There are hundreds of wine competitions around the world, but the Decanter World Wine Competition is the pinnacle of them all. So when five Australian wines take home Best of Show awards, can we say Australian wines are the best in the world?
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Living in Australia, we are a bit of an echo chamber when it comes to wine. Australian wine has a habit of locking you in and making you believe that wines from other countries are not worth trying. I mean, why would you do that when all the best stuff is right here?
For us, we certainly pursue australian wine When we are in the bottle shop, we give priority to international brands.
Of course, there are many more wine regions outside of Australia, but when what is widely regarded as one of the world's most trusted wine awards hands its top honors to not one, not two, but five Australian wines, you have to start believing the hype, right?
What is the Decanter World Wine Competition?
London-based winery often considered the 'Olympics of wine' Decanter World Wine Awards Ongoing since 2004.
Applicants’ wines will be judged through rigorous blind tastings by a range of global experts, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and top buyers.
Wines at the Decanter Awards go through a multi-stage judging process, starting with Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. Gold Medal winners will be re-tasted and promoted to Platinum level, and Platinum Medal winners will then be tested again to determine the coveted Best in Show award.
In 2026, only the top 0.03% of more than 14,000 entries will receive a Best of Show award. Incredibly, five Australian wines have achieved this status, placing them among the 50 best wines in the world.
Wine winners on the international stage
Of the 14,082 entries for DWWA 2026, Australia accounted for 630, but five entries passed the judges' rigorous scrutiny, each receiving 97 points and reaching the hallowed heights of Best in Show.
The five Australian Best in Show winners are:
– Pewsey Valley Vineyards2025 Estate Riesling from Eden Valley, South Australia
– Dalrymple Vineyard'Single Site Pipers River Pinot Noir 2024, from Pipers River, Tasmania
– Ferngrove Winery'Orchard Series Dragon Shiraz 2023, from Frankland River, Washington
– Deep Forest ManorReserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 from Margaret River, WA
– Brokenwood Winery'ILR Reserve Semillon 2019, Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Two other New Zealand wines won the Best of Show award: Villa Maria Winery'Ngakirikiri Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2021 and Lapala Terme Wines' ROHE Sauvignon Blanc 2025.
Pewsey Valley Vineyard Estate Riesling 2025
only Riesling Among the top 50 wines for the 2026 Decanter Awards, the winner from Pewsey Vale is an icon of the variety.
This Riesling is pale yellow with a slight green tinge, and full of citrus aromas of lime and grapefruit. The wine has a long finish with rich and balanced acidity, and lots of lovely fresh floral and herbaceous aromas underneath the lemony top.
Pewsey Vale has been specializing in Eden Valley Riesling since 1847, honing its craft to perfection over the years.
Pewsey Vale Vineyard Estate Riesling 2025 has been designated nationally for major and
Independent retailers, and via Pewsey Vale Vineyard's online store (RRP $28).
Click here for the full tasting and winemaker’s notes.
Dalrymple Vineyard (Pipers River) Pinot Noir 2024
The only best show in the Southern Hemisphere Pinot Noir The single site Pipers River 2024 from Dalrymple Vineyards is the prototype for cool climate Australian Pinot Noir.
This wine has a rich, delightful purple hue and is packed with all the goodness of a well-crafted Pinot Noir. Aromas of cherry and plum emerge with every whiff, along with hints of cinnamon and star anise.
The more you drink and the longer you leave the bottle open, the richer the flavor becomes and the texture and finish are soft and lovely.
Dalrymple Vineyards Single Site Estate Pipers River Pinot Noir 2024 is available via:
Dalrymple Vineyards’ online store will be available at selected retailers nationwide
Effective August 1, 2026 (MSRP $80).
Click here for the full tasting and winemaker’s notes.
Hillsmith Manor
Despite being located in two different states and two distinct wine regions, Pewsey Valley Vineyards and Dalrymple Vineyards are actually part of the same overarching estate.
In addition to these two, there are also family businesses Hillsmith Family Estate There are some household names in its wine range, notably Janz Tasmania, Oxford Landing and Yalumba.
The Wine Awards are not for everyone
First of all, a huge congratulations to all the winners of the Hill-Smith Estate and DWWA Best In Show. What an achievement. This is great for the wine industry in Australia and New Zealand.
However, it's important to remember that wine awards aren't everything. Even though more than 14,000 different wines from around the world are participating in the 2026 DWWA, not every winery will receive an award. That means there are even more incredible wines out there waiting to be discovered.
The DWWA entry price is £172 per bottle of wine, excluding delivery costs, so many independent wineries are unable or do not want to bear this cost and will not go through the cumbersome process of applying and registering for the awards.
Let’s not forget that wine is highly subjective, even to the tastes of world-renowned experts.
But that’s why it’s important to know what you like, try different wines, and only use medal labels as a starting point when exploring new wines.
Post Are Australian wines really that good? first appeared in romantic mr and mrs.
