Our lead producers, and our lead wines, are the pathway forward. We are fortunate that our best producers continue to be so relentless in their drive to be, every year, that little bit better. Australian wine needs them to be. We present the 2025 Winery of the Year Shortlist – meet our finalists below.
Alkina Wine Estate
Where: Barossa Valley, South Australia
Established: 2015
Winemakers: Amelia Nolan and Alberto Antonini
Viticulturist: Johnny Schuster
Why: "This is a play at quality of the most serious kind... This is a producer you need to get across."
Brokenwood
Where: Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Established: 1970
Winemakers: Stuart Hordern and Kate Sturgess
Viticulturist: Kat Barry
Why: "Brokenwood’s form right now could not be stronger."
Giant Steps
Where: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Established: 1997
Winemakers: Melanie Chester, Mike Latham and Jess Clark
Viticulturist: Ashley Wood
Why: "Giant Steps, right now, breathes rare air. It’s been an outstanding winery for a long time..."
House of Arras
Where: Northern Tasmania
Established: 1995
Winemaker: Ed Carr
Viticulturist: Daniel Watson
Why: "This endeavour is a treasure of Australian wine, full stop."
Oakridge Wines
Where: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Established: 1978
Winemaker: David Bicknell
Viticulturist: Steve Faulkner
Why: "Oakridge is a superb team at the top of its game."
Silkman Wines
Where: Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Established: 2013
Winemakers: Liz Silkman and Shaun Silkman
Why: "Silkman is a producer who knows its territory and who, by virtue of its unflinching quality standards, makes a stand for it."
2025 People's Choice Award
Voting is now open for the 2025 Halliday People's Choice Award. While the Awards celebrates the best of the best in Australian wine, the People's Choice Award honours the best winery experience from around the country. Cast your vote and go into the running to win the ultimate prize pack valued at over $1900. Vote now.
2025 Taste the Awards events
Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Taste the Awards events. Meet some of the winning winemakers and be the first to taste the top wines of the year. Taste the Awards 2025 is an exclusive showcase of award-winning wines and wineries from the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. Secure your tickets below.Taste the Awards: Melbourne
Thursday August 8, 2024
Sophia, Prahran
Book here
Taste the Awards: Brisbane
Thursday August 15, 2024
Blackbird, Brisbane City
Book here
The winner of each category will be announced at the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards on Wednesday August 7, 2024.
The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion is available from August 8. You can pre-order your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide here.
*This is an edited extract from the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by Vera Babida.
Quotes by Campbell Mattinson.
