You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a good bottle of white wine, and eight of our very own drops have proved exactly that.
Whether you’re planning a long lunch with friends, stocking up for the warmer months or simply looking for a good bottle to enjoy at home, the latest Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 has revealed some of Australia’s best white wines under $40.
And once again, South Australia had an impressive showing.
From refreshing Clare Valley Rieslings to rarer Mediterranean varieties in the McLaren Vale, these are the bottles to add to your shopping list with price tags that give you nothing to wine about.
Coming in hot with one of the highest-scoring local pours is Hentley Farm’s 2025 Mt Crawford Vineyard Riesling, which received an impressive 96+ points. The $37 wine was praised for its citrus flavours, freshness and mineral qualities.
The Hentley Farm team said the recognition continued a proud relationship with Halliday, having previously been named the publication’s Winery of the Year in 2015.
“Our Mount Crawford vineyard is a fantastic site for Riesling … Its elevation and cooler growing conditions allow the fruit to ripen slowly while retaining the natural acidity, freshness and delicate aromatics.”
Although the award-winning 2025 vintage has already sold out, the winery says its 2026 release is also attracting plenty of positive attention.
McLaren Vale has also made a strong impression, with Gemtree Wines’ 2025 Small Batch Fiano scoring 96 points. Priced at $38, the wine is the only Fiano featured in the under-$40 category.
For the Gemtree team, the recognition is a win not just for their winery, but for McLaren Vale’s lesser-known white varieties, which are giving traditional favourites a run for their money.
“We use natural fermentation and a fairly gentle approach to winemaking, with the aim of letting the fruit and the character of the site speak for themselves.”
Speaking of unusual McLaren Vale varieties…
Inkwell secured a spot with its 2025 Yellow Grillo, scoring 94 points. The $32 wine is only the third release of the Mediterranean variety from the winery’s regenerative organic vineyard.
Winemaker Dudley said the inclusion was particularly meaningful because Grillo remains relatively unusual in the region that’s celebrated for its Shiraz. The wine spends several days on skins before ageing in ceramic egg-shaped vessels for approximately seven months, creating a distinctive texture and savoury character.
“It’s a wonderful recognition for us, but perhaps even more importantly, it’s recognition for doing things a little differently,” said Dudley.
Image: Werkstatt
Further south, Mount Gambier winemaker Bridget Mac has earned a place on the list with her Werkstatt Riesling 2025, which scored 95 points.
“Being on this list is a huge achievement for a small producer like myself. It reiterates that the wines I make and the fruit quality from Mount Gambier are at the highest level in Australia,” Bridget said.
She attributed the wine’s success to exceptional growing conditions in 2025, which allowed the grapes to reach full maturity while retaining excellent acidity despite a very dry season.
The result is a beautifully balanced Riesling that highlights Mount Gambier’s potential as a premium cool-climate wine region.
View the full list of South Australian white wines named
Hentley Farm Mt Crawford Vineyard Riesling 2025 – Barossa Valley – 96+ points
Gemtree Small Batch Fiano 2025 – McLaren Vale – 96 points
Rieslingfreak No.4 Riesling 2026 – Eden Valley – 95+ points
Adelina Polish Hill River Smith Riesling 2025 – Clare Valley – 95 points
By Fabiano Greco 2025 – McLaren Vale – 95 points
Scanlon Fumé Blanc 2025 – Piccadilly Valley – 95 points
Werkstatt Riesling 2025 – Mount Gambier – 95 points
Inkwell Yellow Grillo 2025 – McLaren Vale – 94 points
Click here to view more of Halliday’s top 100 categories.
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