The 2026 Farmer’s Daughters Gippsland Wine Show attracted 116 high-calibre entries with particular strengths in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aromatic White and Shiraz. There was an outstanding record haul of 85 medals, including 7 gold trophies in the varietal classes, with 15 gold, 31 silver and 39 bronze, awarded at the annual celebration held for 120 guests at Trulli, in Meeniyan, on Thursday, 29 October.

- Photos from the awards night below (more to come)

- Full results - click for the 2026 results booklet

Congratulations to all our winners and their teams:

Winner of the Best Wine of Show, Jane Taylor and Mark Heath accepting the trophy for the Gippsland Wine Company 2025 Loch Chardonnay, presented by David Jones of lead sponsor, Farmer’s Daughters.

Our group of trophy winners from the 2026 Gippsland Wine Show - seven trophies winning with Gold or Top Gold in the varietal classes.

Mark Heath and Jane Taylor of Loch-based Gippsland Wine Company who won the coveted Farmer’s Daughters Best Wine of Show, for the the GWC 2025 Loch Chardonnay which also won Top Gold and Trophy in the Best Chardonnay class (96 points). The trophy was presented by David Jones of Farmer’s Daughters.
Another South Gippsland winery, Waratah Hills, took out Best Red Wine of Provenance for the Waratah Hills Pinot Noir 2025, 2024 and 2015, presented by Simon Johnson, CEO of Food and Fibre Gippsland.
The Best White Wine of Provenance went to East Gippsland winery, Lightfoot Wines, for the Lightfoot Home Block Chardonnay 2024, 2023 and 2021, presented by Annette Spink of Coast magazine.
The Most Successful Exhibitor trophy was awarded to Dirty Three Wines, and was presented to Marcus Satchell by Simon Kelton of Monacellars.

(See more pictures below, and more to come)

SEVEN TROPHIES IN CLASSES

There were seven Gold trophies awarded, for a wine which won its class with Gold or Top Gold, each earning a nomination to be judged for Best Wine of Show:

Gippsland Wine Company won Best Sparkling with a Gold medal (95 points) and Trophy for the GWC 2021 Blanc de Noir. Mark Heath was presented with the trophy by Michelle del Busso of Phillipson’s Accounting Services.
Blackcoat Wines won their first trophy, taking home the Best Aromatic White with a Top Gold Medal (96 points) and Trophy for the Blackcoat 2025 Chenin Blanc. The trophy was presented by Stephanie Duboudin, CEO of Wine Victoria, on behalf of Baw Baw Shire.
In only their second time entering the show, Rory and Jo McKenzie of Bull At A Gate picked up Top Gold and the Trophy, winning the Best Riesling with the Bull At A Gate 2026 Riesling. The vineyard entered only two categories in 2026, and won Gold with both, to cheers from the guests. The award was presented by Kelly McCarthy of Destination Gippsland.
Gippsland Wine Company won Best Chardonnay in a hotly-contested class yielding 3 gold meals, with a Top Gold (96 points) for the GWC 2025 Loch Chardonnay, which was also the later crowned Best Wine of Show. The award was presented to Mark Heath by Cr Meg Edwards, Bass Coast Shire Council.
Waratah Hills won Best Rose for the Waratah Hills 2026 Pinot Noir Rose, with the award presented by Sandrine Gimon, representing BHF Technologies.
The Best Pinot Noir trophy with a Top Gold (96 points) was awarded to Marcus Satchell for the Dirty Three 2025 “Dirt 2” Pinot Noir, and was presented by Cr Scott Rossetti, of Wellington Shire Council. There were four Gold medals in this class, including two for the other Dirty Three Pinot Noirs: the 2025 “Dirt 1” and the 2025 “All The Dirts” Pinot Noir, and one for Bass River Winery 2025
French Island Vineyards won the Best Shiraz with a Top Gold (96 points) for the French Island Vineyards 2025 Shiraz. Peter Hatton was presented with the trophy by Caroline Rossetti of Gippsland Funeral Services.
Best Other Red Varieties & Blends was won by Lightfoot Wines for the Lightfoot 2025 Minotaur with a Top Gold and Trophy (96) points, just pipping their own Lightfoot Gamay (95). The trophy was presented by Jessica Barlow of East Gippsland Shire Council.
Other varietal class winners
Blue Gables Vineyard won Best Sauvignon Blanc with a Top Silver medal (94 points) for the Blue Gables 2026 Sauvignon Blanc, with the trophy presented by Greg Price of Alex Scott and Staff.
Best Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends was won by the Purple Hen 2025 Cabernet Sauvignon with a Top Silver award (93 points) presented by Piers Parmenter of Grapeworks.

Our Sponsors

Wine Gippsland was delighted to have Farmer’s Daughters become the lead naming rights sponsor for the show and Best Wine of Show. David Jones representing the restaurant group spoke about the ongoing partnership and importance of celebrating Gippsland producers to CBD audiences. He said the Farmer’s Daughters restaurant and new Wine House provided an opportunity for Gippsland producers to have a “cellar door in the city”.

Guests at the awards included representatives and sponsors from Wellington Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Bass Coast Shire, South Gippsland Shire and Baw Baw Shire, along with wine industry suppliers, regional businesses and other stakeholders involved in the food and drink sector.

The Judging was held on on 12-13 October at Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club. Wine Gippsland again secured an independent and highly credentialled judging panel, led by Julian Grounds (Stonier), as Chair of Judges, with acclaimed wine journalist and author, Max Allen and Noah Ward, wine professional and wine podcast host, as judges. Jayden Lawry (vineyard/winery employee at Giant Steps) and Courtney Keegan (manager of DropShop drinks retailer).

Our sincere thanks to all our sponsors, both of the awards and auction items, for their support which allows Wine Gippsland to continue its non-profit work as a member-driven regional association, aimed at developing the quality and profile of Gippsland wines and the region, and their role in developing food+drink experiences to attract visitors to the region.