At some point Australia was known internationally more for its bulk or cheap wine exports than for the fine wines its relatively old wine industry has been producing. Simply speaking, the good stuff, the Aussies would keep it for themselves!
But after a few severe periods of drought, and an important crisis in the wine industry there, with huge acreage of vines being pulled out (somewhat similar to what’s affected the Languedoc wine region in France), the Australian wine landscape is more diverse and qualitative than ever!
Yes, the country is still renowned for its iconic Shiraz wine style which still makes many of the very finest Aussie wines, but the Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and other alternative grape varieties have been flourishing in a healthier-than-ever domestic wine market.
Among this refreshing variety of style though, which wines and brands have reached the uppermost level of local and international hype to command the highest prices on the global wine market?
You thought it was only Penfold’s up there?
Although the brand takes a few spots here, let’s have a closer look at what’s really in the Top 25 Most Expensive Australian Wines… Grange is ‘only’ a the sixth place in this ranking!
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1 – Seppeltsfield Para Vintage Tawny Port, Barossa Valley
Average Price USD: $6,370 for a 750ml-equivalent
Grape Variety: Grenache – Shiraz
What is it about? Like Seppeltsfield’s many expressions of Tawny, the wine’s composition is made up of red grape varietals (mostly Shiraz and Grenache although being so old, the full varietal composition unknown) and is fortified with Brandy spirit. Following open tank fermentation, the wine is fortified with Brandy spirit and directed to old oak barrels to rest within the renowned Centennial Cellar. Vintages can go back as far as 1879, so many are over 100 years old, and you can pretty much find every vintage since, up to 1987 at this time. The wine is generally sold in 100 ml flasks (around $400 depending on the vintage) or sometimes 250ml. The average price indicated above is for a 750ml-volume equivalent to a standard wine bottle although you won’t find it in this format.
Winery Website: seppeltsfield.com.au
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2 – Penfolds Bin 620 Cabernet – Shiraz, Coonawarra
Average Price USD: $1,067
Grape Variety: Cabernet – Shiraz
What is it about? This wine pays homage to the 1966 Bin 620, a legendary Penfolds show wine from a great Coonawarra vintage. A unique Australian blend – Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz – true to the Penfolds house style and worthy of Special Bin status. In the 2008 vintage our low yielding Penfolds Coonawarra Blocks 5, 10 & 20 produced superb quality fruit with tremendous flavour definition, allowing the creation of a wine similar in style and stature to the original 1966 Bin 620. Barrel fermentation in new French and American oak barrels has woven all the fruit and oak elements into a wine of impressive depth and complexity.
Winery Website: penfolds.com
3 – Chris Ringland Dry Grown Shiraz, Barossa Valley
Average Price USD: $737
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? Chris Ringland has been making his own wine in Australia since 1989 although his journey started many years prior in New Zealand. He made Three Rivers Shiraz at Rockford with the encouragement of Robert O’Callaghan but never more than a few barrels. From 89-94 there were never more than 720 bottles filled of Three Rivers and it wasn’t until he purchased his own vineyard in 1994 that he was able to increase the number of bottles filled. From then on the vineyard dictated how many bottles he would produce under his own label, Three Rivers to start, then simply Chris Ringland Shiraz from the 1998 release.
Winery Website: chrisringland.com
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4 – Torbreck The Laird, Barossa Valley
Average Price USD: $632
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? In the Scottish language, ‘The Laird’ refers to the Lord of the Manor. This single vineyard Shiraz comes from the old Gnadenfrei vineyard in the sub-region of Marananga in the Barossa Valley. In 2003, the original owners Malcolm & Joylene Seppelt asked if Torbreck could make the wine under contract. For the next two years, each time we gave the wine back to Malcolm, we felt we were returning the best parcel of Shiraz Torbreck made from that vintage – head and shoulders above the RunRig components. In 2005 we made the first Laird from the vineyard and coveted this vineyard for 10 years before finally getting the opportunity to purchase the whole vineyard outright in 2013. Around the same time, Torbreck was also approached by the Dominique Laurent negociant house in France to purchase their barrels. These barrels are known as “Magic Casks”. Normal barrique staves are between 22 and 27mm thick. These are 45mm, perfect for long-term wood maturation and are made from oak exclusively from the Tronçais forest, ideal for aging Shiraz. Over the three years The Laird matures in them, these barriques give a level of oak flavour and integration we once thought impossible. This vineyard is perfect in every way. It is South East facing, completely dry grown, meticulously hand tended, farmed by a grower with a lifetime’s experience, on typical Western Barossa soil – brown loam over red clay over limestone – and planted with one of the original Barossa clones. However, this vineyard also has an “X factor” which gives the wine an extra something that cannot be fully explained. The resulting small, concentrated berries produced consistently on the property make it the envy of all the winemakers in the valley.
