South Australian wineries have won 12 of the 26 trophies on offer at the 2026 Royal Adelaide Wine Awards.
The Adelaide Hills had a strong year, with Sidewood Estate winning Best Pinot Noir and Simon Tolley Wines winning Best Sparkling Wine.
“These are categories that have traditionally been dominated by Tasmania, so it was great to see the Adelaide Hills feature so strongly this year,” chair of judges Samantha Connew said.
Evans & Tate 2024 Redbrook Estate Chardonnay won the George Fairbrother Memorial Trophy for Most Outstanding White Wine in Show.
Berton Vineyards 2023 Metal Label The Black Shiraz Limited Release won the Max Schubert AM Trophy for Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show.
The Administrator of South Australia, Dr Richard Harris, presented the Governor’s Trophies for the best South Australian entries to Naked Run Wines for its Place in Time 2026 Sevenhill Riesling and Serafino Wines for its 2024 Reserve Grenache.
Both wines will be served at Government House at official engagements over the next 12 months.
Leo Buring was awarded the Gramp, Hardy, Hill-Smith Trophy for National Wine of Provenance for three vintages of its Leonay Riesling.
Marie Clay awarded the F Miller & Co Prize for Winemaker of the National Wine of Provenance. The Royal Adelaide Wine Awards, formerly the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, was the first wine show to introduce provenance classes, and this year opened them to sparkling wine for the first time.
Alternative varieties were another highlight with The Pawn Wine Company winning Best Other Varietal Red for its 2025 Malbec.
“We’re seeing these categories become stronger and stronger, with winemakers having more experience with the varieties and greater vine age,” Ms Connew said.
“There were beautiful examples of Tempranillos, Nero d’Avolas, Montepulcianos and Sangioveses.”
Entries for the awards remained steady.
“Which is really pleasing because most capital city wine shows are feeling pressure in this area,” Ms Connew said.
“I think it highlights how positively these awards are viewed by the industry.”
She said the 2026 Riesling class in particular was a real standout.
“It was thrilling to see such strong competition in this class,” Ms Connew said.
“There were six golds awarded, but we had 10 lovely wines that the panel chairs called back to have another look at, which is just outstanding.
“The provenance classes are such a joy for the judging panel.
“The Royal Adelaide Wine Awards was the first to introduce the provenance classes, and this year we opened them up to sparkling entries.
“We had two entries this year, but we’d love to see that grow next year.”
Trophy winners
The Max Schubert AM Trophy
Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show
Berton Vineyard Metal Label 2023 The Black Shiraz Limited Release
The George Fairbrother Memorial Trophy
Most Outstanding White Wine in Show
Evans & Tate 2024 Redbrook Estate Margaret River Chardonnay
The Governor’s Trophy
Best South Australian Red Wine in Show
Serafino 2024 McLaren Vale Reserve Grenache
The Governor’s Trophy
Best South Australian White Wine in Show
Naked Run Wines 2026 Place in Time Sevenhill Riesling
The Gramp, Hardy, Hill-Smith Trophy
National Wine of Provenance
Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay Riesling
The F Miller & Co Prize
Winemaker of the National Wine of Provenance
Leo Buring – Marie Clay
The Vili’s Trophy
Best Shiraz in Show
Berton Vineyard Metal Label 2023 The Black Shiraz Limited Release
The Pellenc Australia Trophy
Best Shiraz 2023 Vintage and Older
Berton Vineyard Metal Label 2023 The Black Shiraz Limited Release
The Doreau Australia Trophy – Stave
Best Shiraz 2024 and Younger
Jim Barry Wines 2024 Barry & Sons Clare Valley Shiraz
The Professor AJ Perkins Trophy
Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show
Xanadu 2023 Margaret River Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
The Tillbrook Rasheed Trophy
Best Grenache in Show
Serafino 2024 McLaren Vale Reserve Grenache
The Lallemand Australia Trophy
Best Pinot Noir in Show
Sidewood Estate 2025 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir
The Dr Ray Beckwith OAM Memorial Trophy
Best Traditional Australian Red Blend in Show
St Hugo 2024 Coonawarra Barossa Valley Cabernet Shiraz
The Radoux Australia Trophy – Barrel
Best Other Red Blend in Show
Deep Woods Estate 2024 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
The Karl Seppelt AO Trophy
Best Other Varietal Red in Show
The Pawn 2025 Langhorne Creek Malbec
The Seguin Moreau Trophy – Barrel
Best Chardonnay in Show
Evans & Tate 2024 Redbrook Estate Margaret River Chardonnay
The Barrel Finance & Logistics Trophy
Best Riesling in Show
Naked Run Wines 2026 Place in Time Sevenhill Riesling
The Arkaba Cellars Trophy
Best Sauvignon Blanc in Show
Hamelin Bay Wines 2026 Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc
The Finlaysons Trophy
Best Semillon in Show
Agnew Wines Audrey Wilkinson The Ridge 2017 Hunter Valley Semillon
The Fassina Liquor Trophy
Best Pinot Gris/Grigio in Show
De Bortoli Wines One Line 2026 Rutherglen Pinot Grigio
The BDO Trophy
Best Dry White Blend in Show
Windance Estate 2026 Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
The Programmed Property Services Trophy
Best Other Varietal White in Show
Berton Vineyard 2026 Alfresco Fiano
The Piper Alderman Trophy
Best Rose in Show
Samson Tall 2026 McLaren Vale Grenache Rosé
The Hurtle and Normal Walker Trophy
Best Sparkling Wine in Show
Simon Tolley Wines 2022 Adelaide Hills Method Traditionnelle
The Braud Australia Trophy
Best Sweet White Table Wine in Show
De Bortoli Wines 2022 Riverina Noble One
The John Fornachon Memorial Trophy
Best Apera, Topaque, Muscat or Sweet White Wine in Show
Morris Wines Glenrowan Cellar Grand Reserve Muscat
The InDaily Trophy
Best Australian Vintage Tawny or Ruby in Show
Grant Burge Wines Barossa Valley 20YO Tawny