Best Australian Wines Revealed at 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Awards

James Halliday AM

It's no secret that we love our wines here at TLSE. I mean, if Rosé Friday wasn't the biggest hint, you'll likely be pleased to discover we are a bunch of adult women who enjoy the finer things in life. However, and I don't know about you, sometimes the shelves at Dan Murphy's can feel intimidating, and never mind the local fine wines bottle shop that really knows their shit! Sure, I know what I like and I operate on a rotating roster of my favourite sparklings, rosés, whites, reds, and occasional stickies, but there is so much more out there and I don't even really know where to start!

So thank God there are far more knowledgeable people in the wine world than me because last month, the highly anticipated 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Awards were hosted at the prominent Stokehouse restaurant in St Kilda, Melbourne. The ceremony celebrated the best of the best, recognising the nation’s top wines, winemakers, viticulturists and wineries setting the industry benchmark for the Australian wine sphere. And now I know what to keep an eye out for next time I'm in the bottle shop!

Viticulturist of the Year - Tom Carson

The Awards were hosted by Halliday Wine Companion’s chief editor Tyson Stelzer in front of a crowd of 125 guests. He was joined throughout the night by founder James Halliday AM, as well as the wider Halliday Tasting Team – Ned Goodwin MW, Erin Larkin, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Dave Brookes and Philip Rich (seriously, what a job!) – to announce this year’s honourees.

Best New Winery - Living Roots

Off the back of continued streaming success, a special 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Awards program was once again broadcast locally on Channel 31, and internationally via winecompanion.com.au. The highly anticipated program was co-hosted by chief editor Tyson Stelzer and renowned wine journalist and Tasting Team member Jeni Port. Together they presented the nominees and declared this year’s winners. The pair discussed this year’s intensive tasting and Award judging process, conducted blind for the first time in the Companion’s history.

Dark Horse Winery - LAS Vino

“This year’s results are a wonderful testimony to the tremendous diversity of Australian wine at the top of its game. Our winners hail from the who’s who of large estates in famous regions and from small boutiques in remote outposts. It’s exciting to see unexpected places and estates stepping forward with wines that have topped their classes. It is with immense pride that we introduce the winners of the Halliday Awards 2023, the most anticipated announcement on the Australian wine calendar.”

– Halliday Wine Companion chief editor, Tyson Stelzer

Wine of the Year - Best's

This year’s major Awards-represented regions include Margaret River, Tasmania, Yarra Valley, Great Western, and Adelaide Hills, with the varietal winners spanning five states: South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.

Winery of the Year - Pooley

The Awards also mark the release of the wine-enthusiast’s bible, the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion, available in stores nationally from today. The book is a comprehensive guide to Australia’s leading wines, wineries, and grape growing regions, including all Award winners and tasting notes. More than 5000 tasting notes are printed in the Companion, with more than 8000 tasting notes available online at winecompanion.com.au.

Winemaker of the Year - Glenn Goodall

And here are all the award winners for 2023...

2023 MAJOR AWARD WINNERS

Winery of the Year – Pooley Wines, Tasmania

Winemaker of the Year – Glenn Goodall, Xanadu Wines, Margaret River, WA

Viticulturist of the Year – Tom Carson, Serrat, Yarra Valley, VIC

Best New Winery – Living Roots, Adelaide Hills, SA

Dark Horse Winery – L.A.S. Vino, Margaret River, WA

Best Value Winery – Deeps Woods Estate, Margaret River, WA

Wine of the Year – Best’s Wines Foudre Ferment Riesling 2021, Great Western – 96 points

2023 VARIETAL WINNERS

Sparkling White of the Year – Gilbert Family Wines Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2016 Orange – 97 points

Sparkling Red of the Year – Teusner MC Sparkling Shiraz 2017 Barossa Valley – 95 points

Sparkling Rosé of the Year – Pipers Brook Vineyard Kreglinger Brut Rosé 2017 Tasmania – 96 points

Rosé of the Year – Spinifex Luxe 2021 Barossa – 93 points

Sauvignon Blanc of the Year – Flowstone Wines Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Margaret River – 96 points

Other Whites (and Blends) of the Year – Briar Ridge Vineyard Albariño 2021 Hunter Valley – 95 points

Semillon of the Year – Brokenwood Sunshine Vineyard Semillon 2014 Hunter Valley – 97 points

Riesling of the Year (two winners) – Henschke Julius Riesling 2021 Eden Valley – 98 points

Best’s Wines Foudre Ferment Riesling 2021, Great Western – 96 points

Chardonnay of the Year – Stella Bella Wines Luminosa Chardonnay 2020 Margaret River – 98 points

Pinot Noir of the Year – Lowestoft La Maison Pinot Noir 2020 Tasmania – 96 points

Grenache (and Blends) of the Year – Chalk Hill Alpha Crucis Old Vine Grenache 2020 McLaren Vale – 98 points

Other Reds (and Blends) of the Year – Koomilya Cabernet Touriga 2018 McLaren Vale – 97 points

Shiraz of the Year – Battles Wine Granitis Shiraz 2020 Perth Hills – 96 points

Cabernet Shiraz of the Year – Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard The Peake Cabernet Shiraz 2020 McLaren Vale– 97 points

Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year – Bleasdale Vineyards The Iron Duke Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Langhorne Creek – 98 points

Cabernet Sauvignon (and Family) of the Year – Mount Mary Quintet 2020 Yarra Valley – 98 points

Sweet Wine of the Year – Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling 2019 Victoria – 95 points

Fortified Wine of the Year – Seppeltsfield 100-Year-Old Para Vintage Tawny 1922 Barossa Valley – 100 points