100 BEST AUSTRALIAN WINES 2025 – THE LAUNCH, WINES & FESTIVAL LINKS & DATES
MATTHEW JUKES’ 100 BEST AUSTRALIAN WINES 2025
As I enter the third decade of the 100 Best Australian Wines, and as every year passes, top-class Australian fine wines continue to improve and impress with their staggering diversity and deliciousness.
As always, this is a body of work I have spent many months putting together ahead of a very different and unique kind of launch. Over the past two decades, I have showcased my 100 Best on 5th December at the Australian High Commission in London with several hundred wine trade invitees in attendance. This year, I was thrilled to launch this century of stunning wines at Stoke Lodge in the presence of His Excellency The Honourable Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom at his London residence. The launch was formed of two parts. The first session was attended by twenty-five of the finest palates and communicators in the country, spanning buyers, restaurateurs, importers and journalists.
The second session was hosted by the High Commissioner and attended by The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Deputy Prime Minister, as well as former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the Japanese Ambassador, the Vietnamese Ambassador, the Indian Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States of America among many VIPs. It was so encouraging that Stephen Smith took this opportunity to allow me to pour these wines and tell their stories to such an esteemed group of guests. I look forward to hosting a larger reception in Australia House in 2025 at the request of the High Commissioner.
I will publish the full 100 Best Australian Wines 2025 Report with all 267 noteworthy wines and relevant notes in the New Year and then take the very best bottles from this Report around the country on a series of 100 Best Festivals. I launched the Festival concept last year in London, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Edinburgh, and it was such a hit that I am very much looking forward to doing it all over again, bigger, better, and with even more attendees. Every person attending a 100 Best Festival event will be given a printed copy of the 100 Best Australian Wines Report 2025.
The Report will also be available to Members of matthewjukes.com as a digital download, and this special edition has click-throughs to all the UK retail stockists mentioned for every single wine. I launched this upgrade in communication many years ago, and the response from the wine trade, the retailers and, most importantly, the public has been overwhelming.
The wines mentioned in this Report are Australia’s spectacular vinous vanguard, and it is my great pleasure to showcase them nationally and internationally in a continued effort to inform wine lovers worldwide about the most outstanding wines made in this beautiful country.
DATES & LINKS FOR THE 100 BEST FESTIVALS 2025
These events have attracted a sponsor for the very first time in my 21 years of working on this initiative – Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW). I am extremely grateful for their support.
BIRMINGHAM – 8TH MARCH – THE GRAND HOTEL – DONE
EDINBURGH – 15TH MARCH – THE EDINBURGH ACADEMY – DONE
NEWCASTLE – 30TH MARCH – THE WYLAM BREWERY – DONE
LONDON – 26TH APRIL – TATE MODERN – DONE
WORTHY OF NOTE
Continued excellence – There are only 3 wineries that have appeared in every 100 Best Report since its inception in 2004, and they are – Penfolds, Tyrrell’s and Yalumba.
306 different wineries have appeared in the 100 Best since its inception. No fewer than 16 debut wineries appear in this year’s list, including – Alkoomi, Basket Range, Dappled, Dylan Grigg, Forest Hill, Harrison, Koomilya, Marco Lubiana, Moorak, Mulline, Nocturne, Paralian, Passel Estate, Port Philip, Sailor Seeks Horse and Wills Domaine.
WINERY OF THE YEAR 2025
Previous wineries of the year include Mount Pleasant, Yalumba, Jim Barry, Leeuwin, Grosset, Penfolds, Torbreck and Cherubino. This is always an extremely hard-fought contest, and this year, it is extremely exciting to announce my winery of the year 2025 is Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley in Victoria. With no fewer than nine wines mentioned in my Report, this winery has been performing at the highest level for many years, but the sheer depth and breadth of their offering today is so impressive it elevated them to the top of the pile. Congratulations to winemaker Melanie Chester and her team for such an incredible performance.
THE 100 BEST CRITERIA
Every wine listed here has won its place by gaining mighty scores in my notes, and the various UK distributors have confirmed they have sufficient stock to warrant a listing in this body of work. I advise you to act swiftly if you want to buy any of these wines because some are made in tiny quantities. As always, these are the only criteria for inclusion.
The retail prices and the retailers listed are accurate at the time of publishing and have all been confirmed and double-checked. Prices vary over the year, so please understand that different retailers work with different margin requirements. The prices displayed below ought to be maximum RRP.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As 100 Best enters its third decade, it is even more incumbent on me to thank the Australian wineries and their UK representatives, who have sent me thousands of samples to taste for this initiative over the years. I would also like to thank my wife and family for their extraordinary and unstinting support.
