A Barossa Valley winery is celebrating after being crowned Red Wine Producer of the Year at the prestigious 2025 Sommelier Choice Awards in Chicago.
The boutique Hare’s Chase Marananga winery also took home Shiraz of the Year for its bold 2021 Ironscraper Shiraz.
Matt Reynolds, Hare’s Chase General Manager and Chief Winemaker, said the team was thrilled by the recognition.
“Any winery would be happy to win a prestigious international award, so this is a great lift for the team at Hare’s Chase,” he said.
“Equally important is this was a win for a rich and opulent Barossa Valley Shiraz, which goes to show this classic Australian wine style is still winning fans around the world.”
All four Hare’s Chase wines entered into the awards received gold medals and 90+ point scores. The Ironscraper Shiraz stood out among tough international competition, with Reynolds attributing its impact to a standout vintage.

“The 2021 is widely regarded by the Barossa wine community to be one of the greats,” he said.
“And whilst the region has an enviable track record for producing consistently high quality wines year in year out, the 2021 might sit up there with some of the all-time great years for Barossa.”
The win comes as part of a growing international spotlight on wines from the Marananga sub region, where Hare’s Chase neighbours iconic names like Torbreck, Hentley Farm and Two Hands.
“We’d like to think these awards show we’re keeping up with the pack, and doing our bit to raise the profile of Marananga as the home of some of the Barossa’s best reds,” Reynolds said.
Despite the buzz, the Hare’s Chase philosophy remains grounded.
“One award won’t change our approach to winemaking at Hare’s Chase and what we’re aiming to achieve,” Reynolds said.
“We’re committed to crafting wines that stay true to the character of the region, but we’re equally determined to push new boundaries driven by the belief even better Hare’s Chase wines lie ahead.”
That drive is already taking shape with the release of two new wines.
“We’ve just released the 2022 Endurance Grenache and the 2022 St. Melangell Cabernet Sauvignon,” Reynolds said.
“Whilst there’s no doubt Shiraz is the hero of the district, these two new wines showcase the incredible versatility of the Marananga sub region. It’s a winemaker’s paradise.”
Looking ahead, Reynolds sees awards like the Sommelier Choice not just as accolades, but as door openers.
“We’re not here to put socks on a centipede,” he said with a laugh.
“Yes, the Hare’s Chase team takes great pride when we win awards like this, but more importantly they play a key role in raising awareness of what we’re doing, and they certainly help when it comes to winning a place on some of the best restaurant wine lists in the world.”
Hare’s Chase, Barossa Valley
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