Winery Website: torbreck.com
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5 – Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley, Australia
Average Price USD: $566
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? Hill of Grace is surely one of the most evocative phrases in the world of wine. It is a translation from the German ‘Gnadenberg’, a region in Silesia, and the name given to the lovely Lutheran church that overlooks the vineyard. The 4 ha single-vineyard shiraz planting is situated at the historic village of Parrot Hill 4km north-west of Henschke Cellars.
Winery Website: henschke.com.au
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6 – Penfolds Grange Bin 95
Average Price USD: $554
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Grange boasts an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951 and clearly demonstrates the synergy between Shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia. Penfolds Grange utilises fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and textured Shiraz grapes. The result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world’s great wines. The Grange style is the original and most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district, blending philosophy. Now generally blended from wines from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, and Magill Estate.
Winery Website: penfolds.com
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7 – Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir, Gippsland
Average Price USD: $532
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
What is it about? “A madly rare, profoundly intense and exquisitely balanced wine which reflects the nuances of an exceptional vineyard site. The Reserve is made from five rows of ‘precocious’ Pinot Noir vines in the centre of a closely spaced (9000 vines/hectare) north-east facing vineyard planted on silty loams. Winemaker Phillip Jones is increasingly using “minimal intervention” principles to achieve a natural balance and optimum flavour development. He believes the difference between good and great Pinot is texture. The unfiltered Reserve, matured for 20 months in new Alliers oak, is a brilliant example of Australian terroir showing plenty of concentrated spicy/black cherry fruit, savoury mocha oak and supple tannins and is widely regarded as Australia’s greatest, most consistent and characterful Pinot Noir.” Andrew Caillard MW
Winery Website: bassphillip.com
8 – Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia
Average Price USD: $354
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
What is it about? Bin 707 is a Cabernet Sauvignon reflection of Grange: intensely-flavoured fruit; completion of fermentation and maturation in new oak; expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing. Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 retains a secure place among the ranks of Australia’s finest Cabernets.
Winery Website: penfolds.com
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9 – Greenock Creek Vineyards & Cellars Roennfeldt Road Shiraz, Barossa Valley
Average Price USD: $325
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? The grapes for this wine are picked from a single estate vineyard on our Roennfeldt Road property at Marananga near Greenock. The vines are around 80 years old, and this is the winery’s smallest vineyard. The vines crop at 1.0 to 1.5 tonnes per acre and the grapes are picked on phenological ripeness and flavour at a baume range of 14 to 16º. This baume can produce a naturally occurring high alcohol, although this will depend on seasonal conditions. Following picking the grapes are fermented in large, shallow open fermenters, pumped over, chilled and pressed through a basket press. The free run and pressings are kept separate through maturation and blended back together one week before bottling. Following primary fermentation the wine is racked into barrel to undergo natural MLF. The wine is left to mature in wine barrels (all new American hogsheads) for a total of 36 months and then bottled. The wine is usually not filtered or fined prior to bottling, and is then left in bottle to mature for another 24 months. This therefore means that the wine has been in barrel or bottle for in excess of five years prior to its release.
Winery Website: greenockcreekwines.com.au
10 – Chris Ringland Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz, Barossa Valley
Average Price USD: $318
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? Flagship of the North Barossa Vintners Collaboration, Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz encompasses Chris’s signature Shiraz style from the Barossa Valley. Aged for over five years in new French oak, with deep brooding fruit and powerful palate weight Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz is a barrel selection blended to age gracefully for 20-30 years. The collaboration that is North Barossa Vintners seeks to re-define the relationship between grape grower and winemaker. Traditionally, in a scenario where grower and winemaker are not one in the same, the winemaker communicates with the grower to determine the harvest parameters required for the style of wine. But Chris Ringland is able to combine his winemaking skills with generations of Hoffmann family grape growing knowledge, in determining the sectors of the vineyards to be employed to create a unique insight into the regional and seasonal expression of any given year. Adrian and Chris strive to make a powerful and rich expression of Shiraz while retaining the soft, luxurious tannin structure achieved by extended barrel maturation. A true iron fist within a velvet glove. The 2008 Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz is the result of a rigorous barrel section process, filling only 2100 numbered bottles, 100 magnums and 6 double magnums.
