The Halliday Wine Companion Awards celebrate the best wines in Australia. Below you'll find Australia's top other whites and blends, along with the wine ratings awarded by the Tasting Team.
The most interesting category. The category you fundamentally need to explore. A chenin blanc has won this category for the second year running (not the same chenin blanc, and a remarkable fact in itself) but this is a category high in both interest and quality; the best wines here rival the best wines of any white category.
2025 Other Whites and Blends of the Year
MMAD Vineyard Blewitt Springs Chenin Blanc 2022, McLaren Vale
98 points (PD*) | Price when tasted $49
The second release of this wine sees more depth and texture, reflecting an evolution of making after winemaker Adam Wadewitz got the measure of grape and site – on Maslin sands over ironstone. There’s chew and race in equal measure, with tart golden apples, ripe Meyer lemon, cool stone fruit, sea spray and savoury elements of crushed fennel seed, white pepper and a waxy chalkiness. Integrated barrel/mlf notes round out flavour and feel, with an intriguing saline slip to the palate complementing the subtle grip and the pleasing rip of natural acid. It’s a superb wine, thrillingly refined and detailed. The upward trajectory of this project is one to watch very closely. – Marcus Ellis
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Top-rated other whites & blends from the 2025 Companion
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Mount Mary
Triolet 2022
Yarra Valley -
Crittenden
Cri de Coeur Sous Voile Savagnin 2019
Mornington Peninsula -
Longview Vineyard
Macclesfield Grüner Veltliner 2023
Adelaide Hills -
MMAD Vineyard
Blewitt Springs Chenin Blanc 2022
McLaren Vale -
Yangarra Estate Vineyard
Roux Beaute Roussanne 2022
McLaren Vale -
Yeringberg
Marsanne Roussanne 2023
Yarra Valley -
Audrey Wilkinson
Winemaker's Selection Fiano 2023
Gundagai -
Bull Lane Wine Company
Marsanne 2022
Heathcote -
Castagna
Ingénue Viognier 2022
Beechworth -
Coriole
Rubato Reserve Fiano 2023
McLaren Vale -
Eldorado Road
Dreamfields Fiano 2023
Alpine Valleys -
Iggy
Deda Roussanne Marsanne 2021
Barossa Valley -
Silkman Wines
Grüner Veltliner 2023
Hunter Valley -
Tyrrell’s Wines
Vat 63 Winemaker's Selection Chardonnay Semillon 2023
Hunter Valley -
Vinden Wines
Idioteque Fiano 2022
Hunter Valley -
Yangarra Estate Vineyard
Ovitelli Blanc 2022
McLaren Vale -
Yarra Yering
Dry White Wine No. 1 2022
Yarra Valley -
Yeringberg
Viognier 2022
Yarra Valley
Learn more about chenin blanc.
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This is an edited extract from the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by Vera Babida.
*Panel decision – score awarded by the Halliday Tasting Team at the annual Awards judging.