The 2026 Shortlist

Dark Horse Winery: The Finalists

By Halliday Wine Companion

Meet the 2026 Dark Horse Winery finalists and discover why they have been nominated by the Halliday Tasting Team.

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Historically, Dark Horse has been an award that acknowledges wineries that have achieved a 5-star rating for the first time. This year, we updated the criteria for this award and delved into the regional hidden gems, the true underdogs, as nominated by the Tasting Team.

These are our Dark Horses – not as commonly talked about as they should be, yet wildly deserving of their time in the sun. We hope that this list yields new discoveries for you, that you can go on to share these wines at your table with those unaware of their good fortune.


Halliday Wine Companion 2026 Dark Horse Winery of the Year Finalist

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Where: Geographe, Western Australia