The Halliday Wine Companion has released the shortlist for its 2025 awards, with more than 60 new producers entering this year. The annual Halliday Wine Companion will be released after the awards on 7 August.
For almost 30 years, the Halliday Wine Companion has served as a guide to Australian wine, with this year’s team reviewing over 7500 wines from more than 1100 wineries. The awards shortlist celebrates the best of Australian wine at the moment, with nominees spanning Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia.
The Awards judging was conducted in March, over a two day blind tasting, by the Halliday Tasting Team – which includes Halliday founder James Halliday and chief editor Campbell Mattinson.
Seven major trophies will be awarded on the night, including Wine of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Winery of the Year, Viticulturist of the Year, Best Value Winery, Best New Winery, Dark Horse Winery, together with the second inductee into the James Halliday Hall of Fame: Australian Wine Industry. The winners of 16 varietal categories will also be announced, including Sparkling of the Year, Shiraz of the Year, and Riesling of the Year, alongside White Wine of the Year and Red Wine of the Year.
The 2025 Companion sees over 60 new producers submit their wines for the first time, along with tasting notes and scores for thousands of wines reviewed throughout the year.
Wine lovers also have the opportunity to participate in online voting for the Halliday Wine Companion People's Choice Award, celebrating the best winery experience. Nominations are based on criteria including standout cellar door experiences, outstanding restaurant offerings, friendly and knowledgeable staff, scenic views, and overall quality of wines. Submissions are open until 24 July 24, with the winner announced on 3 August.
The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards ceremony will take place at Ormond Hall at The Commons Collective in Melbourne on 7 August – with the event broadcast via livestream at winecompanion.com.au.
The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion will be on sale the day after the awards, but is available to pre-order now. The full shortlist is included below.
2025 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION SHORTLIST
WINERY OF THE YEAR:
Alkina Wine, Barossa Valley Brokenwood, Hunter Valley
Giant Steps, Yarra Valley
House of Arras, Northern Tasmania Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR:
Colin McBride, Adelina, Clare Valley
Jacinta Jenkins, Balnaves of Coonawarra, Coonawarra
Andre Bondar, Bondar Wines, McLaren Vale Gareth Belton, Gentle Folk, Adelaide Hills Melanie Chester, Giant Steps, Yarra Valley Simon Osicka, Paul Osicka, Heathcote
Liz Silkman, Silkman Wines, Hunter Valley
Liam McElhinney, Tasmanian Vintners, Southern Tasmania
Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix, Margaret River
VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR:
Troy McInnes, Chalmers, Murray Darling Steve Faulkner, Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley Justin Jarrett, See Saw Wines, Orange
Rhys Thomas, Swinney, Frankland River Nigel Blieschke, Torbreck, Barossa Valley Bart Molony, Vasse Felix, Margaret River Bernard & Wayne Smart, Smart Vineyards, Various
BEST VALUE WINERY:
Billy Button Wines, Alpine Valleys Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek Bremerton Wines, Langhorne Creek De Bortoli, Yarra Valley
Forest Hill Vineyard, Great Southern Mulline, Geelong
Stella Bella Wines, Margaret River Trentham Estate, Murray Darling
BEST NEW WINERY:
Dilworth & Allain, Macedon Ranges Granjoux, Beechworth
HATCH, Barossa Valley
Iggy, Barossa Valley
Jane Eyre, Yarra Valley
Sami-Odi, Barossa Valley Utzinger, Tasmania
Vinya Vella, Barossa Valley
DARK HORSE WINERY:
Amour Wines, Orange
ChaLou, Orange
Samson Tall, McLaren Vale
See Saw Wines, Orange
Solum, Mornington Peninsula
The Pawn Wine Co., South Australia