Sparkling
2017 Jansz Tasmania, Vintage Cuvée, Tas 12% £28 www.vinvm.co.uk, www.frazierswine.co.uk, www.lekkerwines.co.uk
2021 Idée Fixe, Premier Brut Blanc de Blancs, Margaret River, WA 12.5% £30 www.londonendwines.com, www.auswinesonline.co.uk
NV House of Arras, Brut Elite Rosé, Cuvée No. 1801, Tas 13% £45 www.amathusdrinks.com
White
Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Cullen Wines, Grace Madeline Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Margaret River, WA 13% £30 The Wine Yard Farnham, www.selfridges.com, www.shop.smithandgertrude.com
2022 Briar Ridge, Dairy Hill Semillon, Hunter Valley, NSW 11.8% £34 www.blindwine.co.uk, www.dvinecellars.com
2017 Tyrrell’s, Winemaker’s Selection Vat 1 Hunter Valley Semillon, NSW 11.5% £55 www.nywines.co.uk, www.wineandwhisky.co.uk
2018 Mount Pleasant, Lovedale Semillon, Hunter Valley, NSW 12% £65 www.hic-winemerchants.com
Riesling
2022 Forest Hill, Estate Riesling, Mount Barker, WA 12% £22 www.yapp.co.uk
2022 Cherubino, Uovo Riesling, Frankland River, WA 11.5% £23 www.farrvintners.com
2022 Mayfield Vineyard, Backyard Riesling, Orange, NSW 11.5% £25 www.greatwine.co.uk
2024 Dandelion Vineyards, Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling, SA 11.5% £28 www.lokiwine.co.uk
2024 Mount Horrocks, Watervale Riesling, Clare Valley, SA 12.2% £28 www.lokiwine.co.uk, www.thefinewinecompany.co.uk
2023 Moorak, K1 Vineyard Riesling, Mount Gambier, Adelaide Hills, SA 12% £29 www.parched.wine
2017 Pewsey Vale, The Contours Riesling, Museum Release, Eden Valley, SA 12.5% £31 www.nywines.co.uk, www.sohowine.co.uk
2024 Henschke, Julius Riesling, Eden Valley, SA 11% £37 www.nywines.co.uk
2024 Grosset, Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley, SA 12.1% £50 www.bbr.com, www.laywheeler.com
Aromatic
2023 Yalumba, Gen Organic Viognier, SA 13.5% £11.00 www.coop.co.uk, www.ocado.com
2023 Pikes, Luccio Fiano, Clare Valley, SA 12% 19 www.greatwine.co.uk
2022 Corymbia, Rocket’s Vineyard Chenin Blanc, Swan Valley, WA 12.5% £25 www.greatwine.co.uk
Chardonnay
2023 Robert Oatley Wines, Signature Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 12.5% £15 www.cambridgewine.com, www.majestic.co.uk, www.vinvm.co.uk
2023 Yering Station, Village Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Vic 13% £20 www.auswinesonline.co.uk, www.liquoricewine.co.uk
2022 Xanadu, Black Label Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 12.5% £25 www.corkingwines.co.uk
2022 Nocturne, Treeton Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13% £32 www.92ormore.com, www.nywines.co.uk, www.secretbottleshop.co.uk
2022 McHenry Hohnen, Hazel’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13% £35 www.simplywinesdirect.uk, www.tanners-wines.co.uk
2023 Tapanappa, Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay, Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, SA 12.9% £42 www.bbr.com, www.uk.cruworldwine.com
2023 Cherubino, Black Label Chardonnay, Pemberton, WA 13% £43 www.henningswine.co.uk, www.tauruswines.co.uk
2023 Wills Domain, Paladin Hill Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13% £46 www.goedhuiswaddesdon.com
2023 Marco Lubiana, Derwent Valley Chardonnay, Tas 13% £49 www.parched.wine
2022 Irrewarra, Chardonnay, Vic 13% £49 www.shelvedwine.com
2022 Circe, Hillcrest Road Vineyard Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13%, £54, www.bbr.com
2023 Dappled, Single Vineyard Les Vergers Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Vic 13% £55 www.parched.wine
2023 Giant Steps, Single Vineyard Bastard Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Vic 12.5% £57 www.laywheeler.com, www.australianwinecentre.co.uk, www.thegoodwineshop.co.uk
2022 Vasse Felix, Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13% £60 www.londonendwines.com, www.millesima.co.uk
2022 Shaw + Smith, Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, SA 13.5% £64 www.laywheeler.com, www.ozwines.co.uk
2023 Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay, Coal River Valley, Tas 13.5% £72 www.laywheeler.com, www.jeroboams.co.uk, www.mannfinewine.com, www.vincognito.co.uk, www.elementarywine.co.uk
