The Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show has always been special for Oliver’s Taranga. It’s known as one of the most dynamic wine shows in the country, a chance to celebrate the producers who push and creatively challenge the conventional boundaries of winemaking.
The 2025 show saw 789 entries from 69 regions and 211 exhibitors. The judging took 3 days, with Chief Judge Leanne Altmann noting that assessors were looking for “quality, interest, and excitement. Wines that have the X factor and interest.”
And this year, Oliver’s stepped into another realm entirely, taking home a trio of trophies, multiple medals, and the show’s most meaningful accolade – the inaugural Helen Healy Award for Excellence. The Helen Healy Award goes to the best in show, based on medals received.
Winemaker and Director Corrina Wright spoke with Glam Adelaide on the incredible feat, as well as the tears, the triumphs and the future of alternative varieties in South Australia.
Winning the inaugural Helen Healy Award for Excellence is huge. What did it mean to the team – and was it something you were expecting?
This was a particularly special one, hence I shed many happy tears!! Helen is such a huge inspiration in the way that she builds community with so much care, energy and passion. To win this first award in her name to celebrate her 25 years of tireless contribution to the Alternative Varietals Wine Show is an incredible honour.
We weren’t expecting to win the award – being president of the AAVWS organising committee, [I] was more focused on the excitement of surprising Helen with the new award named in her honour… We won by 1 point only!
Oliver’s Taranga has long been known for championing alternative varieties. What drives that ongoing commitment to experimentation and diversity in your vineyard? How do you do things differently?
Being all estate grown, the initial inspiration was looking for a white variety that would work in our vineyard as we are a bit too warm for the more traditional Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Investigating some of the southern Italian varietals began our journey with Fiano, knowing that it is so well suited to warmer, coastal regions, as well as our food scene.
We then caught the bug and have had some great success with being the first in Australia to plant Mencia (a Spanish red variety). We also work with Vermentino (a Sardinian white), Sagrantino (red from Umbria in Italy), Touriga (a Portuguese red) and more recently Falanghina, a white grown in Campania, the same region of Italy as Fiano.
We will always continue to look beyond the ordinary and are proud to be able to offer our customers such diversity, as well as incredible traditional varieties like Shiraz and Grenache from our little patch of McLaren Vale.
The 2025 Brionis Blend took home both a trophy and a gold medal. Can you tell us more about the inspiration and story behind that wine?
Our Brioni’s Blend is named after our Brioni Oliver, who is currently taking over the running of the vineyard from her dad, Don Oliver. She didn’t want her name on a wine, but we forced her!
The plan with this wine was to make a lovely early drinking red wine with plenty of floral lift on the nose. [We] used Touriga, Mataro and Mencia in this blend, and the result is a super juicy, berry fruited, spicy, perfumed, delicious red wine- perfect for spring and summer lunches!
Varieties like Mencia, Vermentino and Falanghina picked up major recognition. What does that say about the future of alternative varietals in South Australia?
It’s never been more exciting for the consumer to try something new.
How is the team celebrating?
We had a big team dinner on Thursday night, where one of our talented staff members (who happens to be Italian!) made us all a delish pasta Carbonara 😊 There was much mirth & celebration.
As for what’s next for the McLaren Vale favourite? Hopefully, more of the same delicious drops and commitment to doing things differently. And if the awards have taught us anything, it’s that there’s merit in the unconventional.
“We could not be more thrilled. Go on and discover these wines for yourself.”
For the AAVWS website and to view the full list of winners, click here.
Oliver’s Taranga 2025 Awards:
- The inaugural Helen Healy Award for Excellence
- Trophy for Best Blend – 2025 Brionis Blend
- Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine – 2017 The Hunt for Mrs Oliver LD Méthode Traditionnelle Fiano
- Gold Medal – 2025 Mencia
- Gold Medal – 2017 The Hunt for Mrs Oliver LD Méthode Traditionnelle Fiano
- Gold Medal – 2025 Brionis Blend
- Silver Medal – 2025 Vermentino
- Silver Medal – 2025 Falanghina
- Silver Medal – Wines of Provenance- 2015, 2021 & 2025 Fiano
More News
