Victorian winery Giant Steps has taken out the title of Winery of the Year in the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. The Yarra Valley winery also won best pinot noir for its 2023 Applejack Pinot Noir.
Other major winners from Victoria included Mulline from Geelong in the Best Value Winery category, and the Yarra Valley’s Oakridge won Wine of the Year for its 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022. It was also crowned as White Wine of the Year and Chardonnay of the Year.
In addition to Giant Steps’ Pinot and Oakridge’s Chardonnay, Victoria also won more varietal categories than any other state for the 2025 Companion:
- Sparkling Wine of the Year – Brown Brothers Patricia Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2018, King Valley.
- Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year – Quealy Winemakers Feri Maris Single Block Pinot Grigio 2023, Mornington Peninsula.
- Other Reds & Blends of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 2022, Yarra Valley.
- Shiraz of the Year – Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2 2022, Yarra Valley.
- Rosé of the Year – Sutton Grange Winery Fairbank Rosé 2023, Central Victoria.
- Cabernet & Blends – Mount Mary Quintet 2022, Yarra Valley.
- Fortified of the Year – All Saints Estate Museum Muscat NV, Rutherglen.
The Halliday Wine Companion Award winners were determined collaboratively by the Halliday Tasting Team, including chief editor Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale, and Toni Paterson MW.
“The Tasting Team reviewed over 7500 wines for the 2025 Companion and we’re proud to be able to share the best of Australian wine with fellow enthusiasts, industry peers, and those new to the world of wine,” said Halliday Wine Companion’s Head of Tasting, Katrina Butler.
The Awards also mark the release of the wine-enthusiast’s bible, the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, which is available in stores nationally from Thursday August 8.
The Companion is the bestselling and definitive guide to Australian wines, wineries, and grape-growing regions. The 2025 edition of the Companion includes over 5000 tasting notes and scores, and there are more than 7500 new notes available online at winecompanion.com.au.
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