7th Annual Vineyard of the Year Awards (2026-2027) The 7th Annual Vineyard of the Year Awards list of Australia’s top winegrowers is now open for registrations.

As winemakers frequently say, “great wine is made in the vineyard.” The Awards are designed to place vineyards and growers across the nation at the heart of the Australian wine story, and the heart of the Australian wine community. We want to strengthen the connection between the wine in your glass, the place it comes from, and the way the grapes are grown.

The awards are about sustainability, innovation and the pursuit of vine health and wine quality. We want to hear what viticulture approaches are being incorporated, and shine a light on the work of our best growers.

These awards are a celebration of viticulture, and it is through the championing of top vineyards and their stewards, that we can elevate the awareness of their unique role in shaping the wines we love.

Criteria

Our definition of a vineyard

  • Our use of the term vineyard is about the vines growing in the land. The vineyards we are acknowledging will include both pure grape growers as well as wine producers, or vineyards with wineries attached.
  • A vineyard is a single property. It may include multiple blocks of vines on one property, but it is not a collection of multiple properties in a region.
  • A business may wish to showcase multiple vineyards in the one year of our awards by entering a new application for each vineyard.

The base criteria

  • First and foremost, these awards are about championing the pursuit of grape and wine quality.
  • Vineyards will need to name a viticulturist or grower responsible for the vineyard, as these awards recognise the place and person hand-in-hand.
  • These awards are open to grape growers who sell fruit to winemakers, as well as wine producers who grow their own fruit.
  • Growers will need to be able to name wines that are made from the grapes grown on that vineyard. Wine products which are blends of multiple fruit sources are acceptable.
  • We are looking for viticulturists who are committed to improving vineyard health. To that end, “sustainability” will be a fundamental element of these awards. Sustainability encompassing one or all of the following: environmental, economic and social endeavours.

“While it’s called the ‘Vineyard of the Year Awards’, and yes there are four trophies, really, the trophies are just a by-product of the bigger picture and intent of the program,” awards judge Max Allen says.

“The ‘awards’ process enables us to dig deep into the best practices and share learnings. There are so many great growers out there and we want to share their stories. These awards are a celebration of a large group and a collective mission each year, and our focus is around curating leading vineyards and growers to promote the common objective.”

 

Calendar

  • Registrations open, August 10, 2026
  • Finalists announced, early 2027
  • Trade event, Sydney, June 1, 2027
  • Trade event, Brisbane, June 8, 2027
  • Trade event, Melbourne, June 15, 2027
  • The Growers Gathering, Melbourne, June 15, 2026

7th Annual Vineyard of the Year Awards (2026-2027)

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