2026 AAVWS Results

Purple Hands Takes Best Wine of Show at Mildura 2026

Ed Merrison & Kim Chalmers with Purple Hands Wine

A grape most of us cannot pronounce wins best in show at the 2026 AAVWS. Purple Hands has won the Dr Rod Bonfiglioli Best Wine of Show at the 2026 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show in Mildura with its 2024 Aglianico, which also took Best Red Wine and Best Italian Variety Wine. The Barossa winery has now won the show's top trophy three times in five years: the 2021 After Five Aglianico in 2022, the 2022 After Five Montepulciano in 2024 and now this. The grape is pronounced alli-YAN-nik-oh, and Purple Hands has had plenty of occasions to practise.

The show saw 700 entries from 63 regions and handed out 78 gold medals, 114 silver and 254 bronze. Judging 700 wines made from varieties most drinkers have not met is a sport of its own, and Mildura hosts it every year on the weekend after Melbourne Cup Day. Forget the clippety clops, this is the event to stop a nation.

Jo Marsh and Glenn James from Billy Button with Helen Healy

Best White Wine was awarded to Eldorado Road 2025 Dreamfields Fiano. Billy Button had a strong week, with its Vermentino taking the Provenance Award and the winery collecting the Helen Healy Award for Excellence, which goes to the exhibitor with the most medals. Longview Vineyard did well at one address. Its 2026 Macclesfield Grüner Veltliner was Best of the Rest and Chris Mein won the Viticulturist Award. Hither & Yon's 2025 Greco was the guest judges' Wine to Watch, a good result for a grape that keeps being mistaken for Greek. Chalmers, whose family helped start the show and sponsors its top trophy, took Best Sparkling Wine with its 2025 Col Fondo.

Bart Van Olphen of Chalmers Wine Best Sparkling with Adam Hobbs

The full list of trophies:

The Dr Rod Bonfiglioli Best Wine of Show: Purple Hands Wines 2024 Aglianico

Best Red Wine: Purple Hands Wines 2024 Aglianico

Best White Wine: Eldorado Road 2025 Dreamfields Fiano

Best Italian Variety Wine: Purple Hands Wines 2024 Aglianico

Best Iberian Variety Wine: Mount Majura Vineyard 2025 Graciano

Best French Variety Wine: The Lane Vineyard 2025 Gathering Cabernet Franc

Best of the Rest: Longview Vineyard 2026 Macclesfield Gruner Veltliner

Best Blend: Oliver's Taranga Vineyards 2026 Brioni's Blend

Best Rosé: Ricca Terra 22 Degree Halo 2026 Rosé

Best Sparkling Wine: Chalmers 2025 Col Fondo

Chief of Judges Wine to Watch: Lino Ramble 2025 Solitaire

Guest Judges Wine to Watch: Hither & Yon 2025 Greco

Stewards Choice Award: Bondar Wines 2026 Fiano

Tony Mangan Memorial Award for Best Organic Wine: Praeter 2025 Savagnin Sous Voile

Provenance Award: Billy Button Vermentino

Viticulturist Award: Chris Mein, Longview Vineyard

Helen Healy Award for Excellence: Billy Button Wines

Best Label Artwork: Wangolina 2025 Seasons Malvasia Istriana