Halliday Wine Companion has announced the shortlisted wineries, winemakers, and viticulturists for the highly anticipated 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
The esteemed new-look Halliday Tasting Team is comprised of nine panelists, including new chief editor Campbell Mattinson, one of the founding editors of Halliday magazine in 2012 and a Halliday Wine Companion reviewer since 2013.
This year’s winners were determined through a series of tastings and round-table discussions, meaning each title awarded is the result of a truly collaborative effort. Each panelist is responsible for tasting and reviewing wines from a specific region around the country. It’s a year-round process which allows for continuity, connection and specialist expertise.
The Halliday Tasting Team, which is comprised of James Halliday AM, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Mike Bennie, Ned Goodwin MW, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale, came together in April 2023 to blind taste, examine and finalise candidates from their respective regions for each awards category, before deciding the ultimate winners. This year, more than 8500 wines were tasted, and over 50 new wineries discovered – the panel has carefully selected the top-rated Australian wines, winemakers, wineries, and viticulturists.
The Shortlist represents the pinnacle of Australian winemaking, with wineries from Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and New South Wales. It is a testament to the high standards and diversity of the Australian wine market, showcasing the best the country has to offer.
In addition to the exciting shortlist announcement, the People’s Choice Award returns for its third year. This award allows wine enthusiasts to have their say and recognise Australia’s best winery experience. Voting is now open to the public on winecompanion.com.au/peoples-choice-voting, enabling participants to celebrate outstanding cellar doors, remarkable restaurants, friendly staff, picturesque views, and exceptional wines. Voters also have the chance to win a prize pack valued at over $1,400, featuring exceptional wines and wine accessories. The winner of the People's Choice Award will be revealed on 29 July 2023.
The prestigious Halliday Wine Companion Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday August 2, at the distinguished Stokehouse in St Kilda. Before the release of the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion on Thursday August 3.
During the ceremony the major awards will be presented: Wine of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Winery of the Year, Viticulturist of the Year, Best Value Winery, Best New Winery, and Dark Horse Winery. The top varietal winners will be announced across seventeen categories including Red Wine of the Year, White Wine of the Year, Sparkling of the Year, Shiraz of the Year, and Riesling of the Year.
As we gather once again to honour the remarkable resilience and dedication of the Australian wine industry, the Halliday Wine Companion Awards stand as a testament to the passion and expertise that shape the country's winemaking landscape.
The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion is available to pre-order now and will be on sale 3 August 2023. For more information about the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, please visit winecompanion.com.au.
@winecompanion winecompanion.com.au
ABOUT HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION AWARDS
Every year, the Halliday Wine Companion Tasting Team pinpoint the nation’s top wines, winemakers, viticulturists and wineries from a pool of several thousand featured in the annual Halliday Wine Companion guide. Founder James Halliday, together with Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Mike Bennie, Ned Goodwin MW, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale, cherry-pick the high performers from a range of criteria to offer a true representation of Australia’s greatest names in wine. The Awards are one of the most anticipated events on the Australian drinks calendar.
2024 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION SHORTLIST
WINERY OF THE YEAR:
All Saints Estate – Rutherglen
Bleasdale Vineyards – Langhorne Creek
First Creek Wines – Hunter Valley
Giant Steps – Yarra Valley
Leogate Estate Wines – Hunter Valley
Oakridge Wines – Yarra Valley
Penley Estate – Coonawarra
Pepper Tree Wines – Hunter Valley
Yalumba – Eden Valley
Yangarra Estate Vineyard – McLaren Vale
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR:
Colin McBryde – Adelina Wines, Clare Valley
Gerald Naef – Patina Wines, Orange
Jim Chatto – Pepper Tree Wines, Hunter Valley
Kate Goodman – Penley Estate, Coonawarra
Mark Messenger – Juniper Estate, Margaret River
Michael Downer – Murdoch Hill, Adelaide Hills
Paul Dahlenburg – Eldorado Road & Baileys of Glenrowan, Beechworth/Glenrowan
Sam Middleton – Mount Mary, Yarra Valley
Samantha Connew – Stargazer, Tasmania
VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR:
Bart Maloney – Vasse Felix, Margaret River
Dr Dylan Grigg – Consultant, Various
Jacob Stein – Robert Stein Vineyard, Mudgee Liz Riley – Scarborough Wine Co & Mistletoe Wines, Hunter Valley
Mark Walpole – Fighting Gully Road, Beechworth
Michael Lane – Yangarra Estate Vineyard & Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard, McLaren Vale
Rhys Thomas – Swinney, Frankland Rive
Stuart Proud – Thousand Candles, Yarra Valley
BEST VALUE WINERY:
Billy Button Wines – Alpine Valleys
Bleasdale Vineyards – Langhorne Creek
Bondar Wines – McLaren Vale
Bremerton Wines – Langhorne Creek
Briar Ridge Vineyard – Hunter Valley
Carillion Wines – Hunter Valley
Dappled Wines – Yarra Valley
De Bortoli – Yarra Valley
Mordrelle Wines – Adelaide Hills
Oakridge Wines – Yarra Valley
Two Hands Wines – Barossa Valley
Xanadu Wines – Margaret River
BEST NEW WINERY:
Entropy Wines – Gippsland
Fleet Wines – Gippsland
Gaffy & Neal – Mornington Peninsula
Gentle Folk – Adelaide Hills
Joshua Cooper Wines – Victoria
MMAD – McLaren Vale
Neldner Road – Barossa Valley
Nightfall Wines – Coonawarra
Terrason Wines – Victoria
Winmark Wines – Hunter Valley
DARK HORSE WINERY:
Anderson & Marsh – Alpine Valleys
Curator Wine Company – Barossa Valley
Emilian – Yarra Valley
Mount Eyre Vineyards – Hunter Valley
Topper's Mountain Wines – New England
Contact details:
Mimi Gibson – Account Director | mimigibson@tidepr.co
