Pictured: Emberton Wines
Time and time again, South Australia has been named one of the best wine producers in the nation. The 2026 Halliday People’s Choice Awards have only confirmed that reputation, with five local wineries making the prestigious Top 10 list. The public voted on a range of criteria, including the cellar door experience, friendliness of staff, and quality of the wines, and the top wineries from all across the nation have now been revealed.
While Victoria’s Brown Brothers took out the overall title, the strength of South Australia’s regions was impossible to miss.
Few cellar doors capture the imagination quite like Down the Rabbit Hole in McLaren Vale, the runner-up. With its iconic pastel double-decker bus parked on the lawns, relaxed picnic vibes and Fiore restaurant, this venue brings that relaxed vibe to the wine tasting experience. This is a spot that’s all about atmosphere, offering everything from weekly pizza and wine nights to sunset sessions with live music. It’s a quintessential McLaren Vale winery!
Dom and Elise from the Down the Rabbit Hole team shared, “We are absolutely over the moon to be voted onto this list. We’ve poured so much love and energy into not just making beautiful wine, but also creating a whole experience to wrap around it. To know that it’s bringing so much joy to so many people means the world to us!”
Coming in fourth place was Laughing Jack in the Barossa, proving that intimacy and authenticity are just as powerful as grandeur. This family-owned and operated winery is open only on Fridays and Saturdays, offering visitors a personal, behind-the-scenes look at their wines. Bookings are essential due to limited space, but those who make it through the door are greeted with a genuine family welcome and a tasting that feels more like sharing a bottle with old friends than a formal wine flight.
“It was incredibly humbling to see our name in the top 10, amongst other such prestigious wineries. We’re immensely grateful to the people who voted for us. People’s Choice Awards give consumers a voice and are the very best rewards to receive,” shared Briony Kalleske, the Cellar Door Manager at Laughing Jack.
Also flying the flag for the Barossa is Elderton Wines. Housed in a stately 1918 gentleman’s bungalow, the cellar door brings a mix of heritage and hominess. The experiences here are diverse, allowing you to dive into an in-depth tasting or something more relaxed. They have a Behind the Vines tour that takes you through their three vineyards before ending in the winery, and even a Taste, Set and Match experience where you can enjoy a private tasting, food and a friendly hit of tennis on-site.
“As a family-owned winery, being recognised by the public in this way is genuinely humbling. It’s a reflection of the passion, care, and dedication our entire team brings to Elderton each day. This kind of support is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do — to craft exceptional wines and share them with the people who appreciate and champion our journey, year after year,” shared Jodhi Thoms, the Elderton Cellar Door Manager and Commander Concierge.
Seventh place rounds out a trio of Barossa venues, with the iconic Château Tanunda. Built in the late 1800s, it is one of the most famous winery buildings in the Barossa, and is now a spot where visitors can enjoy a tasting, tour the property, or even pair a game of croquet with a glass of red. The Château has accommodation on site and a partnership with The Rocks in Sydney, which brings a taste of the Barossa to the east coast.
“We are incredibly proud of our entire Château Tanunda cellar door team for receiving this recognition from our own visitors. It is an amazing achievement and marks the second time we’ve made it into the top 10 list, so it’s a truly rewarding accolade that highlights the work and passion we put in is very much noticed by our visitors,” shared Mitchell McKenzie, Head of Direct Business.
Last but not least is McLaren Vale’s Thicker Than Water. This winery came in eighth place and is famed for its tinted purple glass cube cellar door. Inside, you’ll find an experience that’s sociable and seamless, and unique each time you visit.
“We are very excited to be part of this list! We have some amazing awards for our wines, but to be recognised particularly by the people for our cellar door and the experience we have created is really special. We are very grateful for the people who took the time to vote and look forward to sharing our experience and wines with future visitors,” shared Campbell Greer, General Manager and Senior Winemaker at Thicker Than Water.
With five wineries in the national Top 10, South Australia has once again proven why it is regarded as Australia’s premier wine state.
2026 Halliday People’s Choice Award Top 10
- Brown Brothers, King Valley
- Down the Rabbit Hole, McLaren Vale
- Brokenwood, Hunter Valley
- Laughing Jack, Barossa Valley
- Elderton, Barossa Valley
- Howard Park, Margaret River
- Château Tanunda, Barossa Valley
- Thicker Than Water, McLaren Vale
- Best’s Wines, Great Western
- Cofield Wines, Rutherglen
For more information and to check out the list, click here.
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