Pictured: Jacob’s Creek
South Australia remains the nation’s powerhouse when it comes to producing award-winning wine, with the state producing amazing results at the 2026 National Wine Show of Australia this week.
Held annually as one of the country’s top wine competitions, the National Wine Show brings together medal-winning wines from qualifying capital city and regional wine shows across Australia. This year, a record 1,085 entries were judged, including 83 first-time exhibitors.
Western Australia had a great showing, with the prestigious Prime Minister’s Trophy for Champion Wine of Show going to Xanadu’s 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River, which also secured the James Halliday Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show. Fellow Margaret River producer Evans & Tate took out the Len Evans Memorial Trophy for Best White Wine of Show with its 2023 Single Vineyard Chardonnay.
While Margaret River enjoyed a clean sweep of the competition’s top three awards, South Australia emerged as the most successful state overall, collecting nine of the show’s 23 trophies and an impressive 292 medals. The results highlight the diversity of South Australian winemaking, with wineries from the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Langhorne Creek and beyond all featuring among the winners.
Sidewood Estate
Adelaide Hills producer Lobethal Road made a remarkable debut appearance at the National Wine Show by winning the Pinot Gris/Grigio Trophy for its 2025 Pinot Gris. The Adelaide Hills also celebrated a win for Sidewood Estate, whose 2025 Sauvignon Blanc secured the Sauvignon Blanc Trophy.
“It starts in the vineyard,” shared Dylan Lee, Senior Winemaker at Sidewood Estate. “Our focus is on growing the best fruit we possibly can from low-yielding vines. Once in the winery, the pristine fruit is chilled and then lightly pressed, with only free run juice being fermented in stainless steel tanks.”
Other South Australian winners included Leo Buring’s 2022 Leonay Mature Release Riesling, Jacob’s Creek’s 2025 Le Petit Rosé, Jim Barry’s 2023 Lodge Hill Shiraz, and McLaren Vale’s Willunga 100 for its 2024 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache.
St Hugo’s Grenache Shiraz Mataro blend took home the Grenache Blends Trophy, Lake Breeze’s Arthurs Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec was awarded the Cabernet Blends Trophy, and Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards’ Brioni’s Blend rounded it out with the Alternate Red Blends Trophy.
Oliver’s Taranga
National Wine Show Chair of Judges Matt Harrop shared, “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 was delighted to see emerging wineries making their mark, with seven first-time exhibitors reaching the finals and two taking home trophies, including Adelaide Hills’ Lobethal Road.
“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.”
The 2026 results also reflect evolving tastes within the Australian wine industry. “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,” said Matt.
These awards prove why the state remains one of the country’s most celebrated wine destinations.
Special Trophies
Sparkling: Coldstream Hills 2018 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir Chardonnay (VIC)
Sweet White: De Bortoli Wines 2022 Noble One (NSW)
Rose: Jacob’s Creek 2025 Le Petit Rosé (SA)
Fortified: Morris Wines Cellar Reserve Grand Muscat (VIC)
White Wine Trophies
Pinot Gris/Grigio Trophy: Lobethal Road 2025 Pinot Gris (SA)
Riesling Trophy: Leo Buring 2022 Leonay Mature Release Riesling (SA)
Semillon Trophy: Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2017 Vat 1 Semillon (NSW)
Sauvignon Blanc Trophy: Sidewood Estate 2025 Sauvignon Blanc (SA)
Chardonnay Trophy: Evans & Tate 2023 Single Vineyard Chardonnay (WA)
White Varietal Trophy: La Kooki 2025 Chenin Rocks Chenin Blanc (WA)
Blended White Trophy: Sapling Yard 2025 Fiori Riesling Pinot Gris Gewürztraminer Pinot Blanc (NSW)
Red Wine Trophies
Pinot Trophy: Giant Steps 2024 Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir (VIC)
Grenache Trophy: Willunga 100 2024 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache (SA)
Shiraz Trophy: Jim Barry 2023 Lodge Hill Shiraz (SA)
Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy: Xanadu 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (WA)
Red Varietal Trophy: De Bortoli Wines 2025 Yarra Valley Estate Vineyard Gamay (VIC)
Grenache Blends Trophy: St Hugo 2024 Grenache Shiraz Mataro (SA)
Shiraz Blends Trophy: Hamelin Bay Wines 2023 Rampant Red (WA)
Cabernet Blends Trophy: Lake Breeze 2023 Arthurs Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec (SA)
Alternate Red Blends Trophy: Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards 2025 Brioni’s Blend (SA)
James Halliday Red Wine of Show
Xanadu 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (WA)
Len Evans Memorial White Wine of Show
Evans & Tate 2023 Single Vineyard Chardonnay (WA)
Prime Minister’s Trophy
Xanadu 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (WA)
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