Entries are now open for the 2026 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, celebrating excellence, innovation and craftsmanship across the Australian wine industry. The competition has grown to attract over 2300 entries annually.
Established in 1883, the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards have evolved into one of Australia's most prestigious wine competitions, continuing to reflect contemporary winemaking practices, evolving consumer trends and the rich diversity of Australia's wine regions.
The 2026 awards have introduced streamlined judging for Best Single Varietal White, Best Single Varietal Red and Best Red Blend, with classes no longer split by varietal and vintage but by varietal only, providing greater submission opportunities for exhibitors.
Meanwhile the Design Award criteria has been refined following industry feedback to ensure a simpler and more relevant assessment process, with exhibitors also having the opportunity to provide additional product information to support judging.
In total, more than 20 major trophies will be awarded across Australia's leading wine styles and regions, alongside state-based trophies recognising excellence in key varietals.
Melbourne Royal senior manager food and beverage awards, Kirrily Waldhorn, said each year, the awards provide a vital platform for Australian winemakers to benchmark their wines against the very best.
“Beyond the opportunity to compete for the industry's most prestigious honours, the awards celebrate excellence across every region and style, while recognising the innovation and craftsmanship driving Australian winemaking forward,” said Waldhorn.
The Melbourne Royal food and beverage award programs celebrate excellence in agri-food production in Australia and around the world. The International Beer Awards have already taken place for 2026, with winners of the Australian International Spirits Awards and Melbourne Royal Food Awards expected in late July and September respectively.
Judging for the 2026 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards will take place at Melbourne Showgrounds from 19-23 October, with entries assessed through a rigorous blind-tasting process by expert judging panels comprising leading winemakers, wine professionals and industry associates.
Wines are grouped regionally to enable like-for-like comparisons and assessed using the internationally recognised 100-point scoring system. Trophy winners undergo multiple rounds of evaluation, including re-tasting and ranking through the Borda Count method.
Chair of judges, Marcus Satchell, said the standard of entries continues to be exceptionally high year on year, reflecting the depth and diversity of Australian winemaking.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what 2026 brings. Our judging process is rigorous and considered, ensuring every wine is assessed fairly and consistently through blind tasting to identify true excellence across each category,” said Satchell.
Entries for the 2026 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards are now open, and close on 28 August. Head to melbourneroyal.com.au for further information and to enter.
