The James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge is a celebration of the world’s most popular grape varieties and the remarkable regional diversity found in Australia. At this years event, organized by the Margaret River Wine Association and Wine Yarra Valley, over 615 wines were evaluated from all corners of the country. In a remarkable outcome, Margaret River’s wines emerged victorious, clinching both the coveted Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon Trophies, reaffirming the consistent excellence of wines originating from this small yet extraordinary Western Australian wine region.

Chair of Judges, Adam Wadewitz, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “[We] encountered some exceptional discoveries that exemplify the finest Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon examples from across Australia. It was a thrilling experience to assess wines from cooler vintages and to recognize that many of the award-winning wines not only display immediate appeal but will also generously reward those who have the patience to cellar them.”

Further contributing to the triumph, the Evans & Tate winery earned Gold Medals and an impressive 95 Points for their exceptional creations – the 2020 Redbrook Reserve Chardonnay and the 2022 Redbrook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.