Australia’s annual bible of the country’s best bottled grapes, the Halliday Wine Companion, has named Hunter Valley institution Brokenwood as its Winery of the Year for 2026.
Founded 40 years ago by critic and winemaker James Halliday, who retired last year, aged 86, The Companion is the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wines, wineries and grape-growing regions. The 2026 edition includes more than 5000 tasting notes and scores, and another 7000 new notes available on winecompanion.com.au.
Meanwhile, the release of the annual wine guide is marked with Halliday Wine Companion awards, spanning several categories including Wine of the Year, Best New Winery and Best Value Winery, plus 17 of the best wines based on their grape variety.
There’s a nice link back to Halliday in Brokenwood’s recognition as Winery of the Year. Back in 1970, when he was still a Sydney lawyer, Halliday and fellow solicitors Tony Albert and John Beetson paid a record $970 an acre for a 10-acre block in the Hunter, originally destined to be a cricket ground, and planted cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, and started the winery as enthusiastic amateurs. That history lives on in one of Brokenwood’s best-sellers, Cricket Pitch.
Fast forward 55 years and South Australian Brian Croser, of Petaluma and Tapanappa fame – and yes, the sparkling that bears his name, first released in 1987 – was inducted into the James Halliday Hall of Fame, while Virginia Willcock from Vasse Felix in WA’s Margaret River was named winemaker of the year. – among several awards going to the western side of the island nation.
Victoria took home more varietal awards than any other state, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet & Blends, Rosé, Fortified, and the inaugural Wildcard of the Year award, which went to –Lethbridge Wines Yellow NV, Geelong (96 points).
More than 7000 wines were reviewed for the 2026 guide and are scored out of 100 points. More than 1000 wineries feature, including 60 new ones.
Here are some of the key details from the latest edition.
Chardonnay was the most reviewed white variety (34%) and the Barossa Valley has the most 5-star wineries in the 2026 Companion
Sutton Grange Winery in Central Victoria won Rosé of the Year for the third consecutive years for its Fairbank Rosé.
The Italian varietal fiano is Australia’s best-value grape variety, with 59% earning the book’s “Special Value” icon, taking the crown from last year’s winner, riesling.
Chenin blanc won the Other Whites & Blends varietal category for the third year in a row, and overall submissions for white grape were up by 6%
Tassie bubbles made on the outskirts of Hobart, Stefano Lubiana’s Prestige 2011, won Sparkling of the Year. Tasmania had the highest number of shortlisted sparklings overall, followed by Orange, Adelaide Hills and newcomer Geelong.
Grenache, which made up around 7.9% of all the red wines tasted for this guide, scored its own category this year (compared to grenache-dominant blends at 3.6%), which is just as well since it took out Red Wine of the Year and Wine of the Year in the Thistledown Wines of McLaren Vale This Charming Man Single Vineyard, Clarendon Grenache 2024.
The Barossa Valley has once again has the most 5-star wineries in the 2026 edition, with Margaret River and the Yarra Valley following closely behind.
VIC won more varietal awards than any other state, closely by SA in part thanks to McLaren Vale, which, as well as producing the best red, also delivered the most special value wines by region for the 2026 Companion.
The 2026 Halliday Wine Companion is now on sale in bookstores and online at winecompanion.com.au.
Here are the winners and their scores.
James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry – Brian Croser
Winery of the Year – Brokenwood, Hunter Valley, NSW
Winemaker of the Year – Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix, Margaret River, WA
Viticulturist of the Year – Dr Dylan Grigg, Vinya Vella and Meristem Viticulture
Best Value Winery – Bondar Wines, McLaren Vale, SA
Best New Winery – Elanto Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
Dark Horse Winery – bakkheia, Geographe, WA
Grenache of the Year | Red Wine of the Year | Wine of the Year – Thistledown Wines This Charming Man Single Vineyard, Clarendon Grenache 2024, McLaren Vale – 98 points
Chardonnay of the Year | White Wine of the Year – Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023, Margaret River – 99 points
Shiraz of the Year – Koomilya JC Block Shiraz 2022, McLaren Vale – 99 points
Sparkling Wine of the Year – Stefano Lubiana Prestige 2011, Tasmania – 98 points
Riesling of the Year – Leo Buring DWB17 Leonay Riesling 2024, Eden Valley – 98 points
Semillon of the Year – First Creek Wines Museum Release Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon 2017, Hunter Valley – 98 points
Sauvignon Blanc of the Year – Weaver Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Adelaide Hills – 97 points
Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year – Tar & Roses Pinot Grigio 2024, Central Victoria Zone – 96 points
Other Whites & Blends of the Year – tripe.Iscariot Kroos Chenin Blanc 2023, Margaret River – 98 points
Rosé of the Year – Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2024, Central Victoria Zone – 96 points
Pinot Noir of the Year – Mount Mary Pinot Noir 2023, Yarra Valley – 98 points
Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Devil’s Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, Margaret River – 98 points
Cabernet & Blends of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2023, Yarra Valley – 99 points
Other Reds & Blends of the Year – Tyrrell’s Wines Vat 8 Winemaker’s Selection Shiraz Cabernet 2023, Hunter Valley – 98 points
Sweet Wine of the Year – Calabria Family Wines 3 Bridges Botrytis Semillon 2024, Riverina – 96 points
Fortified Wine of the Year – All Saints Estate Museum Muscadelle NV, Rutherglen – 100 points
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