Tasmanian cool-climate Syrah achieves a historic win as the Sydney Royal Wine Show celebrates 200 years

Australia's finest wines have been recognised today at the nation's oldest wine show, as the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW celebrates the winners of its 2026 Sydney Royal Wine Show. A special milestone year, marking 200 years since wine was first included in the 1826 Agricultural Society of NSW Show.

Critiqued by some of the most experienced and diverse wine judging palates in the country, over 1,500 wines were assessed blindly over the week to determine the best of the best. The top accolade for Best Wine of Show went to Tasmania's Pooley Wines for its 2024 Pooley Syrah, with Sydney Royal Judges praising the medium-bodied wine for its balance and savoury fruit flavours.

The family-run Coal River winery took home three major trophies with its 2024 Syrah, also claiming the Best Red and Best Shiraz trophies, and making history as the first Tasmanian Shiraz to achieve this feat in categories traditionally dominated by renowned Shiraz-producing regions such as Barossa Valley & McLaren Vale.

For Chair of Judges, Mike De Iuliis, cool climate shiraz wines, like the Pooley Wines Syrah, were the highlight of this year’s show, with an impressive range of regions and producers represented.

“Shiraz is such a versatile variety - it was wonderful to see such fine examples across so many growing regions, from South Australia and Victoria to WA and Tasmania”, De Iuliis said.

“It really demonstrates that these amazing wines can come from anywhere in this country. It was particularly exciting to see the best Shiraz of the show come from the Coal River Valley in Tasmania - a great reminder that cooler-climate sites are producing some exciting Shiraz in Australia right now.”

An additional trophy winner in this category was Yarra Valley’s Oakridge Wine’s 2024 864 Close Planted Block Syrah, which was awarded the newly renamed Matthew Jukes Memorial International Judges Trophy, in memory of Matthew Jukes, who served as this year’s Sydney Royal Wine Show international guest judge, and passed away suddenly on the 6^th August 2026.

Returning to the judging panel 20 years after his first Sydney Royal judging appearance, Jukes said the Yarra Valley Syrah “stood out as an exemplary style of a single vineyard site expressing all of its elemental powers into the bottle. I absolutely adored this wine.”

Jukes also noted the high-definition focus that came into the classes when judging this year, remarking “There has been more of a sense of place than ever before. The progress that Australia makes year on year is astonishing.”

Reflecting on the broader outcomes of the competition, Chair of Judges Mike De Iuliis said “Diversity was seen across the board this year with an incredible spread of trophy and medal winners from wine regions and producers across Australia. A fantastic result, particularly as we celebrate 200 years of the Sydney Royal Wine Show and wine judging in Australia. In 1826, the RAS offered one small medal for the best sample of wine, 200 years later we are judging more than 1500 high-quality wines from wineries right across the country.”

De Iuliis also remarked that the Other White Varietal class was another standout, with some really exciting wines coming through.

“The other white varietal class was a surprising highlight for this year’s show as well. Winemakers appear to be honing their craft in these varietals, and it is starting to show. We saw some excellent examples of Vermentino, Chenin Blanc, and Albariño. The vines making these other whites are also likely improving with age and vineyards are looking at them as a more worthy investment.”

This year’s Best Other White Varietal went to the Hunter Valley’s First Creek Wines 2025 Limited Release Vermentino, however across the competition, the class has seen an impressive improvement in quality over the past three years, with 49 medals awarded in 2026 including 5 gold. First Creek also took home Best Single Vineyard for its 2017 Single Vineyard Oakey Creek Semillon.

“For the value wines this year, consumers can’t go past Aldi’s 2026 Freya and Jules Riesling, and the 2026 Jacob’s Creek Le Petite Rosé for less than $15. Both have been well recognised across the Australian show circuit and have taken home a trophy for Best Riesling and Best Rosé this year. And our Best Value Wine of Show was given to the 2025 Whipbird GSM - which comes in at $22.”

Another standout this year included McLaren Vale’s Willunga 100, which has now won back-to-back trophies for Best Grenache and Best Small Producer, this year thanks to the 2025 Willunga 100 Blind Spot Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache. In 2025, the premium winery took home the same trophies with its 2024 Willunga 100 Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache.

In celebration of the local state, Best NSW Wine of Show was taken home by the Hunter Valley’s De Bortoli wines for their 2022 Deen De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon. To be eligible for Best NSW Wine, a product must have won a gold medal at 2 other NSW wine shows. Impressively, the 2022 De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon won a trophy at both the 2025 NSW Wine Awards and the 2025 Riverina Show.

The styles of wine showcased this year continue to track the arc of drinking trends in Australia. From famous brands with a long pedigree of show success, to new entrants and value offerings, the top wines demonstrate the exceptional quality of Australian wine currently being produced.

