2027 Halliday People's Choice Award Top 10

The 8000+ individual votes have been tallied and we're thrilled to announce the winner of the 2027 People's Choice Award is Down the Rabbit Hole. Votes for the McLaren Vale winery cited the "incredible social atmosphere", "thoughtful approach to customer service", consistent value for money, scenic views and much more.

But while there can only be one winner, congratulations are also in order for the top 10. On this list are wineries big and small, from regions including the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Rutherglen, and the Hunter Valley.

Get to know the 2027 People's Choice Top 10 below. The rest of the 2027 Halliday Award winners – including Wine of the Year, Best Value Winery, Winemaker of the Year and more – will be announced at our Awards ceremony on August 19, 2026. 

1. Down the Rabbit Hole, McLaren Vale

Established in 2013 by Domenic and Elise Palumbo, Down The Rabbit Hole is a family-owned boutique winery in McLaren Vale. Its small-volume wines are produced using organic and biodynamic vineyards and minimal-intervention winemaking practices, creating approachable styles with a strong sense of place.

The winery is loved for its charming, relaxed cellar door and restaurant. Spend the afternoon on the lawns near the iconic double-decker bus with a bottle of wine, Italian pizzas, cheeseboards and small plates to share. For something more formal – but never stuffy – book a table at Fiore, where an abundant Italian set menu showcases high-quality organic, seasonal and local produce. Friday evenings offer experiences throughout the year: Nonna’s Table serves traditional Italian dinners from May to November, while Golden Times brings sunset drinks, food and live music during the warmer months.

downtherabbitholewines.com.au | 233 Binney Road, McLaren Vale, SA 5171 | 0448 764 956

2. Elderton, Barossa Valley

The Elderton Cellar Door is set within the grand 1918 classic gentleman’s bungalow which used to be the Ashmead family's home. It has since been updated to accommodate tastings and events, but it still maintains that homely feel. The cellar door is open daily, and offers a range of tasting experiences – from a casual wine tasting looking out over its 1894 Command Vineyard, to a hosted tasting in one of the private rooms. The Behind the Vines Tasting takes you to its three vineyards for a wine tasting and finishes with a winery tour, but its most unique offering is Taste, Set and Match. Start the afternoon with a private tasting before hitting the tennis courts for a friendly game paired with a cheese plate and wine. 

eldertonwines.com.au | 3–5 Tanunda Road, Nuriootpa, SA 5355 | (08) 8568 7878

3. Cofield Wines, Rutherglen

Just minutes from Rutherglen and Corowa, Cofield's cellar door offers a relaxed and welcoming space to explore the team's wines. Taste their classic range or try something a little different with one of the more unique experiences. The simple but much-loved Quartz Cafe dishes out affordable bites, and there's even a picnic pop-up for when the weather behaves. The lawns are a huge drawcard in summer, and the winery is also kid- and dog-friendly.

cofieldwines.com.au | Distillery Road, Wahgunyah, VIC 3687 | (02) 6033 3798 

4. Brokenwood, Hunter Valley

Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley offers everything from standard cellar door tastings of its highly rated wines, either with or without special food pairings, to more in-depth winery experiences. Enjoy a meal at The Wood restaurant, which heroes local, seasonal produce, or go all-out with the Soil to Cellar Experience. The latter begins with oysters and a glass of Brokenwood Semillon, followed by a personalised tour of the property and a four-course lunch. A bottle of the renowned Graveyard Shiraz is also included, so you can take a bit of Brokenwood home with you. 

brokenwood.com.au | 401–427 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin, NSW 2321 | (02) 4998 7559

5. Maxwell Wines, McLaren Vale

Maxwell Wines is a family-owned McLaren Vale estate founded by Mark Maxwell in 1979. Across three generations, the family has crafted premium wines that express the limestone soils of its 40-hectare vineyard, with shiraz, grenache, fiano and more made with sustainable practices. Visitors can explore these wines through seated tasting flights before dining at Maxwell Restaurant. Its seasonal, degustation-style menu celebrates produce, including ingredients grown in the estate’s gardens, with each course thoughtfully paired to Maxwell’s wines.

