The 2021 Halliday Wine Companion Awards celebrated the best of Australia’s wine industry, with Barossa Valley’s Henschke taking out Winery of the Year, and Hunter Valley's 2018 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz awarded Wine of the Year.
The awards, presented by Vintage Cellars, was broadcast online for the first time and hosted by Jon Faine and Halliday Wine Companion’s James Halliday AM.
The judging panel tasted around 10,000 Australian wines, unveiling 21 winners in total, including six major winners and 16 varietal winners.
James Halliday said that after such a difficult year, with specific challenges for those in the wine community, celebration were in order more than ever.
“I am still optimistic about what lies ahead. There isn’t a winemaker worthy of the name who doesn’t step up to the plate with the ambition of producing better wines than they have achieved in prior vintages,” said Halliday.
This year’s major awards represent regions including; Barossa Valley (2), McLaren Vale, Hunter Valley, Greater Western and Riverina, and the varietal winners include; Tasmania, Western Victoria, Hunter Valley (3), Margaret River (3), Geelong (2), Yarra Valley (3) and Barossa Valley (2).
Vintage Cellars will provide the award-winning wines online and in stores around the country for consumers to purchase, which vary in different price points.
2021 Halliday Wine Companion Awards winners
Winery of the Year: Henschke, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Wine of the Year: Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley, 2018 – 99 points
Winemaker of the Year: Brett Grocke of Eperosa Wines, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Value Winery of the Year: Best’s Wines, Great Western, Victoria
Best New Winery: Varney Wines, McLaren Vale, South Australia
Dark Horse Winery of the Year: Yarran Wines, Riverina, New South Wales
2021 Varietal Winners
Riesling – 2019 Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Riesling – 98 points
Chardonnay – 2017 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay – 99 points
Semillon - 2014 Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon – 99 points
Sauvignon Blanc – 2018 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc – 97 points
Other White Varieties and Blends – 2019 Stargazer Tupelo – 97 points
Sparkling – 2005 House of Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged – 99 points
Sweet – 2018 Lethbridge Botrytis Riesling TBA – 99 points
Rosé – 2019 Nocturne Carbunup SR Sangiovese Nebbiolo Rose – 96 points
Pinot Noir - 2017 Bannockburn Serré Pinot Noir – 99 points
Cabernet Sauvignon – 2016 Moss Wood Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon – 99 points
Cabernet Sauvignon and Family – 2018 Mount Mary Quinet – 99 points
Shiraz – 2018 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz – 99 points *Also Winner of the Wine of The Year Award
Grenache and Blends – 2018 Brothers at War Single Vineyard Grenache – 99 points
Shiraz Viognier – 2019 Serrat Yarra Valley Shiraz Viognier – 98 points