Overall, this year’s Sydney Royal Wine Show presented 105 gold medals to winemakers from across Australia, with about 58.5% of all 1537 wines entered being recognised with a gold, silver, or bronze medal.

Sydney Royal medals are awarded only to products that meet or exceed rigorous industry benchmarks, allowing producers to compare their products against recognised industry standards. For consumers, the Sydney Royal medal serves as a trusted mark of quality, offering confidence that the product has been assessed and endorsed by some of the industry’s most respected experts.

“I highly recommend consumers explore the trophy-winning wines and be open to viewing the gold, silver and bronze medal winners. This is a sure way of knowing a wine is of the highest quality and has been recognised as one of the best in Australia”, said De Iuliis.

“I also encourage anyone interested in tasting these wines to come along to the RAS’ Grape, Grain & Graze Festival on September 19 for a chance to try all our trophy, gold and silver medal-winning wines for themselves. Over 1000 consumers attend in what is a wonderful showcase of excellence”

To view all the 2026 Sydney Royal Wine Show results, including gold, silver and bronze medal winners or to learn more about 200 years of the Sydney Royal Wine Show visit www.rasnsw.com.au/wineshow.

Learn more about the 2026 Grape, Grain & Graze Festival at www.rasnsw.com.au/events/grape-grain-graze.

Images from the awards lunch, judging days, and the recent Sydney Royal 200 Symposium can be found here.

Media Contacts

Emma Weir
M: 0422 921 277
E: emma@mastermindconsulting.com.au

Samantha Cannings
Communications & Public Relations Executive, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
M: 0411 864 836
E: scannings@rasnsw.com.au

About Australia’s oldest wine show

In 1826, during its fourth annual agricultural exhibition, the Agricultural Society of NSW offered a small gold medal for the best sample of colonial wine - not less than 10 gallons, certified on oath to be from the vintage of that year. By 1828, there were four classes for wine, despite the colony only having a handful of serious growers. The show system had started small but gained momentum. By 1901, a purpose-built exhibition space called ‘the wine kiosk’ was being built at the Agricultural Society of NSW’s home at Moore Park, giving exhibitors the chance to showcase their wines.

Whilst these initial competitions were small by modern standards, they planted a seed that would grow into the most prestigious wine show in Australia. Now, 200 years later, the Sydney Royal Wine Show is the oldest continuously run wine competition in Australia, each year drawing on average 2000 entries, from hundreds of Australian wine producers, covering every major wine region in the country. A gold medal from the Sydney Royal Wine Show is one of the most coveted marks of excellence in Australian wine.

2026 Sydney Royal Wine Show Trophy Winners Full List

THE DOUGLAS LAMB PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST RIESLING. DONATED BY THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE LATE DOUGLAS LAMB
ALDI STORES
2026 FREYA AND JULES RIESLING

THE MCCARTHY PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC. DONATED BY J MCCARTHY AND CO PTY LTD
PASSEL ESTATE
2023 PASSEL ESTATE SAUVIGNON BLANC

THE DAVID CLARKE MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SEMILLON. DONATED BY JANE, TIMOTHY AND ANGUS CLARK AND MAXINE COOLEY
FIRST CREEK WINES
2017 FIRST CREEK WINES SINGLE VINEYARD OAKEY CREEK SEMILLON

THE RAS OF NSW ANNUAL PRIZE FOR BEST PINOT GRIS OR PINOT GRIGIO.
TAR & ROSES
2025 TAR & ROSES PINOT GRIGIO

THE A P JOHN COOPERS PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST CHARDONNAY. DONATED BY A P JOHN COOPERS
MEDHURST WINES
2024 MEDHURST ESTATE CHARDONNAY

THE BERT BEAR MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER WHITE VARIETAL. DONATED BY THE FIRST THURSDAY LUNCHEON CLUB OF WHICH MR BEAR WAS AN ORIGINAL MEMBER
FIRST CREEK WINES
2025 FIRST CREEK WINES LIMITED RELEASE VERMENTINO

THE LIQUORLAND PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST WHITE BLEND. DONATED BY LIQUORLAND
BROWN HILL ESTATE
2026 BROWN HILL ESTATE LAKEVIEW SAUVIGNON BLANC SEMILLON

THE HANAMINNO PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SWEET WHITE. DONATED BY MR MICHAEL ARNOTT AND FAMILY
DE BORTOLI WINES PTY LIMITED.
2022 DEEN DE BORTOLI BOTRYTIS SEMILLON

