Giant Steps 2024 Tarraford Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay and Xanadu 2024 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon have triumphed at the 2026 James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge.
Xanadu took home three trophies: Best Cabernet Sauvignon, the Margaret River Regional Trophy for Cabernet Sauvignon, and the inaugural Wine of Provenance Trophy for Cabernet Sauvignon with its Reserve Cabernet.
Shaw + Smith claimed the inaugural Wine of Provenance Trophy for Chardonnay with its M3 Chardonnay.
This year’s Challenge attracted close to 500 entries from 49 regions across Australia, with Chardonnay entered from 30 regions and Cabernet Sauvignon from 19.
Judged over two days, the Challenge gave the judging panel a first look at many wines from the 2025 vintage.
Regional trophies were awarded to Chardonnays from 10 regions and Cabernet Sauvignon from six regions, recognising the highest-scoring wine from each region at 95 points or above.
Wine Yarra Valley launched the Chardonnay Challenge in 2012, and the Cabernet Challenge followed in 2016 in Margaret River.
Since 2021 the James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge has been a joint endeavour between Wine Yarra Valley and Margaret River Wine.
2026 trophy winners
James Halliday Australian Chardonnay Challenge Trophy
Giant Steps 2024 Tarraford Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay
James Halliday Australian Cabernet Challenge Trophy
Xanadu 2024 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine of Provenance – Chardonnay
Shaw + Smith M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2015, 2021 and 2024
Wine of Provenance – Cabernet Sauvignon
Xanadu Margaret River Reserve Cabernet 2014, 2019 and 2023
Chardonnay Regional Trophies
Adelaide Hills
Wirra Wirra 2025 Yandra Vineyard Chardonnay
Beechworth
Fighting Gully Road 2024 Smith Vineyard Chardonnay
Mount Barker
Marchand & Burch 2024 Mount Barrow Chardonnay
Hunter Valley
First Creek Wines 2025 Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay
Macedon Ranges
Shadowfax 2024 Midhill Chardonnay
Margaret River
Lenton Brae 2025 Wilyabrup Chardonnay
Mornington Peninsula
Ten Minutes by Tractor 2025 Judd Chardonnay
Sunbury
Marnong Estate 2024 Reserve Chardonnay
Tasmania
Handpicked 2025 Trial Batch Clemens Hill Chardonnay
Yarra Valley
Giant Steps 2024 Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon Regional Trophies
Clare Valley
Jim Barry Wines 2022 Spring Farm Block 74 Cabernet Sauvignon
Coonawarra
Majella Wines 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
Mount Barker
Forest Hill Vineyard 2025 Cabernet Sauvignon
Margaret River
Xanadu 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
Wrattonbully
Pepper Tree Wines 2024 Block 21A Cabernet Sauvignon
Yarra Valley
e’Stellar Estate 2025 Cabernet Sauvignon
Photo: Giant Steps Facebook page.