2021 Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13.5% £93 www.flintwines.com, www.uncorked.co.uk
2022 Penfolds, Yattarna Chardonnay, Aus 12.5% £135 www.bbr.com, www.justerinis.com, www.farrvintners.com
Rosé
2023 Swinney, Mourvèdre Rosé, Frankland River, WA 13.2% £40 www.greatwine.co.uk
Red
Pinot Noir
2022 Silver Lining, Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, SA 13% £22 www.greatwine.co.uk
2023 Paringa Estate, Peninsula Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13% £26 www.vinvm.co.uk
2023 Yering Station, Estate Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Vic 13% £30 www.oldbutcherswinecellar.co.uk
2021 Shaw + Smith, Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, SA 13.5% £36 www.pauladamsfinewines.co.uk, www.lockettbros.co.uk, www.ozwinesonline.co.uk
2023 Giant Steps, Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Vic 13.5% £37 www.92ormore.com, www.thefinewinecompany.co.uk
2021 Port Phillip, Morillon Single Block Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13% £41 www.jeroboams.co.uk
2020 Dalrymple, Single Site Pinot Noir, Coal River Valley, Tas 13.5% £42 www.londonendwines.com
2022 Moorooduc, The Moorooduc McIntyre Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13.5% 46 www.levignoble.co.uk, www.nywines.co.uk, www.lokiwine.co.uk
2023 Gembrook Hill, Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Vic 13% £50 www.parched.wine
2022 Sailor Seeks Horse, Huon Valley Pinot Noir, Tas 12.5% £54 www.parched.wine
2023 Chatto, Bird, Piper’s River Pinot Noir, Tas 13.5% £67 www.elementarywine.co.uk, www.thefinewinecompany.co.uk
2022 By Farr, Sangreal Pinot Noir, Geelong, Vic 13.5% £85 www.phfwv.com, www.renaissancevintners.com
Weird & Wonderful
2020 Grove Estate, The Garibaldi Nebbiolo Shiraz, Hilltops, NSW 14.5% £20 www.blindwine.co.uk, www.kingstreetcellar.co.uk
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Friends
2020 Robert Oatley Wines, Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, WA 14% £15 www.cambridgewine.com, www.majestic.co.uk
2022 Basket Range Wine, Bantam, Adelaide Hills, SA £12.8% £25 www.cambridgewine.com
2020 Fraser Gallop, Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon, Wilyabrup, Margaret River, WA 14% £30 www.corneyandbarrow.com
2021 Cherubino, Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon, WA 14% £43 www.vinvm.co.uk, www.latitudewine.co.uk
2018 Kaesler, Age of Light Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £65 www.jeroboams.co.uk
2020 Xanadu, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, WA 14% £65 www.ozwines.co.uk, www.fountainhallwines.co.uk, www.corkingwines.co.uk
2019 Parker Coonawarra Estate, First Growth, SA 14.5% £70 www.harrods.com
2022 Howard Park, Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, WA 14.5% £79 www.winedelivered.co.uk
2021 Moss Wood, Cabernet Sauvignon, Wilyabrup, Margaret River, WA 14% £80 www.jeroboams.co.uk
2021 Wynns Coonawarra Estate, John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, SA 13.5% £100 www.bbr.com, www.justerinis.com, www.frazierswine.co.uk, www.greatwine.co.uk, www.bordeauxindex.com
2022 Cullen, Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon, Wilyabrup, Margaret River, WA 13.5% £112 www.bbr.com
The Great Australian Red (Cabernet & Shiraz)
2021 Lake Breeze, Bernoota Shiraz Cabernet, Langhorne Creek, SA 14.5% £24 www.harveynichols.com, www.shelvedwine.com
2021 Yalumba, The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, Barossa, SA 14.5% £45 www.thewinesociety.com, www.majestic.co.uk
2021 Penfolds, Bin 180 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz, SA 14.5% £650 www.bbr.com, www.hedonism.co.uk, www.harveynichols.com, www.harrods.com, www.woodwinters.com, www.philglas-swiggot.com
Grenache & Friends
2021 Yangarra, Noir, McLaren Vale, SA 14% £26 www.vinvm.co.uk
2023 Willunga 100, Blind Spot Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £30 www.liquoricewine.co.uk
2022 Dylan Grigg, Vinya Vella, Old Bush Vine Grenache, Barossa, SA 14% £40 www.nywines.co.uk, www.clarkfoysterwines.co.uk
2023 Thistledown, Charming Man Single Vineyard Grenache, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £45 www.handford.net