Winery Website: chrisringland.com
11 – Two Hands Wines My Hands Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia
Average Price USD: $306
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Winery Website: twohandswines.com
12 – Penfolds Five Star Club Tawny Port, South Australia
Average Price USD: $296
Grape Variety: Grenache – Mourvedre – Shiraz
What is it about? In 1844 Christopher Rawson Penfold planted vines on the slopes of Magill to produce fortified wines. Penfolds is now proud to present a range of fortified wines that is a continuation of more than 160 years of winemaking tradition. For nearly 60 years Penfolds Club has been one of Australia’s favourite choices of Tawny. Beginning life as Penfolds Five Star Club Tawny in the 1940s, this wine has grown with the nation. Penfolds Club is blended from more than 200 components to offer the complexity and consistency that is expected of the Penfolds ‘house’ style and has an average age of three years.
Winery Website: penfolds.com
13 – Greenock Creek Vineyards & Cellars Roennfeldt Road Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley
Average Price USD: $293
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
What is it about? The grapes for this wine are picked from a single estate vineyard on our Roennfeldt Road property at Marananga near Greenock. The vines are around 80 years old, and this is our smallest vineyard. The vines crop at 1.0 to 1.5 tonnes per acre and the grapes are picked on phenological ripeness and flavour at a baume range of 14 to 16º. This baume can produce a naturally occurring high alcohol, although this will depend on seasonal conditions. Following picking the grapes are fermented in large, shallow open fermenters, pumped over, chilled and pressed through a basket press. The free run and pressings are kept separate through maturation and blended back together one week before bottling. Following primary fermentation the wine is racked into barrel to undergo natural Malolactic Fermentation. The wine is left to mature in barrels (all new French hogsheads) for a total of 36 months and then bottled. The wine is usually not filtered or fined prior to bottling, and is then left in bottle to mature for another 24 months. This therefore means that the wine has been in barrel or bottle for in excess of five years prior to its release.
Winery Website: greenockcreekwines.com.au
14 – Wild Duck Creek Estate ‘Duck Muck’ Shiraz, Heathcote
Average Price USD: $281
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? Only made in exceptional viticultural years, Duck Muck is a wine that embodies our intensity without heaviness modus operandi. Created from our two most distinctive vineyards, The Original Vineyard and Alan’s Cabernet Vineyard, Duck Muck is a wine crafted with perfection as the vineyard standard – no bunch touching another, sunlight accessible by each bunch at some point during each day, extremely low yields of <12hL per hectare. The Shiraz from the Original Vineyard is allowed to mature to full ripeness. In the best years the Original Vineyard creates Shiraz that is at full ripeness with still well over 7g/L total acid, a remarkable feat at 15.5-16.0 Baume. The wine is then matured for 26 months in 100% new French and American oak barriques prior to bottling. Usually less than 150 cases produced. Vintages: 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015.
Winery Website: wildduckcreekestate.com.au
15 – Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra
Average Price USD: $249
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
What is it about? Created to reflect Penfolds contemporary winemaking approach, emphasising both regionality and maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon in fine grained French oak. A style that is immediately Penfolds, whilst simultaneously illustrative of its ongoing search for diversity and style separation. An honest reflection of the region and a testament of Penfolds longstanding commitment to the vineyards of Coonawarra. 100% Cabernet matured for 14 months in new French oak.
Winery Website: penfolds.com
16 – Clarendon Hills Astralis Shiraz, McLaren Vale
Average Price USD: $232
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? Clarendon Hills Premier Grand Cru Astralis Syrah is a timeless wine of unbridled power and purity. The Grand Vin attracts global attention as the ultimate expression of our greatest vineyard. It hails from primordial old bush vines established in ancient rocky ironstone in 1920. Today Astralis is recognised alongside the world’s most iconic wines and rated amongst the top 100 wines of the century. The 2010 vintage was rated 100/100 pts on eRobertParker.com by Lisa Perrotti-Brown (February, 2013).
