This award commemorates the best winemakers in Australia and is reserved for those who have consistently produced exceptional wines over a sustained period.
These finalists are pushing Australian wine to even greater heights – innovating when necessary, and sticking true to timeless tradition when needed.
Read on to discover the finalists for this year’s Winemaker of the Year, as nominated by the Tasting Team.
Adrian Sparks, Mount Pleasant
Region: Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “Adrian Sparks is a winemaker who achieves the near-impossible, honouring the historic foundations of Mount Pleasant and the legacy of Maurice O’Shea while bringing a distinctly modern approach to style that ensures the wines remain dynamic and relevant. Adrian is an ambassador for the wines of Mount Pleasant, the wider Hunter Valley and Australia, making him a fitting nominee for the Winemaker of the Year.” – Toni Paterson MW
Drew Tuckwell, Printhie Wines
Region: Orange, New South Wales
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “Since joining Printhie Wines in 2008, Drew Tuckwell has been instrumental in shaping the estate’s rise to national and international prominence. His expertise in sparkling wine is particularly distinguished, most notably through the Swift range, which has earned critical acclaim for its finesse and complexity, positioning Printhie among Australia’s leading producers of traditional method sparkling wine.” – Shanteh Wale
Kerri Thompson, KT Wines, Skillogalee
Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
Why she has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “KT is deeply embedded in Clare’s fine wine paradigm, producing inarguably some of the finest ‘classic Clare’ wines of past decades, while also shaping the conversation about future potential of the region. KT has shown that her skills and intuition in winemaking, with incremental change in viticulture, lands wines into a zone of greater lift, precision and clarity. There is a vast and significant career to celebrate in all of this.” – Mike Bennie
Mark Walpole, Fighting Gully Road
Region: Beechworth, Victoria
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “Mark Walpole is a true vigneron, in every sense of the word. Not only does he tend the land, exploring new viticultural possibilities, new sites and new varieties, he takes it one step further, seamlessly translating all that thinking and hard work into high-quality wines. At Fighting Gully Road, he produces exciting chardonnay, syrah and pinot noir, but has broadened the regional perspective – and its future – with forays into sangiovese, verdicchio, gros manseng and tempranillo.” – Jeni Port
Michael Downer, Murdoch Hill
Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “Having grown up on the land he now farms, Michael Downer knows the tapestry of the Oakbank vineyard his family planted in ’98 intimately. He operates with a vein of clarity and certainty in his approach, never resting on his laurels, with a yearning to know more, building on the pillars of his education with humility, yet pushing confidently forward, striving for better with each passing vintage. The wines are better than good thanks to this approach.” – Katrina Butler
Renae Hirsch, Willunga 100 Wines, Chalk Hill, Farmer's Leap
Regions: McLaren Vale & Padthaway, South Australia
Why she has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “Some winemakers make a bit of noise, or a bit of noise is made about them. Renae Hirsch certainly doesn’t do the former, and there’s arguably not enough of the latter, albeit a string of accolades, trophies and the like might suggest otherwise. Her winemaking is light of touch, unburdened by ego, framing and articulating what really matters. Renae works with several clients, and with different aims and aspirations. For some, she yields the best examples based on a brief, but for others, she collaborates on a granular level to make some of this country’s finest wines.” – Marcus Ellis
Rohan Smith, Medhurst
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “Rohan modestly describes his approach as ‘tweaking around the edges’. At its core, his winemaking philosophy is about letting the site do the talking: treating the fruit with care, reading the season and resisting the urge to be too interventionist. The ’25 vintage saw Rohan craft impressive wines across the board. From the Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc to the Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, through to the Reserve Pinot and a first-ever, exceptional Reserve Shiraz. These are wines that over-deliver at every price point.” – Philip Rich
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Steve Flamsteed, Decades, Eldridge, Salo Wines
Regions: Tasmania & Yarra Valley, Victoria
Why he has been nominated for the 2027 Halliday Winemaker of the Year: “A supremely talented, experienced and deeply respected winemaker with an exceptional palate and outstanding taste in music, Steve Flamsteed – Flamo to those fortunate enough to call him a friend – is a quiet achiever who leaves a mark. Since ’02 he has been based in the Yarra Valley, most notably at Giant Steps where, between ’03 and ’23, he catapulted its wines, vineyard sites and reputation to new heights. Today, the ’06 Len Evans scholar is director and senior consultant at Wine Network Consulting, where he works with several big-name wineries, including Eldridge Estate. He still has Salo, as well as a stellar new wine project in Tasmania called Decades. A family man, a mentor and champion of young winemakers, Flamo is one of the good guys of the Australian wine industry. We are so lucky to have someone of his calibre, integrity and ability leading it today.” – Dave Brookes & Jane Faulkner
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.