THE RAS OF NSW ANNUAL PRIZE FOR BEST CURRENT VINTAGE WHITE.
TYRRELL'S VINEYARDS PTY LTD
2026 TYRRELL'S HVD SEMILLON

THE DR HENRY JOHN LINDEMAN MEMORIAL PERPETUAL PRIZE FOR BEST MATURE WHITE. DONATED BY LINDEMAN (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
FIRST CREEK WINES
2017 FIRST CREEK WINES SINGLE VINEYARD OAKEY CREEK SEMILLON

THE LESLIE KEMENY MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST ROSÉ. DONATED BY KEMENY'S FOOD AND LIQUOR
JACOB'S CREEK
2026 JACOB'S CREEK LE PETIT ROSE

THE GEOFFREY CRUNDALL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST PINOT NOIR. DONATED BY GEOFFREY CRUNDALL CELLARS
BREAM CREEK VINEYARD
2025 BREAM CREEK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR

THE GEORGE MACKEY MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST GRENACHE. DONATED BY WINE AUSTRALIA
WILLUNGA HUNDRED PTY LTD
2025 WILLUNGA 100 BLIND SPOT VINEYARD BLEWITT SPRINGS GRENACHE

THE DRINKS ASSOCIATION PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST SHIRAZ. DONATED BY THE LIQUOR MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
POOLEY WINES
2024 POOLEY WINES SYRAH

THE ARTHUR KELMAN PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SHIRAZ DOMINANT BLEND. DONATED BY THE DAUGHTERS OF THE LATE ARTHUR KELMAN
HAMELIN BAY WINES
2025 HAMELIN BAY RAMPANT RED

THE DAN MURPHY'S PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON. DONATED BY DAN MURPHY'S
DEEP WOODS ESTATE
2024 DEEP WOODS ESTATE HILLSIDE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

THE JONES, STEAINS AND WALLER PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST CABERNET DOMINANT BLEND. DONATED BY A W & A PARDEY
YARRA YERING
2024 YARRA YERING AGINCOURT CABERNET MALBEC

THE WINE COMMUNICATORS OF AUSTRALIA PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER RED VARIETAL. DONATED BY THE WINE PRESS CLUB OF NSW
THE LANE VINEYARD
2025 THE LANE VINEYARD GATHERING GAMAY

THE JOHN SWANN PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER RED BLEND. DONATED BY THE AUSTRALIAN WINE AND BRANDY CORPORATION
A. G. OATLEY WINES
2025 WHIPBIRD MCLAREN VALE GSM

THE RUDY KOMON MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST MATURE RED. DONATED BY MRS RUTH KOMON
SERAFINO WINES
2023 SERAFINO VINEYARD SELECTION SHIRAZ

THE THORP ANNUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SPARKLING WHITE OR ROSÉ.
PINNACLE DRINKS
2020 JOSEF CHROMY BRUT FINESSE

THE J C M FORNACHON MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST FORTIFIED. DONATED BY THE LATE RUDY KOMON
MORRIS WINES
OLD PREMIUM RARE TOPAQUE

THE DAN MURPHY’S VALUE PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST VALUE WINE (WHITE, ROSÉ OR RED). DONATED BY THE FIRST ESTATE WINE MERCHANTS
A. G. OATLEY WINES
2025 WHIPBIRD MCLAREN VALE GSM

THE MATTHEW JUKES MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL JUDGES TROPHY SUPPORTED BY THE RAS OF NSW
OAKRIDGE WINES
2024 OAKRIDGE WINES 864 CLOSE PLANTED BLOCK SYRAH

THE NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES JAMES BUSBY PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST NSW WINE. DONATED BY THE NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
DE BORTOLI WINES PTY LIMITED.
2022 DEEN DE BORTOLI BOTRYTIS SEMILLON

THE RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SMALL PRODUCER WINE. DONATED BY THE RESTAURANT AND CATERING ASSOCIATION OF NSW
WILLUNGA HUNDRED PTY LTD
2025 WILLUNGA 100 BLIND SPOT VINEYARD BLEWITT SPRINGS GRENACHE

THE LEN EVANS MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE. DONATED BY THE WINE COMMITTEE OF THE RAS OF NSW AND THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE LATE LEN EVANS AO
FIRST CREEK WINES
2017 SINGLE VINEYARD OAKEY CREEK SEMILLON

THE ALBERT CHAN MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR BEST WHITE. DONATED BY FRIENDS OF THE LATE ALBERT CHAN
MEDHURST WINES
2024 MEDHURST ESTATE CHARDONNAY

THE DR GILBERT PHILLIPS MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST RED. DONATED BY THE WINE SOCIETY
POOLEY WINES
2024 POOLEY WINES SYRAH

THE TUCKER SEABROOK PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST WINE OF SHOW.
POOLEY WINES
2024 POOLEY WINES SYRAH