Halliday Wine Companion announces shortlist

Halliday Wine Companion has announced the return of its annual awards.

Streamed online last year, this year’s event will be held in ceremony format at Stokehouse in Melbourne on Thursday 12 August 2021. It  will also be simultaneously broadcast locally and internationally via winecompanion.com.au.

Judging for the Halliday Wine Companion Awards was conducted by the full and revitalised Halliday Tasting Panel, led by wine critic, vigneron and editor-at-large James Halliday AM and wine expert  and chief editor Tyson Stelzer.

In March, the seven tasters, which also included Jeni Port, Ned Goodwin MW, Erin Larkin, Jane Faulkner and Tony Love, came together to nominate candidates from their respective regions for all awards categories. The panel jointly pinpointed the top-rated Australian wines, winemakers, wineries and viticulturalists from more than 9000 entrants through a series of tastings, round-table discussions and collaborative decisions.

This year’s Halliday Wine Companion awards will present seven major trophies – with the new category of Viticulturist of the Year added to the six traditional awards of Wine of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Winery of the Year, Best Value Winery, Best New Winery and Dark Horse Winery.

The top varietal winners will be awarded across 17 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.

The tasting panel’s curated 2022 shortlist can be found below.

For the first time, Halliday Wine Companion has unveiled a People’s Choice Award, which will recognise Australia’s Best Winery Experience. Voting for the award will take place online at winecompanion.com.au and can be based on anything from a standout cellar door, fantastic restaurant, friendly staff, scenic views – or anything else that contributes to an overall incredible experience.

Submissions are now open until 31 July, with the winner revealed on 7 August prior to the 2022 awards.

The awards and launch of the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion guide will mark the release of more than 9100 new tasting notes. Seventy-seven new wineries are featured in this year’s Companion, alongside refreshed star ratings and runners-up in every major award category.

More than 3200 of these notes will be released in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion, with the full 9,100 available on winecompanion.com.au.

The award-winning wines will be available at online wine retailer Vinomofo from 13 August.

The 2022 Halliday Wine Companion is available to pre-order now.

For more information about the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, visit www.winecompanion.com.au.

2022 HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION SHORTLIST

WINERY OF THE YEAR
Cullen Wines
Duke’s Vineyard
Oakridge
Shaw + Smith
Bindi Wines
Yarra Yering
Yeringberg
Moss Wood
McHenry Hohnen Vintners
Helen’s Hill Estate

WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
Duane Coates – Coates Wines
Scott Ireland – Provenance Wines
Michael Dhillon – Bindi Wines
Adam Wadewitz – Shaw + Smith
Ian Hongell – Torbreck Vintners
Glenn Goodall – Xanadu Wines

BEST VALUE WINERY
Castelli Estate
Deep Woods Estate
Castle Rock Estate
Duke’s Vineyard
Harewood Estate
Lake Breeze Wines
Mike Press Wines
Stella Bella Wines
West Cape Howe
Xanadu Wines

DARK HORSE WINERY
South by South West
Renzaglia Wines
Valhalla Wines
Galafrey
Whistling Eagle Vineyard

BEST NEW WINERY
Battles Wines
Pipan Steel
Bellebonne
LS Merchants
Vino Volta
Protero
Corryton Burge
Kerri Greens
Lowboi
Place of Changing Winds

VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR
Michael Dhillon – Bindi Wines
Vanya Cullen – Cullen Wines
Mark Walpole – Fighting Gully Road
Neil Jericho – Jericho Wines
Mark and Peter Saturno – Longview Vineyard
Ronald Brown – Maverick Wines

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