And It’s A Big Yes For Yarra Yering

Yarra Yering in the Yarra Valley has been named Winery of the Year in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards announced online tonight.

The winery also won Wine of the Year with Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2019 (98 points).

“Each year I have just grown more and more comfortable with putting my own personality into the wines,” winemaker and general manager Sarah Crowe said.

“And taking all of my experience… and I’ve just got to know the vineyard more intimately each year.

“I think for the team winning Winery of the Year… it really does cement all the work that they do on a daily basis so I think everyone is going to be really pleased.”

Michael Dhillon of Bindi Wines in the Macedon Ranges was named Winemaker of the Year.

“The day Tyson (Stelzer) called me, I was a little overwhelmed when he said I’d been nominated for Winemaker of the Year,” Michael said.

“But when he said I’d won that award, my mind went straight away to the love and care of my mother and the mentoring of my father.

“And the opportunity I have to live here and do what we do – and bring up our children here and engage our friends and family in what we do… I was a little teary.”

Vanya Cullen is the first recipient of the Viticulturist of the Year Award.

In a first for the awards, there was a three-way tie for Chardonnay of the Year with Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 (97 points), Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2018 (98 points) and Penfolds Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 2018 (99 points) sharing the honours.

Halliday Wine Companion chief editor Tyson Stelzer said Australia was making the best wine it has ever made.

AWARD WINNERS

Winery of the Year
Yarra Yering, Yarra Valley.

Winemaker of the Year
Michael Dhillon – Bindi Wines, Macedon Ranges.

Wine of the Year
2019 Dry Red No. 1, Yarra Yering, Yarra Valley.

Best New Winery
Place of Changing Winds, Macedon Ranges.

Dark Horse
Renzaglia Wines, Central Ranges, NSW.

Best Value Winery
Lake Breeze, Langhorne Creek.

SA Viticulturist of the Year
Vanya Cullen, Cullen Wines, Margaret River.

VARIETAL WINNERS

Sparkling of the Year
Deviation Road Beltana Blanc de Blancs 2014 – 97 points.

White Wine of the Year
Penfolds Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 2018 – 99 points.

Red Wine of the Year
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2019 – 98 points.

Sparkling White of the Year
Deviation Road Beltana Blanc de Blancs 2014 – 97 points.

Sparkling Rosé of the Year
Bellebonne Natalie Fryar Vintage Rosé 2017 – 96 points.

Sparkling Red of the Year
Ashton Hills Sparkling Shiraz 2015 – 95 points.

Riesling of the Year
Pooley Margaret Pooley Tribute Single Vineyard Riesling 2020 – 97 points.

Chardonnay of the Year (three winners)
Oakridge 864 Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 – 97 points; Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2018 – 98 points; and Penfolds Yattarna Bin 144 Chardonnay 2018 – 99 points.

Semillon of the Year
Meerea Park Alexander Munro Individual Vineyard Aged Release Semillon 2011 – 96 points.

Sauvignon Blanc of the Year
Terre à Terre Crayeres Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – 96 points.

Other White of the Year
Coriole Rubato Reserve Fiano 2020 – 96 points.

Rosé of the Year
La Prova Nebbiolo Rosato 2020 – 95 points.

Pinot Noir of the Year
Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir 2019 – 97 points.

Grenache of the Year
Thistledown Sands of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache 2019 – 97 points.

Shiraz of the Year
Tyrrell’s 4 Acres Shiraz 2019 – 97 points.

Cabernet Shiraz of the Year
Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2016 – 99 points.

Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year
Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – 98 points.

Cabernet and Family of the Year
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2019 – 98 points.

Other Red of the Year
SC Pannell Aglianico 2019 – 95 points.

Fortified of the Year
Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny 1921 – 99 points.

 

Tyson Stelzer and James Halliday AM announced the victors of the major awards and varietal categories throughout the 45-minute online broadcast.

This year, the Halliday Wine Companion tasting panel was comprised of regional specialists across five states, with the team expanding to seven.

For the first time, the awards were judged collaboratively by the entire tasting team, coming together in Victoria in March to review the shortlist produced from over 9,000 Australian wines.

The tasting panel was more proactive than ever and set a record with 60 percent more new wineries reviewed for this edition than the previous year.

The awards also mark the release of the wine enthusiast’s bible, the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion.