Pictured: Wynns Coonawarra Winemaking Team
South Australia has once again cemented its reputation as the heartland of Australian wine, claiming the lion’s share in The Real Review’s freshly released 2025 Top Wineries of Australia list. With an impressive 36% of all listed wineries hailing from SA, the state has outpaced every other wine-producing region in the country—solidifying its place as a powerhouse in the industry.
Among the standout performers, Wynns Coonawarra Estate has surged 21 places to claim the coveted #5 spot in the national rankings. Not far behind, iconic labels Yalumba (#6), Seppeltsfield (#7), and Wendouree (#10) round out a top ten that strongly features South Australian excellence.
The Barossa Valley led the charge regionally, boasting 44 of the awarded wineries—more than any other single wine region in Australia. This accounts for 11% of the entire national list, reflecting the Barossa’s continued strength in both heritage and innovation. Meanwhile, McLaren Vale also earned a nod with S.C. Pannell taking out Rosé Wine of the Year for its 2024 Arido Rosé, highlighting SA’s stylistic diversity beyond reds and shiraz.
In the Adelaide Hills, Gareth Belton of Gentle Folk was awarded Rising Star of the Year, a major new category introduced in this eighth edition of the rankings. Belton’s precise and expressive single-site Pinot Noir and Chardonnay captivated the panel with their subtlety and nuance, showcasing the quiet confidence of the region’s next generation of winemakers.
Acclaimed wine critic and The Real Review’s Principal Wine Writer, Huon Hooke, praised South Australia’s consistent quality, stating, “South Australia again contributed the largest share of the rankings. Wynns Coonawarra Estate stood out, but so many wineries from the region performed exceptionally, underscoring the depth of talent across the state.”
The rankings, based on almost 15,000 tastings across two years and assessed through a proprietary algorithm, saw 414 wineries recognised out of more than 2,700 producers nationally. Each Top Wineries Certificate awarded is a marker of excellence—and South Australia dominates the conversation.
The 2025 Winery of the Year was awarded to Wine by Farr (Geelong, VIC), which also held the title in 2022. Victoria claimed nine of the top 20 spots, including both White and Red Wine of the Year. However, South Australia’s wide representation across categories—from fortified to rosé—speaks to the state’s versatility and depth.
Whether it’s the heritage names of the Barossa, the precision of Coonawarra Cabernet, or the refined modernity of Hills-grown Pinot, South Australian wineries continue to lead the country by example.
Top 50 Wineries
- Wine by Farr – Geelong – 140 reviews
- Yarra Yering – Yarra Valley – 179 reviews
- Levantine Hill – Yarra Valley – 114 reviews
- Giant Steps – Yarra Valley – 228 reviews
- Wynns Coonawarra Estate – Coonawarra – 308 reviews
- Yalumba – Barossa – 482 reviews
- Seppeltsfield – Barossa Valley – 126 reviews
- Oakridge Wines – Yarra Valley – 351 reviews
- Cullen Wines – Wilyabrup – 205 reviews
- Wendouree – Clare Valley – 87 reviews
- Tyrrell’s Wines – Lower Hunter – 430 reviews
- Mount Pleasant – Lower Hunter – 228 reviews
- Eisenstone – Barossa Valley – 42 reviews
- Mount Mary Vineyard – Yarra Valley – 98 reviews
- Bindi Wines – Macedon Ranges – 134 reviews
- Henschke – Eden Valley – 403 reviews
- Hentley Farm – Barossa Valley – 150 reviews
- Brokenwood Wines – Lower Hunter – 478 reviews
- Grosset – Clare Valley – 259 reviews
- Ten Minutes by Tractor – Mornington Peninsula – 189 reviews
- Morris – Rutherglen – 54 reviews
- Chambers Rosewood – Rutherglen – 57 reviews
- Pooley Wines – Tasmania – 159 reviews
- Wolf Blass – Barossa Valley – 256 reviews
- Torbreck – Barossa Valley – 221 reviews
- Giaconda – Beechworth – 92 reviews
- Jim Barry Wines – Clare Valley – 313 reviews
- Yangarra Estate Vineyard – McLaren Vale – 191 reviews
- Lake’s Folly – Lower Hunter – 32 reviews
- Pfeiffer – Rutherglen – 116 reviews
- Cherubino Wines – Western Australia – 230 reviews
- De Salis – Orange – 117 reviews
- Serrat – Yarra Valley – 12 reviews
- Sidewood Estate – Adelaide Hills – 165 reviews
- Tolpuddle Vineyard – Coal River Valley – 38 reviews
- L.A.S Vino – Margaret River – 65 reviews
- Hickinbotham – McLaren Vale – 63 reviews
- d’Arenberg – McLaren Vale – 438 reviews
- Penfolds – South Australia – 1234 reviews
- Rodda – Beechworth – 59 reviews
- Bass Phillip – Gippsland – 117 reviews
- Quealy – Mornington Peninsula – 145 reviews
- Shaw + Smith – Adelaide Hills – 164 reviews
- Bannockburn Vineyards – Geelong – 139 reviews
- Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown – Beechworth – 104 reviews
- Yeringberg – Yarra Valley – 135 reviews
- Flametree – Margaret River – 130 reviews
- Moss Wood – Wilyabrup – 263 reviews
- Grant Burge – Barossa Valley – 246 reviews
- Spinifex – Barossa Valley – 86 reviews
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