Yarra Valley breaks Tassie stranglehold on Pinot prize

Giant Steps 2024 Applejack Vineyard Yarra Valley Pinot Noir has won the 2025 Pinot Noir Challenge – the first time the region has claimed the honour, breaking Tasmania’s five-year winning streak.

The award – an initiative of the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association – was announced at a gala dinner at Maison Batard on Tuesday 7 October.

Led by Pinot Noir specialist Tom Carson, the judging panel assessed more than 300 entries from 17 regions across the country before awarding the prestigious trophy.

Carson was joined by some of the best Pinot Noir minds in the country – Michael Downer, Ben Portet, Brendan Hawker, Chris Crawford, Pip Anderson and Imogen Dillon – with associates Charlie Warne and Tillie Johnston.

“The 2024 Giant Steps Applejack Pinot Noir, a wine with a storied past, has added another prestigious award to its ever-bulging trophy cabinet,” Carson said.

“The judges were captivated by this wine, exhibiting the very best of Pinot Noir in Australia: fragrant, detailed, poised, elegant, powerful, ethereal – the descriptors go on and on, just like the wine. Stunning.”

Since taking the helm at Giant Steps in 2021, winemaker Mel Chester has overseen a string of major accolades.

Both the 2022 and 2023 Applejack Pinot Noirs were named Pinot Noir of the Year in the Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

“We’re so proud to see Applejack pick up Pinot of the Year,” said Mel.

“Applejack is a special site, particularly for Pinot Noir, and is diligently cared for by our vineyard and winery teams.

“To win the Pinot Challenge for the first time on behalf of the region is a huge honour for our team and for the Yarra Valley.”

Perched on a dramatic east-facing slope in Gladysdale, Applejack is one of the Yarra Valley’s most distinctive vineyards.

Its gentle morning sun aspect, hungry grey soils, high altitude and extended, cool ripening season consistently produce Pinot Noir of depth, spice and remarkable finesse – qualities that have cemented its status among Australia’s most prestigious single-vineyard sites.

Challenge chair Lindsay McCall said, “Tasmania has dominated for the past five years, so to see the Yarra Valley break through for its first win is a significant achievement.

“It underscores the strength of Australian Pinot Noir across multiple regions and the world-class calibre of wines we are producing.”