maxwellwines.com.au | 19 Olivers Road, McLaren Vale, SA 5171 | (08) 8323 8200

6. Laughing Jack, Barossa Valley

Laughing Jack is a family-run winery who considers everyone who visits to be family – at least for the day. Taste wines and learn more about what's on offer in an intimate setting. It is only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am–4pm, and spaces are highly limited, so be sure to book well in advance. Laughing Jack is proof you don't need to have all the bells and whistles to create a top-notch winery experience.

laughingjackwines.com.au | 194 Stonewell Road, Marananga, SA 5355 | (08) 8562 3878

7. Château Tanunda, Barossa Valley

This is one of the most historically significant winery buildings in the Barossa Valley, built from bluestone quarried in the late 1880s and restored by the Geber family 120 years later. Here, enjoy a wine tasting, take a private tour of the cellars and vineyards, or join a croquet and wine experience. You can even spend the night in one of the two quaint guest houses. And, you don't even have to head to the Barossa to get a Château Tanunda wine experience. The Rocks in Sydney also hosts tastings of Château Tanunda wine for those who can't get to South Australia. 

chateautanunda.com | 9 Basedow Road, Tanunda, SA 5352 | (08) 8563 3888

8. Thicker Than Water, McLaren Vale

Enter Thicker Than Water's cellar door via ‘The Palate Cleanse’ – a tinted purple glass cube designed to give off a feeling of tranquillity. The stunning custom table delivers a more sociable and seamless experience for guests, and the tasting room's mood is controlled by the retractable perforated steel screens. Depending on the time of day, these screens project dappled light across the tasting room, reminiscent of being under water, or stay open to capture the gorgeous rolling valley views of McLaren Vale’s epicentre, the 'McMurtrie Mile’.  

thickerthanwaterwines.com.au | 86 McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale, SA 5171 | (08) 7009 4425

9. Audrey Wilkinson, Hunter Valley

Audrey Wilkinson is one of the Hunter Valley’s most historic wineries, with vines first planted by the Wilkinson family in 1866. Set in Pokolbin at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, its hilltop cellar door offers guided tastings showcasing classic Hunter Valley varieties, including semillon, chardonnay and shiraz. Visitors can also choose from immersive experiences such as a picnic among the vines and fortified wine and cheese pairings, or visit the free onsite museum, housed in the original winery, which showcases historic winemaking equipment and traces the Wilkinson family’s legacy.

audreywilkinson.com.au | 750 De Beyers Road, Pokolbin, NSW 2320 | (02) 4998 1866

10. Gibson, Barossa Valley

Gibson Wines is a family-owned boutique winery located in Light Pass that produces small-batch wines. Its renovated cellar door combines modern comfort with relaxed Barossan hospitality, overlooking estate vineyards, gardens and an 1850s blacksmith’s cottage known as The Smithy. Visitors can enjoy seated tastings of current releases and premium shiraz, play bocce and lawn games, or join the behind-the-scenes Barossa Shiraz by Barrel experience. With tastings drawn directly from oak, access to the barrel shed and regular live-music events, Gibson is a must-visit in the Barossa.

gibsonwines.com.au | 190 Willows Road, Light Pass, SA 5355 | (08) 8562 4224

The 2026 People's Choice Top 10 wineries were: Brown Brothers, Down the Rabbit Hole, Brokenwood, Laughing Jack, Elderton, Howard Park, Château Tanunda, Thicker Than Water, Best's Wines and Cofield Wines.

Order your copy of the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion today 

The 2027 edition of the seminal guide to Australian wine, the Halliday Wine Companion, will be released on August 20, 2026. Secure your copy today, or sign up to receive one as part of your Vintage Halliday membership.

Top image: Down the Rabbit Hole