It is beyond exciting to announce the dates and cities for my 100 Best Australian Wines 2026 Festival series. This year, I welcome two new cities onto the list, with a first 100 Best foray in Manchester, supported by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and York, with expert chef and renowned restaurateur Andrew Pern. You will see above the links to these events, so you can also purchase tickets. This promises to be the finest 100 Best celebration of elite Australian wines ever! And for the first time, each event will be supported by a dedicated wine merchant who will be able to sell selected wines on the day! So, see you there & fill your cellar, too!
LONDON – 7TH MARCH
TATE MODERN
MANCHESTER – 10TH MARCH
HALLÉ AT ST MICHAEL’S
YORK – 11TH MARCH
YORK MINSTER REFECTORY
BIRMINGHAM – 14TH MARCH
THE GRAND HOTEL
EDINBURGH – 21ST MARCH
THE EDINBURGH ACADEMY
On Monday, the 24th of November 2025, I launched my 100 Best Australian Wines 2026 initiative. It was a huge honour to showcase this elite 100 at Stoke Lodge, the official residence of His Excellency The Honourable Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
The event comprised two parts – a formal tasting with select UK buyers, wine writers and key merchants. This was followed by a private reception with the High Commissioner and his guests, including the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Philipson MP, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Catherine West MP, and Diplomatic Corps colleagues including His Majesty’s Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison, High Commissioner of India Vikram Doraiswami and Ambassador of the Philippines Teodoro Locsin Jr.
As always, at the 100 Best Launch, I announced the Winery of the Year, and for 2026 this honour goes to Shaw + Smith, not only for their magnificent haul of headline wines in the 100 Best, as well as a large number of wines which will appear in the notes in the full Report which will be published in the New Year, but for 35 years of pioneering, cool climate winemaking, brand building and industry leadership. Shaw + Smith’s wines have never been better, and I urge you to seek out their wines.
The 100 Best Australian Wines 2026 Report will feature the largest number of recommended wines in the initiative’s history, with 100 headliners (listed below) and a further 200+ wines mentioned in the write-ups. There is no doubt in my mind that Australian fine wine has never been more memorable, age-worthy, delicious, collectable, and unique, and this year’s Report sets out to celebrate Australia’s awesome vinous achievements in the UK.
Here is a list of the 100 headline wines, their stockists and recommended retail prices. In some instances, the new vintages have yet to roll onto the shelves, and a couple of wines are arriving this month, so they have yet to score listings, but be assured, this list, designed as a complete buyer’s guide for 2026, will be up and running for my 100 Best Festivals in March this year.
I am pleased to announce that I have received support from two important sponsors this year. Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) is sponsoring 100 Best for the second year running. This collective of some of the most important and respected wineries in the land trumpets the tagline ‘The Heart & Soul of Australian Wine’, and this could not be more accurate given the reputations of both the wineries and their rollcall of talented winemakers. In addition, I am delighted to announce my partnership with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in London this year. Austrade is the Australian Government’s trade promotion agency, helping Australian companies expand internationally. Austrade’s contribution will allow me to introduce the featured wines to a significantly broader network of UK importers, buyers and partners. If you work in the wine trade and would like tailored support, please contact Tanya Koicheva, Austrade’s UK Wine Lead, at tanya.koicheva@austrade.gov.au.
100 Best Australian Wines 2026
The 51 Festival Wines
Sparklers
NV Jansz Tasmania, Premium Cuvée, Tasmania 12% £19
NV House of Arras, Tasmania Blanc de Blancs, Tasmania 12.5% £35
NV Jansz Tasmania, Premium Rosé, Tasmania 12% £19
NV House of Arras, Brut Elite Rosé Cuvée 1801, Tasmania 13% £45
Whites
2025 Shaw + Smith, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, South Australia 12% £21
2024 Kaesler, Old Vine Semillon, Barossa Valley, South Australia 11.5% £24
2019 Tyrrell’s, Single Vineyard Pokolbin Hills Semillon, New South Wales 10.5% £24
2024 Forest Hill Vineyard, Estate Riesling, Mount Barker, Western Australia 12% £22
2024 Pewsey Vale, Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia 11.5% £18
2024 Yalumba, Y Series Pinot Grigio, South Australia 12.5% £10
2023 Tahbilk, Marsanne, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria 12.5% £17
2024 Yangarra, Circle Grenache Blanc, McLaren Vale, South Australia 13% £27
2024 Tahbilk, Viognier, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria 13% £17
2024 Chaffey Bros, Düfte Punkt, Field Blend, Eden Valley, South Australia 12.5% £20
2023 Robert Oatley Wines, Signature Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 12.5% £15
2024 Cherubino, Ad Hoc Hen & Chicken Chardonnay, Pemberton, Western Australia 13% £17
2023 Ox Hardy, Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia 12% £19
2023 Robert Oatley Wines, Finisterre Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 12.5% £26
2024 Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Messenger Vineyard Chardonnay, South Australia 13.2% £28
2023 Vasse Felix, Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 12.5% £32
2024 Penfolds, Bin 311 Chardonnay, Australia 13% £32
2024 Shaw + Smith, M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, South Australia 12.5% £36
2024 Giant Steps, Circle of Fifths Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Victoria 13% £40
2024 Cherubino, Black Label Pemberton Chardonnay, Western Australia 13% £43
Reds
2023 Yering Station, Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Victoria 13.3% £26
2024 Giant Steps, Circle of Fifths Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Victoria 13.5% £40
2022 Ox Hardy, Grenache, Blewitt Springs McLaren Vale, South Australia 14% £19
2024 Alkina, Estate Grenache, Barossa Valley, South Australia 13.5% £36
2024 Yangarra, Circle Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia 14% £30
2021 Kaesler, Reach for the Sky GSM, Barossa Valley, South Australia 15% £24
2023 Torbreck, The Steading GSM, Barossa Valley, South Australia 15% £40
2023 Yalumba, Y Series Shiraz, South Australia 13.5% £10
2019 Tyrrell’s, Old Hillside Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley, New South Wales 13% £30
2023 Peter Lehmann Wines, Hill & Valley Shiraz, Eden Valley, South Australia 14.5% £16
2023 Torbreck, Woodcutter’s Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia 15% £22
2022 Kaesler, The Bogan Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia 15% £35
2024 Paringa Estate, Estate Series Shiraz, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria 13% £47
2019 d’Arenberg, Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia 14.5% £39
2021 Kaesler, Old Vine Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia 14.5% £40
2023 Torbreck, The Struie Shiraz, Barossa, South Australia 15% £50
2018 Peter Lehman Wines, Stonewell Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia 14.5% £60
2021 Kaesler, Old Bastard Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia 14.5% £115
2023 Cherubino, Pedestal Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia 13% £17
2023 Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 13.8% £28
2022 Vasse Felix, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia 14% £37
2020 d’Arenberg, Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale, South Australia 14.5% £42
2021 Moss Wood, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia 14% £80
2022 Wynns Coonawarra Estate, John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 13.5% £96
2021 Penfolds Seventy Six Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 14.5% £16
2022 Yalumba, The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, Barossa, South Australia 14.5% £45
2023 Penfolds, Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz, South Australia 14.5% £65
FIN
I started my 100 Best Australian Wines initiative back in 2004 in order to highlight the finest Australian wines sold in the UK.
