The Halliday Wine Companion’s has announced the return of its annual awards ceremony after also unveiling the shortlist of finalists for the 2022 awards.
The ceremony will take place at Stokehouse in St Kilda on August 12, and will also feature the online stream after it was first introduced for last year’s awards.
This year the awards will feature seven major trophies, with the new category of Viticulturist of the Year joining the six traditional awards, including Wine of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Winery of the Year, Best Value Winery, Best New Winery, and Dark Horse Winery. In addition, the year’s top varietal winners will be awarded across seventeen categories, including Red Wine of the Year, White Wine of the Year, Sparkling of the Year, Shiraz of the Year, and Riesling of the Year, to name a few.
This year’s shortlist explores the best of Australian wine and is described as “a pre-celebration for the Australian wine industry, recognising the high industry standards of the Australian market”.
Here is this year’s shortlist:
WINERY OF THE YEAR
- Cullen Wines
- Duke’s Vineyard
- Oakridge
- Shaw + Smith
- Bindi Wines
- Yarra Yering
- Yeringberg
- Moss Wood
- McHenry Hohnen Vintners
- Helen’s Hill Estate
WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR
- Duane Coates – Coates Wines
- Scott Ireland – Provenance Wines
- Michael Dhillon – Bindi Wines
- Adam Wadewitz – Shaw + Smith
- Ian Hongell – Torbreck Vintners
- Glenn Goodall – Xanadu Wines
BEST VALUE WINERY
- Castelli Estate
- Deep Woods Estate
- Castle Rock Estate
- Duke’s Vineyard
- Harewood Estate
- Lake Breeze Wines
- Mike Press Wines
- Stella Bella Wines
- West Cape Howe
- Xanadu Wines
DARK HORSE WINERY
- South by South West
- Renzaglia Wines
- Valhalla Wines
- Galafrey
- Whistling Eagle Vineyard
BEST NEW WINERY
- Battles Wines
- Pipan Steel
- Bellebonne
- LS Merchants
- Vino Volta
- Protero
- Corryton Burge
- Kerri Greens
- Lowboi
- Place of Changing Winds
VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR
- Michael Dhillon – Bindi Wines
- Vanya Cullen – Cullen Wines
- Mark Walpole – Fighting Gully Road
- Neil Jericho – Jericho Wines
- Mark and Peter Saturno – Longview Vineyard
- Ronald Brown – Maverick Wines
Also, for the first time this year, Halliday Wine Companion has unveiled a People’s Choice Award, which will recognise Australia’s Best Winery Experience according to the people who have visited it.
Voting will take place online at winecompanion.com.au and can be based on anything from a standout cellar door, fantastic restaurant, friendly staff, scenic views – or anything else that contributes to an overall incredible experience.
Submissions are open until midnight, July 31, with each submission putting voters in the running to win a prize pack boasting the best of the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards and much more. The People’s Choice Award winner will be revealed on August 7, prior to the 2022 Awards.