In a notable shift from the traditionally male-dominated world of winemaking, women have secured the top accolades at this year’s Australian wine awards.
Liz Silkman of First Creek Wines, a family-run operation in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, was named Winemaker of the Year. Her work with semillon and chardonnay earned high praise and scores, showcasing her expertise in the craft.
However, the biggest surprise of the event came when Giant Steps, a winery based in Healesville, Victoria, outperformed industry heavyweights House of Arras and Brokenwood to claim the prestigious Winery of the Year title. Melanie Chester, who joined Giant Steps as a winemaker in 2022, led the team to this victory with a series of exceptional scores for their wines.
Among the standout wines was the Giant Steps Bastard Hill Chardonnay 2023, lauded for its “brilliant and pure scented bouquet of nashi, pink grapefruit, crushed rock, sea spray, and honeysuckle.” The wine was described as “pure and chalky on the palate,” drawing comparisons to a high-quality Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Burgundy. Another highlight from Giant Steps was the Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023, which was praised as “exotic” and “superb,” crafted from a blend of fruit from seven different pinot clones.
The fiercely contested Red Wine of the Year title was awarded to Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2, 2022, which was described as a “mesmerising blend” of shiraz (96%), marsanne (2%), mataro (1.5%), and viognier (0.5%), sourced from Yarra Valley fruit. This remarkable wine was crafted by Sarah Crowe, whose work earned it not only the Red Wine of the Year but also Shiraz of the Year, with an impressive 99 points. The judges noted that this category was particularly challenging, with three other shiraz entries also receiving 99 points. These were the Teusner Albert Shiraz 2021, Henschke Hill of Grace 2019, and Bekkers Single Vineyard Selection Clarendon Surah 2021.
Trailing close behind were some of Australia’s most sought-after wines, including Torbreck Vintners The Laird, Grant Burge Filsell 100th Anniversary Limited Edition Shiraz 2012, Mount Langi Ghiran Vineyard Shiraz 2021, Penfolds Grange 2019, Mount Pleasant O.P. & O.H. Single Vineyard Shiraz 2022, Tahbilk 1860 Vines Shiraz 2020, Tyrrell’s Vat 9 Shiraz 2022, and Wolf Blass Platinum Label 2022.
The White Wine of the Year was awarded to Oakridge Yarra Valley 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2022, another triumph for the Yarra Valley.
In the category of Cabernet and blends, Mount Mary Quintet 2022 from the Yarra Valley took top honors with a score of 98 points.
The award for Sparkling Wine of the Year was given to Brown Brothers Patricia Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2018, from Victoria’s King Valley, which also earned 98 points.
This year’s James Halliday Wine Companion Awards highlighted the rising influence of women in the winemaking industry, celebrating their achievements with some of the most prestigious awards in the field.