Winery Website: clarendonhills.com.au
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17 – Penfolds Great Grandfather Rare Tawny Port, South Australia
Average Price USD: $223
Grape Variety: Grenache – Mourvèdre – Shiraz
What is it about? Great Grandfather Rare Tawny is sourced from stage six of the ‘Grandfather Solera’ and individual batches of maturing Grandfather that are identified as having exceptional quality. These components are further aged before being blended and introduced into the ‘Great Grandfather Solera’. With a minimum average blended age of 30 years, Penfolds Great Grandfather Rare Tawny delivers a beguiling mix of age, structure, strength and complexity.
Winery Website: penfolds.com
18 – Cloudburst Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River
Average Price USD: $205
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
What is it about? Cabernet Sauvignon from a boutique winery in Margaret River, Western Australia producing no more than 550 cases a year, which usually sell out instantly. A hard red wine to get your hands on.
Winery Website: cloudburstwine.com
19 – Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz, Clare Valley
Average Price USD: $199
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? The name of ‘Armagh’ was bestowed by the original Irish settlers who arrived in 1849, and named the lush rolling hills after their homeland. The vineyard was planted by Jim Barry in 1968 and yields less than two tonnes per acre. The soil is sandy-gravel and receives an average rainfall of 600mm per year. The vineyard lies on a north-west facing slope which acts as a natural sun trap, ensuring the fruit is always fully ripened when picked.
Winery Website: jimbarry.com
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20 – Torbreck Runrig Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley
Average Price USD: $190vio
Grape Variety: Shiraz – Viognier
What is it about? 98.5% Shiraz with 1.5% Viognier, depending on the vintage. Each of the six parcels of fruit are gently de-stemmed into both wooden & concrete open top fermenters where they were carefully nurtured for 6-7 days on skins. After basket pressing the wine is run directly into both new (42%) and 2d and 3rd fill French barriques to complete malolactic fermentation. The wine iss then racked after six months, but left on fine lees throughout maturation to enhance texture. After 30 months the Shiraz components are blended into tank and a bench trial is conducted to determine the final percentage of Viognier.
Winery Website: torbreck.com
21 – Mollydooker Velvet Glove Shiraz, McLaren Vale
Average Price USD: $187
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about? The grapes are grown on the Gateway vineyard in McLaren Vale. Barrel fermented and matured in 100% American oak and 100% new. Vintage 2012: Alc: 16.0% Residual sugar: 3.6g/L pH: 3.61
Winery Website: mollydookerwines.com
22 – Yarra Yering Carrodus Shiraz, Yarra Valley
Average Price USD: $182
Grape Variety: Shiraz
What is it about?
Winery Website:
23 – Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet – Merlot, Yarra Valley, Australia
Average Price USD: $178
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What is it about? Made exclusively from 1969 original plantings of Shiraz. Hand harvested small section of the Shiraz vineyard for this wine, destemmed directly to the Yarra Yering half-tonne open-fermenters. Gentle hand plunging during fermentation before being basket pressed to two new tight grained French oak barrels for 18 months maturation. This is one for the cellar to evolve for a further 20+ years under suitable conditions.
Winery Website: yarrayering.com
24 – Penfolds Cellar Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley, Australia
Average Price USD: $177
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
What is it about? Penfolds Cellar Reserve wines are alternative, limited release wines that explore the innovative boundaries of viticulture, vinification and style. Current release of the Cellar Reserve Cabernet is made from Coonawarra fruit, while the previous vintages were sourced from Barossa.
Winery Website: penfolds.com
25 – Cloudburst Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia
Average Price USD: $166
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
What is it about? Chardonnay from a boutique winery in Margaret River, Western Australia producing no more than 550 cases a year, which usually sell out instantly. A hard white wine to get your hands on.
Winery Website: cloudburstwine.com
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Also Read the Top 50 Most Expensive Wines in the World
This list of the Top 50 most expensive wines in the world was retrieved from the biggest wine price database in the world at Wine-Searcher.com as per October 2017, you can see the original list here. To be included on the list, a wine must have at least 10 offers worldwide across at least four vintages. Prices are ex-tax worldwide averages for 750ml bottles.
Sources and References
Pricing Data from wine-searcher.com
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