The Margaret River wine region took centre stage at the National Wine Show of Australia awards, taking home the ceremony's top-three gongs.

The awards night, held in Canberra on June 11, was led by Xanadu's 2023 cabernet sauvignon which was awarded the Prime Minister's Trophy for champion wine of show after edging out fellow Margaret River producer Evans & Tate's 2023 single vineyard chardonnay.

To compete for the top award, Xanadu and Evans & Tate had earlier secured the James Halliday Trophy for best red wine of show and the Len Evans Memorial Trophy for best white, respectively.

The success was part of a remarkable showing for Margaret River, which contributed heavily to Western Australia's seven-trophy haul.

Margaret River

In a further demonstration of the region's strength, all three finalists in the cabernet sauvignon class -- Xanadu, Passel Estate and first-time exhibitor La Kooki -- were from Margaret River.

While Xanadu claimed the cabernet trophy for the 10th time in 13 years, La Kooki also enjoyed a breakthrough result, winning the white varietal trophy for its 2025 Chenin Rocks chenin blanc.

The victory marked another milestone for Xanadu senior winemaker Glenn Goodall, who operates La Kooki alongside his wife and fellow winemaker Eloise Jarvis.

Mr Goodall said winning the top wine award was a proud moment, not only for Xanadu but for the entire Margaret River region.

La Kooki

"It was awesome and it was also great for the region, because the Evans & Tate got the white with the chardonnay, so it was just a bit of a coup for a relatively small region based on volume to take out the top two awards," he said.

"It was kind of win-win."

Mr Goodall said Margaret River's strong showing at the awards helped to cement the area's position as one of the most premier wine regions in Australia.

"Margaret River did so well, winning both the red and the white, it was no coincidence that every single finalist in the cabernet trophy class was actually from Margaret River," he said.

Evans & Tate

National Wine Show chair of judges Matt Harrop said the winning cabernet sauvignon was emblematic of its maker which, along with fellow 2026 trophy winners Morris Wines, Tyrrells Vineyards and De Bortoli, was a regular fixture on the national awards' podium.

"We've long known Xanadu makes incredible cab sav and this one didn't have a hair out of place. It kept getting good scores, from the first round through to the cabernet trophy then the red wine of show and finally the PM's award," he said.

Mr Harrop said he was delighted to see seven first-time entrants get to the finals, with two of them winning trophies -- Lobethal Road (pinot gris/grigio trophy), and La Kooki (white varietal trophy).

"The reason we continue to see record entries in the National Wine Show is that people realise that every wine gets a fair hearing, so anybody can win it," he said.

Vineyards and De Bortoli

"We have a great cohort of judges who put a fine-tooth comb over every entry.

"A lot of shows are too quick to dismiss some wines but that's not how we do it. If you produce something exceptional you're in with a chance of a trophy whether you're a complete unknown or one of Australia's most famous labels."

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Margaret River did so well, winning both the red and the white, it was no coincidence that every single finalist in the cabernet trophy class was actually from Margaret River.

Putting it in context

The drinks business rewards patience. Recipes get refined quietly, formats get resized, and the label often changes long before anyone notices the liquid has.

At a glance

  • The Margaret River wine region took centre stage at the National Wine Show of Australia awards, taking home the ceremony's top-three gongs
  • To compete for the top award, Xanadu and Evans & Tate had earlier secured the James Halliday Trophy for best red wine of show and the Len Evans Memorial Trophy for best white, respectively
  • The success was part of a remarkable showing for Margaret River, which contributed heavily to Western Australia's seven-trophy haul
  • In a further demonstration of the region's strength, all three finalists in the cabernet sauvignon class -- Xanadu, Passel Estate and first-time exhibitor La Kooki -- were from Margaret River
  • Mr Goodall said winning the top wine award was a proud moment, not only for Xanadu but for the entire Margaret River region

In short

The details will firm up over the coming months. What is already clear is that this is unlikely to be the last we hear of it.