Tasting Top Wineries of Australia
Huon Hooke in Wine Events Become a member to view this article
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- Chester Osborn of d’Arenberg Wines gets the prize for the most colourful stand. The Real Review
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- People mingle at The Real Review Top Wineries tasting in Sydney. The Real Review
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- Liz Silkman (right) and the Silkman Wines crew at the Top Wineries tasting in Sydney. The Real Review
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- Tasters enjoying the afternoon at the Top Wineries tasting. The Real Review
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- Owen Inglis (right) and colleague of Sidewood Estate all smiles at the Top Wineries tasting in Sydney. The Real Review
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- Huon Hooke leads the Top Wineries masterclass tasting in Sydney. The Real Review
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- A selfie opportunity at the Top Wineries Sydney tasting. The Real Review
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- Stuart Knox (left) gets in on the action at the Top Wineries tasting in Sydney. The Real Review
Where would you ever see so many of Australia’s top winemakers in one room? Answer: The Real Review Top Wineries Australia tastings in Sydney and Melbourne, which took place this year on August 2 and 9 respectively.
Tessa Brown (Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown), Melanie Chester (Giant Steps), Vanya Cullen (Cullen Wines), Sarah Crowe (Yarra Yering), Heather Fraser (Yalumba), Sue Hodder (Wynns Coonawarra Estate), Anna Pooley (Pooley Wines), Liz Silkman (Silkman Wines and First Creek), and that’s just the girls.
There were 35 wineries, each pouring four of their top wines. These included some rare gems.The other gender was represented by the likes of Paul Bridgeman (Levantine Hill), Larry Cherubino (Cherubino Wines), Stephen Cook (Eisenstone), Alexey Doumbouya (Yalumba), Matt Goldstein (Wine By Farr), Brendan Hawker (Yering Station), Owen Inglis (Sidewood), Tom McCarthy (Quealy Wines), Alex McKay (Collector Wines), Madden Morris (Morris Wines), Hugh Mugford (Moss Wood), Chester Osborn (D’Arenberg), Matt Pooley (Pooley Wines), Darren Rathbone (Yering Station), Jeremy Schmölzer (Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown), Greg Silkman (Silkman Wines), Adrian Sparks (Mount Pleasant) and Kym Teusner (Utopos Vineyards).
There were 35 wineries, each pouring four of their top wines. These included some rare gems: for example Giant Steps Applejack Chardonnay 2023 (The Real Review White Wine of the Year), Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea Shiraz, By Farr Côte Vineyard Pinot Noir and Côte Vineyard Chardonnay (The Real Review Winery of the Year 2025), Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1, Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon, Eisenstone d’Or Shiraz X10, Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay and Diana Madeline Cabernet blend, John Duval Eligo Shiraz, Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz, Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier, Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Morris Old Premium Rare Muscat and Topaque … and on and on goes the list of spectacular wines.
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- Group shot of all wine exhibitors at the Top Wineries tasting event held at Glasshouse in Melbourne. The Real Review
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- Exhibitors in conversation with tasters at the Top Wineries event in Melbourne. The Real Review
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- A taster works his way around the room at the Top Wineries tasting event in Melbourne. The Real Review
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- Winemaker Larry Cherubino chats to guests at the Top Wineries tasting event in Melbourne. The Real Review
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- Huon Hooke mingles at the Top Wineries tasting in Melbourne. The Real Review
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- A taster takes a good look at one of the wines at the Top Wineries tasting in Melbourne. The Real Review
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- Guests get a fresh pour at the Top Wineries tasting event in Melbourne. The Real Review
The tastings were conducted over two two-and-a-half-hour sessions in each location. In Sydney it was the Kimpton Margot Sydney, in Pitt Street, and in Melbourne the Glasshouse, on Olympic Boulevard. In all, approximately 800 members of the public attended. The spacious rooms gave a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of room to move, so that people could access pours of wine and conversation easily and in an unhurried atmosphere.
Every year we receive gratifying feedback from exhibitors that they are impressed with the calibre of those attending.Snack foods were available for all at no extra cost. Yours truly conducted masterclasses for the trade and public in both locations.
Every year we receive gratifying feedback from exhibitors that they are impressed with the calibre of those attending.
We at The Real Review were thrilled with the response from the trade and the public and look forward to doing it all again next year.
Thanks for coming!