This award acknowledges the tremendous skill of the viticulturist; as custodians of vine and soil, their job is to produce optimal fruit regardless of the vintage conditions.
We are pleased to acknowledge the finalists for 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Viticulturist of the Year, as nominated by the Halliday Tasting Team.
Adrian Hoffmann, Hoffmann Family Vineyards
Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Viticulturist of the Year award: “Adrian Hoffmann is a sixth-generation farmer whose family has turned the soil in Ebenezer in the north of the Barossa Valley since 1857. The shiraz from their vineyards is renowned and the jewel in crown is the 20ha Dallwitz Block, with vines up to 135 years old on red brown earth with limestone ridges, biscay and sandy loam soils over red prismatic clay. Adrian is a leader in the Barossa wine community.” – Dave Brookes
Andrew George, Yarra Yering
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Viticulturist of the Year award: “Andrew’s work has been a patient, methodical improvement of vine health across Yarra Yering’s ancient soils. Reducing herbicide use, introducing under-vine cultivation, mulch application and both inter-row and under-vine cover cropping has steadily increased biological activity and vine resilience – critical at a property that chooses not to irrigate – demanding that the vines find their own equilibrium. His work rejuvenating the Underhill vineyard has been transformative.” – Philip Rich
Ashley Ratcliff, Ricca Terra
Region: Riverland, South Australia
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Viticulturist of the Year award: “Vigneron Ashley Ratcliff of Ricca Terra doesn’t take shortcuts, and since he and his wife, Holly, became custodians of the 70ha plot of land (and established vineyards) they named Ricca Terra Farms in 2003, they’ve only looked to make sustainable improvements, despite the challenges and hard work required to yield any semblance of return. The land under his stewardship will be left to the next generations in a better condition than he found it. We can’t ask for more.” – Katrina Butler
Ben Thomson, Best's Wines
Region: Great Western, Victoria
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Viticulturist of the Year award: “Ben Thomson is a constant feature out in the vineyard and has been for more than 40 years. This is not to suggest that he is removed from the winemaking process, far from it. Ensuring the continuing longevity of old vines as they become centenarians and ancestor wines – among the oldest producing vines in the world – is no easy task.” – Jeni Port
Louise Eather, Tyrrell's Wines
Region: Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Why she has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Viticulturist of the Year award: “Highly experienced viticulturist Louise Eather is an integral part of the team at Tyrrell’s. The winery is one of Australia’s oldest and produces high-quality wines across the range, including from precious old-vine vineyards, 10 of which are over a century old. Louise is known and respected for her work in sustainable viticulture, with a focus on improving soil health and recognising the vineyard’s role within the wider ecosystem.” – Toni Paterson MW
Richard Wellsmore, Maxwell Wines
Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Viticulturist of the Year award: “Richard has quietly revolutionised the practices at Maxwell – both on vineyard land and revegetating non-vineyard land to boost biodiversity – with a patient approach that is the distillation of a lifetime of respectful collaboration with the natural world. His deep connection, love for and passionate advocacy for the environment, on both a micro and macro level, is infectious, and one only need see the proof of his benevolent hand, both among the vines and the quality and site transmission in glass, to know he has a rare gift.” – Marcus Ellis
Ross Pike, Forest Hill Vineyard
Region: Great Southern, Western Australia
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Viticulturist of the Year award: “Ross Pike is one of those quietly pivotal figures in the Great Southern. He has been instrumental in the rise-and-rise of Forest Hill Vineyard wines, off an already high baseline. At Forest Hill Vineyard his work is anchored in the original 1965 plantings, some of the oldest in the region and a living thread back to the early ambitions of cool-climate Western Australian wine; it’s no mean feat to keep that in check and humming.” – Mike Bennie
2027 People's Choice Award
Voting is now open for the 2027 Halliday People's Choice Award. While the Awards celebrates the best of the best in Australian wine, the People's Choice Award honours the best winery experience from around the country. Cast your vote and go into the running to win the ultimate prize pack valued at over $1000. Vote now.
2027 Taste the Awards event
Tickets are now on sale for 2027 Taste the Awards. Meet some of the winning winemakers and be the first to taste the top wines of the year. Taste the Awards 2027 is an exclusive showcase of award-winning wines and wineries from the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. Secure your tickets below.Taste the Awards: Melbourne
Thursday August 20, 2026
Panama Dining Room and Bar
Book here
The winner of each category will be announced at the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Awards on Wednesday August 19, 2026.
The 2027 Halliday Wine Companion – Australia's most comprehensive wine guide – will be available from August 20.
*This is an edited extract from the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Katrina Butler, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by Chantel de Latour.
