This evening, the highly anticipated 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards were announced in front of 125 industry guests from across Australia. The Halliday Wine Companion Awards recognise the nation's top wines, winemakers, viticulturists, and wineries across the country's wine regions.
Hosted at the prominent St Kilda restaurant the Stokehouse, the 2024 Companion also marked the inaugural inductees to the James Halliday Hall of Fame in two classes: Wine and Australian Wine Industry. The new accolades recognise a wine that has won its category on five occasions or more and acknowledges individuals of the Australian wine industry deemed to be of the highest regard and significance.
This year's honourees and Award winners were presented by the Halliday Tasting Team, chief editor Campbell Mattinson, founder James Halliday AM, as well as expert judges Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale.
"This year's Awards and honourees underpin the strength and diversity of Australian wine amongst our regions. As a collective tasting team, we were in awe of the value that was represented in this year's winners. We've unearthed some gems and honoured the very best of the best Australia has to offer. Our love for wine has only become stronger after tasting over 8500 wines across the year – it was a pleasure to taste alongside our expert judges. Congratulations to all the winners."
– Halliday Wine Companion chief editor, Campbell Mattinson
The Awards also mark the release of the wine-enthusiast's bible, the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion, which is available in stores nationally from Thursday, August 3. The book is a comprehensive guide to Australia's leading wines, wineries, and grape growing regions, including all Award winners and tasting notes. More than 5000 tasting notes are printed in the 2024 Companion, with more than 8500 tasting notes available online at winecompanion.com.au.
This year's major Awards represented regions including Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Alpine Valleys, Victoria, Yarra Valley and Beechworth, Eden Valley and Hall of Fame in Barossa Valley, which both sit within the Barossa region. The varietal winners span three states: South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.
