Halliday Wine Companion finalists unveiled

After tasting over 7,500 wines from across Australia, the judging panel for the 2025 edition of Halliday Wine Companion has revealed the shortlists for six of the main accolades including Winery of the Year, Best Value Winery, Winemaker of the Year, and Best New Winery.

The nominees spanning Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia.

The 2025 edition saw over 60 producers submit their wines for the first time.

The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards ceremony will take place at Ormond Hall at The Commons Collective in Melbourne on Wednesday, August 7.

The event will also be broadcast via livestream at winecompanion.com.au.

The shortlists are

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