The winner of the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association’s 2025 Pinot Noir Challenge has caused a stir in the industry, with the Yarra Valley’s Giant Steps Wine taking out the top prize, breaking a five-year winning streak by Tasmanian entries.
A celebration of the best regions and pinot noir producers in the country, 2025 marks the eight edition of the Australian Pinot Noir Challenge, which began in 2017. The award was announced at a gala dinner held at Maison Batard on 7 October.
Led by winemaker and Pinot Noir specialist, Tom Carson, the judging panel assessed more than 300 entries from 17 regions across the country before awarding the prestigious trophy to Giant Steps’ 2024 Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir.
“The 2024 Giant Steps Applejack Pinot Noir, a wine with a storied past, has added another prestigious award to its ever-bulging trophy cabinet,” said Carson.
“The judges were captivated by this wine, exhibiting the very best of Pinot Noir in Australia: fragrant, detailed, poised, elegant, powerful, ethereal – the descriptors go on and on, just like the wine. Stunning.”
Applejack is one of the Yarra Valley’s most distinctive vineyards, with the Association stating it consistently produces Pinot Noir of depth, spice and remarkable finesse – qualities that have cemented its status among Australia’s most prestigious single-vineyard sites.
Giant Steps winemaker, Mel Chester, who took up the helm in 2021, said the company was proud to see Applejack pick up Pinot of the Year.
“Applejack is a special site, particularly for Pinot Noir, and is diligently cared for by our vineyard and winery teams. To win the Pinot Challenge for the first time on behalf of the region is a huge honour for our team and for the Yarra Valley,” said Chester.
Regional winners of the 2025 Pinot Noir Challenge included;
- Geelong – 2024 Bromley Harrison Pinot Noir
- Adelaide Hills – 2024 Heirloom Vineyards Alcazar Castle Pinot Noir
- Macedon – 2024 Kyneton Ridge Skipping Rabbit Pinot Noir
- Orange – 2024 Byrne Farm Glenidle Vineyard Pinot Noir
- Western Australia – 2024 Howard Park Flint Rock Pinot Noir
- Mornington Peninsula – 2024 Foxeys Lee Brothers Pinot Noir
- Yarra Valley – 2024 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir
- Tasmania – 2024 Frogmore Creek Wines 42 Degrees South Pinot Noir
