Victoria has once again cemented itself as Australia’s wine powerhouse, with several local producers dominating The Real Review Top Wineries of Australia rankings for 2026.
Leading the list is Yarra Yering, which was named Winery of the Year for the third time. The win also marks the sixth consecutive year a Victorian winery has claimed the national top spot.
Fellow Yarra Valley producer Levantine Hill secured second place overall, reinforcing Victoria’s strong hold on the country’s premium wine scene.
The annual rankings recognised wineries across Australia for excellence in winemaking, consistency and overall contribution to the industry, with Victoria and South Australia each placing four wineries in the national top 10.
Victoria also picked up major category wins across the awards.
Beechworth winery Fighting Gully Road took home White Wine of the Year for its Smiths’ Vineyard Chardonnay 2023, while Rutherglen producer Campbells Wines claimed Fortified Wine of the Year with its Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat NV.
According to The Real Review Principal Wine Writer Huon Hooke, Victoria’s continued success reflects the strength and diversity of the state’s wine regions.
“Victoria and South Australia were strongly represented in this year’s Top 10 wineries, each with four placements, reflecting their strength in Australia’s fine wine landscape.”
Beyond the top rankings, Victoria accounted for more than a quarter of all wineries featured in the national list, making up 26.1 per cent of the 429 highest-ranked producers across the country.
The results also highlight the growing reputation of Victorian regions including the Yarra Valley, Beechworth and Rutherglen, which continue attracting attention for cool-climate wines, innovative producers and longstanding winemaking traditions.
