Margaret River stars at National Wine Show

Margaret River dominated last night’s National Wine Show of Australia awards, winning the top three trophies.

Xanadu 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon won the Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show, edging out regional neighbour Evans & Tate 2023 Single Vineyard Chardonnay for the coveted prize.

Xanadu and Evans & Tate had earlier secured the James Halliday Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show and the Len Evans Memorial Trophy for Best White, respectively.

Margaret River contributed strongly to WA’s seven-trophy haul.

All three finalists in the Cabernet Sauvignon class – first-time exhibitor La Kooki, Xanadu and Passel Estate – come from the south-west WA region.

While Xanadu claimed the Cabernet trophy for the 10th time in 13 years, La Kooki didn’t walk away empty handed, picking up the White Varietal Trophy for its 2025 Chenin Rocks Chenin Blanc.

It was another coup for Xanadu senior winemaker Glenn Goodall, who separately runs La Kooki with his winemaker wife Eloise Jarvis.

South Australia was the most successful state for wins, taking home nine of the show’s 23 trophies.

It was also well ahead of other Australian states for gold, silver or bronze medals. South Australia notched up 292 medals, compared with next-placed NSW with 155.

Among the two NSW trophy winners was the Canberra Region’s Sapling Yard, which won the Blended White Trophy for its 2025 Fiori Riesling Pinot Gris Gewürztraminer Pinot Blanc and was also a finalist in the Shiraz Blends category.

Victoria’s three awards included this year’s Sparkling Trophy, previously a stronghold of Tasmanian winemakers, for Coldstream Hills 2018 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir Chardonnay.

Record 1,085 entries

The 2026 National Wine Show continued to buck the trend of Australian wine competitions, with a record 1,085 entries, including 83 first-time exhibitors.

Chair of judges Matt Harrop noted significant growth in the red and white varietals categories, recording 25 percent and 15 percent more entrants, respectively.

“These are turning into a great couple of classes, with so many brilliant wines. It shows the depth of knowledge, understanding and dedication these winemakers are putting into the vineyard,” Mr Harrop said.

“There’s commercial pressure on mainstream varietals, with so many available at so many price points, so if you can do something a little distinct, new, slightly different in flavour, it’s good.

“Grenache used to be in the other varietals category and now it has its own class.

“Some of the varietals that got to the finals this year, such as Mencia, Gamay or Fiano, have the potential to do the same.”

Mr Harrop said the winning Cabernet Sauvignon was emblematic of its maker which, along with fellow 2026 trophy winners Morris Wines, Tyrrell’s Vineyards and De Bortoli, was a regular fixture on the national awards’ podium.

“We’ve long known Xanadu makes incredible Cab Sav, and this one didn’t have a hair out of place. It kept getting good scores, from the first round through to the Cabernet trophy then the red wine of show and finally the PM’s award,” he said.

Mr Harrop said he was delighted to see seven first-time entrants get to the finals, with two of them winning trophies – Lobethal Road (Pinot Gris/Grigio Trophy), and La Kooki (White Varietal Trophy).

“The reason we continue to see record entries in the National Wine Show is that people realise that every wine gets a fair hearing, so anybody can win it,” he said.

“We have a great cohort of judges who put a fine-tooth comb over every entry.

“A lot of shows are too quick to dismiss some wines but that’s not how we do it.

“If you produce something exceptional you’re in with a chance of a trophy whether you’re a complete unknown or one of Australia’s most famous labels.”

National Wine Show chair Andy Gregory said the record number of first-time entrants was an indication of the esteem in which the National Wine Show was held.

“We are the only truly federated adjudication of the very best in Australian wine. To enter you must have already won a gold or silver medal in a capital city or qualifying regional show,” Mr Gregory said.

“Over the past three years, we’ve introduced more than 200 new exhibitors to Australia’s most important wine awards, which contributes to the breadth and depth of the show. We’re shining a spotlight on exactly what’s happening in Australian winemaking at a particular point in time.”

Mr Gregory added that this year’s National Wine Show winners’ list once again debunked the myth that to drink quality wine you have to pay a premium price.

“The fact that seven of this year’s trophy winners can be purchased for around $30 or less is proof that the best wines in Australia can also be very affordable,” Mr Gregory said.