2022 S.C. Pannell, Old McDonald Grenache, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, SA 14% £50 www.nywines.co.uk
2019 Charles Melton, Nine Popes, Barossa, SA 14.5% £79 www.hedonism.co.uk, www.valvonacrolla.co.uk, www.cambridgewine.com
Shiraz/Syrah & Friends
2020 Kilikanoon, Killerman’s Run Shiraz, Clare Valley, SA 14.5% £17 www.ampswinemerchants.co.uk, www.de-burgh.com, www.mumblesfinewines.co.uk, www.southdownscellars.co.uk, www.waudwines.com, www.fountainhallwines.co.uk
2022 Torbreck, Old Vines Mourvèdre Shiraz Grenache, Barossa Valley, SA 15% £19 www.farehamwinecellar.co.uk, www.vinvm.co.uk, www.rfvintners.co.uk, www.nywines.co.uk, www.vinneuf.co.uk, www.vineandbine.co.uk
2021 Mount Langi Ghiran, Cliff Edge Shiraz, Grampians, Vic 14.5% £24 www.harveynichols.com, www.strictlywine.co.uk, www.vinowines.co.uk
2022 Teusner, The Dog Strangler Mataro, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £25 www.greatwine.co.uk
2022 Sons of Eden, Marschall Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £27 www.vinvm.co.uk, www.theguildfordwinecompany.co.uk, www.ewwines.co.uk, www.majestic.co.uk, www.fenwick.co.uk
2022 Black Hound by Riley Harrison, Syrah, Adelaide Hills, SA 13.1% £30 www.parched.wine
2023 Kalleske, Zeitgeist Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £30 www.pdnwines.com, www.newforestwines.com, www.liquidindulgence.co.uk, www.vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk, www.topshamwines.co.uk
2022 Clonakilla, Hilltops Shiraz, ACT 13.5% £30 www.2poundstreet.com, www.woodwinters.com
2022 Paralian, Springs Hills Vineyard Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA 14% £33 www.parched.wine
2022 Jasper Hill, Occam’s Razor Shiraz, Heathcote, Vic 15% £33 www.yapp.co.uk
2022 Grosset, Rockwood Wild Shiraz, Clare Valley, SA 13.8% £34 www.ozwines.co.uk, www.vinowines.co.uk, www.auswinesonline.co.uk
2020 Mitolo, G.A.M. Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £40 www.ozwines.co.uk, www.kwmwine.com
2022 Mulline Vintners, Bannockburn Syrah, Geelong, Vic 13.5% £40 www.marlo.wine, www.secretbottleshop.co.uk, www.weaverswines.com, www.brunswickfinewines.com, www.lokiwine.co.uk, www.bedfordstreetwines.co.uk
2018 Passel Estate, Lot 71 Reserve Syrah, Margaret River, WA 14% £44 www.mustandlees.co.uk
2020 Ox Hardy, Slate Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £44 www.goedhuiswaddesdon.com, www.htfwines.co.uk, www.dmbwines.co.uk
2018 d’Arenberg, The Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA 14.2% £44 www.greatwine.co.uk
2021 Glaetzer Wines, AMON-Ra Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 15% £65 www.brunswickfinewines.com
2019 Castagna, Genesis Syrah, Beechworth, Vic 14% £68 www.dvinecellars.com, www.thesolentcellar.co.uk, www.lescaves.co.uk
2021 Koomilya, DC Block Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA 14% £69 www.laywheeler.com
2020 Elderton, Command Single Vineyard Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.8% £85 www.dvinecellars.com
2021 Torbreck, The Factor Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 15.5% £93 www.laywheeler.com, www.nywines.co.uk
2020 Alkoomi, Cultivated Collection Shiraz, Frankland River, WA 14.5% £100 www.villeneuvewines.com
2022 Swinney, Farvie Mourvèdre, Frankland River, WA 14.1% £100 www.greatwine.co.uk
2019 Henschke, Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz, Eden Valley, SA 14.5% £155 www.bbr.com, www.harrods.com, www.australianwinecentre.co.uk
2022 Alkina, Polygon No.1 Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14% £160 www.raeburnfinewines.com, www.bordeauxindex.com
2021 Jim Barry, The Armagh Shiraz, Clare Valley, SA 14% £233 www.corkingwines.com
Fortified
NV Campbells, Classic Topaque, Rutherglen, Vic 17.2% £26 half bottle www.auswinesonline.co.uk, www.harrogatefinewinecompany.com
NV Morris of Rutherglen, Classic Rutherglen Muscat, Vic 17.5% £32 50cl bottle www.ozwines.co.uk, www.secretbottleshop.co.uk, www.haywines.co.uk, www.nywines.co.uk, www.thewinereserve.co.uk
NV Stanton & Killeen, Grand Muscat, Rutherglen, Vic 18.5% £49 half bottle www.georgehill.co.uk, www.thebottleclub.com, www.harrods.com
