Hilltops wines have come away from the 2025 Canberra & Region Wine Show with an impressive medal haul – their Sangiovese a standout performer. Photo: Hilltops Wine.
Hilltops producers have delivered one of their strongest years at the 2025 Canberra & Region Wine Show, taking home four trophies and a broad sweep of medals in what judges described as one of the standout performances of the event.
Chief judge Shanteh Wale said the strength of Hilltops entries was most obvious in the Sangiovese class, calling the bracket “a beacon of excitement for the region” and “the most consistent” she had judged.
Nine medals were recorded for Hilltops geographic index (GI) Sangiovese; GI being a specific boundary defined for the viticultural region.
The Hilltops Council area includes the former councils of Boorowa, Harden and Young.
In total, Hilltops wines overall earned six top gold medals, four golds and 14 silvers.
The region entered 99 wines – as it also did in 2024 – making up roughly a third of the show’s 345 total entries and achieving a medal strike rate of 63 per cent.
Hilltops Wine president and Barwang Wines proprietor James Bowman said the results confirmed the region’s growing reputation and the strong relationship between Hilltops and Canberra producers.
He said six top gold medals from such a small region reinforced the Hilltops’ strength in alternative red varieties such as tempranillo, graciano, sangiovese and malbec, alongside its consistently high-performing shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.
Mr Bowman said the back-to-back success demonstrated the “commitment, skill, passion and innovative approach” of Hilltops vignerons as well as the increasing number of external winemakers sourcing fruit from the region.
Centred around Young at about 500 metres elevation, Hilltops is known for red granitic loam soils that naturally regulate vine growth, producing concentrated fruit.
Long, mild autumns give the region an extended ripening window that supports flavour development, firm tannin structure and natural acidity – traits winemakers say are key to its success with savoury, medium-bodied reds and emerging Mediterranean varieties.
The Hunter Valley-based Hungerford Hill, well known for its work with Hilltops fruit, was the standout performer in the trophy count, winning Best Sangiovese for its 2024 Sangiovese, Best Dry Red Other Varieties and/or Blends for its 2024 Tempranillo Graciano and Hilltops Wine of the Year 2024 for the same Tempranillo Graciano.
Murrumbateman’s Shaw Wines collected Best Cabernet Sauvignon for its Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023.
Hungerford Hill chief winemaker Bryan Currie said the Hilltop’s region’s “stellar reputation” was now firmly established.
He said that as vineyards matured and techniques refined, sangiovese, tempranillo, graciano, fiano, touriga, nebbiolo and malbec would continue to be “shining lights” for Hilltops producers.
Four further Hilltops wines collected gold medals: the Hungerford Hill Hilltops Shiraz 2023, Linear Tempranillo 2024, Mada Bit of Heaven Sangiovese 2024 and the locally based Moppity Lock & Key Riesling 2025.
The Hilltops Wine of the Year 2025 and all medal winners will be recognised again in early December by the Hilltops Vineyards Association.
Hilltops Wine spokesperson Jane Adams said the 2026 season was looking good so far (apart from some recent frost) with good fruit set.
“It portends to excellent yields,” she said.
The full Canberra & Region Wine Show 2025 results are available here.
