.
Rounding out South Australia’s eight selections was Whisson Lake Monopole Pinot Noir 2024 from the Adelaide Hills, awarded 96+ points.
Priced at $180, the wine comes from a vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley, where the team draws on traditional Burgundian winemaking methods to explore the character of the region.
The recognition is particularly significant following an exceptionally small 2024 vintage, which produced just five tonnes of fruit across five hectares.
It also marks the second consecutive year Whisson Lake has featured in Halliday’s Top 100, following recognition for its 2022 Monopole Pinot Noir in 2025.
Together, the eight wines reflect the diversity of South Australia’s premium red wine industry, from generations-old Barossa vineyards to the distinctive Grenache sites of Blewitt Springs and the cooler conditions of the Adelaide Hills.
Halliday Wine Companion’s Top 100 Wines for 2026 was selected by its nine-member tasting team, with wines assessed across categories including sparkling wines, whites and reds at different price points, alongside the returning Taster’s Pick category.
For more information and the full list of wines, click here.
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