Winery of the Year 2026: Brokenwood

2026 Winery of the Year

Brokenwood – Hunter Valley, New South Wales

"Acknowledging a winery with a vibrant history spanning six decades that was also founded in part by James Halliday is incredibly special. Brokenwood has long deserved to win this award but hasn’t – until now.

We reviewed 18 wines from the Hunter Valley stalwart for the 2026 Companion, and 16 were awarded 95 points or over; no mean feat. Some of these wines have graced the pages of the guide since its inception.

Regional taster Toni Paterson MW says of the 2023 Graveyard Shiraz, ‘Not only is the wine a magnificent expression of this treasured vineyard, and a distinguished signature wine for Brokenwood, but it is also a benchmark of the region, making it a compelling addition to any serious wine collection.’ The ILR Reserve Semillon has won Semillon of the Year twice and was again featured in the final lineup in the annual awards judging this year.

Beyond the flagships, we must also consider that Brokenwood produces wines at many price points and of excellent quality. For a winery with tendrils now traversing multiple states (they source fruit from Beechworth, Orange, Yarra Valley, Margaret River and McLaren Vale), maintaining this level of consistency across a portfolio upwards of 30 wines is admirable.

Winemaking duo Stuart Hordern and Kate Sturgess are a force to be reckoned with and, having been mentored by Iain Riggs (who was at the helm of winemaking for 38 years), they’ve done well to fill his bottomless boots. Stuart and Kate are collectively nominated for Winemaker of the Year for their efforts. The wines under their stewardship are as good as ever, fragrant and elegant, with intensity and graceful precision.

Toni Paterson MW says of the duo, ‘They craft wines that are unmistakably Australian and regionally expressive yet resonate on a global stage.’ We can’t ask for much more than that. Brokenwood is a true icon of Australian vinous history." – Katrina Butler

“There’s something very satisfying when recognition comes with time," says Stuart.

“Our success isn’t down to one specific person,” he adds, acknowledging the current team – which includes CEO Geoff Krieger, winemaker Kate Sturgess, viticulturists Katrina Barry and Chris Fletcher, brand manager Carlee Watson, and many others – as well as “the little stamp” left by those who came before. “What we try to do is build on that history, that legacy of quality, and move it forward year on year. Evolution is key – we’re not looking for revolution.”

"Ultimately, it’s all about striving to make the best wine we possibly can, in order to leave Brokenwood in a better place than when we started. Quality never goes out of style.”

Previous Winery of the Year recipients were Paringa Estate (2007), Balnaves of Coonawarra (2008), Brookland Valley (2009), Tyrrell’s (2010), Larry Cherubino Wines (2011), Port Phillip Estate/Kooyong (2012), Kilikanoon Wines (2013), Penfolds (2014), Hentley Farm Wines (2015), Tahbilk (2016), Mount Pleasant (2017), Mount Mary (2018), Seville Estate (2019), Jim Barry Wines (2020), Henschke (2021), Yarra Yering (2022), Pooley Wines (2023), Bleasdale Vineyards (2024) and Giant Steps (2025). 

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This is an edited extract from the 2026 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 James Coe.