The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW has unveiled the winners of its prestigious Sydney Royal Wine Show at a celebratory lunch today, with this year’s winners highlighting that premium quality wines don’t always come with a premium price tag. Taking home The Tucker Seabrook Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Show, was Abbey Vale Wines’ 2023 Abbey Vale Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon – a wine whose exceptional quality is matched by its remarkable consumer-friendly price point, retailing for just $27 a bottle.
“Australian wineries are producing world-class wines for every budget, and the Abbey Vale Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon is a great reflection of that,” said Chair of Judges, Mike De Iuliis. “It’s a fantastic result for consumers, particularly in the current economic climate.”
This year’s top prize winners ranged from a $150 plus 2013 Semillon to a young $25 Riesling, suggesting that affordability doesn’t always mean compromise in quality if you know what you are looking for.
“The 2025 Sydney Royal Wine Show results were a testament to the incredible variety of outstanding wines that are on offer to consumers right now, whether you are looking for something to drink tonight or that special bottle that will reward you after years in the cellar”, said De Iuliis. “Just look for that Sydney Royal medal and you’ll know that what you are getting is the best of the best and has undergone rigorous assessment.”
This year’s Show saw over 1500 wines assessed, with 103 gold medals awarded across five states and 23 wine regions, highlighting the exceptional calibre of wine being produced nationwide.
The Albert Chan Memorial Prize for Best White was won by the 2023 Evans & Tate Ellens Estate Chardonnay, with this year marking the third consecutive year that an Evans & Tate Chardonnay has claimed this prestigious award. Chardonnay has maintained its reputation for excellence, emerging as the standout varietal in 2025, earning more gold medals than any other varietal.
South Australia emerged victorious as the state with the highest gold medal count, narrowly beating out Western Australia; however, Margaret River stole the crown as the most decorated individual wine region, taking home almost half of the trophies awarded this year.
“It was great to see the major awards being spread across the different Australian regions, showcasing the depth and diversity of wine quality throughout the country. The healthy competition between these areas continues to elevate standards and drive excellence”, said De Iuliis.
“Some regions continue to demonstrate their strength in key varietals. The Hunter Valley’s renowned Semillons were once again a standout in their category, while South Australia dominated Grenache with an impressive eight gold medals. A particularly exciting area of this year’s Show were the “red blend” classes, where we’re seeing some fantastic new blends being made with purpose and precision. It’s a dynamic area of the Australian wine market at the moment, and we’re seeing a rise of new and innovative players”.
One standout success story is that of Orange region’s, Byrne Farm, who only began their wine journey in 2020 with the planting of their first vineyard block. Their remarkable rise within the industry saw them take home this year’s Arthur Kelman Perpetual Trophy for Best Shiraz Dominant Blend – an extraordinary achievement in just their second year entering the competition.
Other notable highlights this year include De Bortoli Wines, Jim Barry Wines, and Stella Bella, each earning trophies for two different wines. De Bortoli Wines impressed in the Other Red Varietal and Other Red Blend categories with its Sangiovese and Tempranillo Touriga. At the same time, Stella Bella claimed top honours for Best White Blend and Best Rose. Jim Barry Wines took out the prize for Best Shiraz, while its Riesling was recognised with the Best Value Wine award.
Three wineries managed to produce an outstanding vintage with Evans & Tate’s 2023 Ellens Estate Chardonnay, Tyrrell’s 2013 Vat 1 Semillon, and Abbey Vale Wines’ 2023 Premium RSV Cabernet Sauvignon, each earning 3 trophies.
“We were extremely happy with the standard of wines showcased this year. We awarded 1067 medals, which means that approximately two-thirds of entries received a medal of some colour”, said De Iuliis.
“It’s a strong reflection of the industry’s momentum as we look ahead to next year and the milestone celebration of 200 years of the Sydney Royal Wine Show in 2026”.
The public will have the exciting opportunity to taste wines from the Sydney Royal Wine Show, including medal and trophy winners, at the Grape, Grain & Graze Festival, held at Sydney Showground on Saturday, 20 September.