With so many stellar options, it can be difficult to narrow down the best red wines in Australia. Take the shiraz category for instance. Campbell Mattinson says it is "arguably the hardest category for us to judge...The quality is uniformly high, but the styles are more diverse than in any other category." So, we've done the work for you, compiling 46 top red wines from diverse regions around Australia. Each wine is rated outstanding or exceptional and has scored between 95 and 99 points in the 2025 Companion.
Starting with sparkling red and taking you through rosé, pinot noir, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and additional varieties, this list is packed full of magnificent wines for you to try now. In the shiraz category you'll find the Shiraz of the Year and Red Wine of the Year – the 2022 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2 – plus flavoursome, elegant, impeccably structured cabernet sauvignon and more. As Campbell says of the cabernet "this category was as strong or stronger than ever."
Click through to the links below the wines for more from each winery. Cheers to top Australian red wine!
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                            Pinot noir
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                                    Pressing MattersPinot Noir 2022Tasmania
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                                    Yering StationReserve Pinot Noir 2022Yarra Valley
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                                    ChaLou WinesPinot Noir 2023Orange
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                                    D.M.L.Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2022Yarra Valley
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                                    Dexter WinesPinot Noir 2023Mornington Peninsula
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                                    Ocean Eight Vineyard & WineryAylward By Ocean Eight Pinot Noir 2022Mornington Peninsula
Pressing Matters | Yering Station | ChaLou Wines | D.M.L. | Dexter Wines | Ocean Eight Vineyard & Winery
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                            Shiraz
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                                    Yarra YeringDry Red Wine No. 2 2022Yarra Valley
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                                    BrokenwoodGraveyard Vineyard Shiraz 2022Hunter Valley
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                                    Mount Langi GhiranLangi Shiraz 2021Grampians
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                                    Langmeil WineryThe Freedom 1843 Shiraz 2021Barossa Valley
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                                    Thousand CandlesSingle Vineyard Syrah 2021Yarra Valley
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                                    Centare VineyardOld Block Shiraz 2022Yarra Valley
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                                    Coombe Yarra ValleyTribute Series Mr. Mark Shiraz 2023Yarra Valley
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                                    HEAD WinesThe Brunette Shiraz 2022Barossa
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                                    HEAD WinesWilton Hill Shiraz 2021Eden Valley
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                                    Angove Family WinemakersWarboys Vineyard Shiraz Grenache 2021McLaren Vale
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                                    Balnaves of CoonawarraShiraz 2021Coonawarra
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                                    d'ArenbergThe Old Bloke & The Three Young Blondes Shiraz Roussanne Viognier Marsanne 2018McLaren Vale
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                                    Domaine NaturalisteRachis Syrah 2022Margaret River
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                                    Hare's ChaseLepus 2021Barossa Valley
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                                    HEAD WinesThe Blonde Shiraz 2022Barossa
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                                    Mérite WinesShiraz Malbec 2022Wrattonbully
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                                    Oliver's Taranga VineyardsHJ Shiraz 2021McLaren Vale
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                                    Oliver's Taranga VineyardsIhana Shiraz 2022McLaren Vale
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                                    Schubert EstateGoose-yard Block Shiraz 2020Barossa Valley
Yarra Yering | Brokenwood | Mount Langi Ghiran | Langmeil Winery | Thousand Candles | Centare | Coombe Yarra Valley | HEAD Wines | Angove Family Winemakers | Balnaves of Coonawarra | d'Arenberg | Domaine Naturaliste | Hare's Chase | Mérite Wines | Oliver's Taranga Vineyards | Schubert Estate
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                            CABERNET SAUVIGNON AND BLENDS
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                                    Cullen WinesDiana Madeline Wilyabrup 2022Margaret River
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                                    Patrick of CoonawarraGrande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013Coonawarra
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                                    Balnaves of CoonawarraCabernet Sauvignon 2021Coonawarra
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                                    Best’s WinesHamill Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022Grampians
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                                    Brash HigginsCBSV Omensetter Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021McLaren Vale
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                                    FerngroveThe Stirlings Bluff Knoll Cabernet Shiraz Malbec 2022Great Southern
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                                    JilyaraThe Williams' Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2022Margaret River
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                                    Peter LehmannMentor 2020Barossa
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                                    Robert Stein VineyardThe Kinnear Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2021Mudgee
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                                    Thompson EstateThe Specialist Cabernet Sauvignon 2021Margaret River
Cullen Wines | Patrick of Coonawarra | Balnaves of Coonawarra | Best's Wines | Brash Higgins | Ferngrove | Jilyara | Peter Lehmann | Robert Stein Vineyard | Thompson Estate
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                            Other reds
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                                    Pipan SteelTesoro Nebbiolo 2019Alpine Valleys
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                                    Warramunda EstateLiv Zak Malbec 2022Yarra Valley
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                                    Aravina EstateLimited Release Grenache 2023Margaret River
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                                    Aravina EstateWildwood Ridge Reserve Merlot 2022Margaret River
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                                    Brash HigginsNDV Amphora Project Nero d'Avola 2022McLaren Vale
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                                    Briar Ridge VineyardLimited Release BDX 2022Wrattonbully
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                                    Dandelion VineyardsMarch Hare of the Barossa Mataro 2022Barossa
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                                    d'ArenbergThe Ironstone Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2019McLaren Vale
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                                    Morris of RutherglenCHM Durif 2021Rutherglen
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                                    Ross Hill WinesPinnacle Series Cabernet Franc 2022Orange
Pipan Steel | Warramunda Estate | Aravina Estate | Brash Higgins | Briar Ridge Vineyard | Dandelion Vineyards | d'Arenberg | Morris | Ross Hill Wines
Related article: Standout whites from the 2025 Companion
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