Hare's Chase has raised the bar higher at a major international wine competition. Eclipsing twin awards for Red Wine Producer of the Year and Shiraz of the Year at last year’s Sommeliers Choice Awards in Chicago by going one better at the 2026 edition, winning three prized awards for Australian Winery of the Year, Australian Wine of the Year and Shiraz of the Year.
The 2022 Hare’s Chase Vigilance Shiraz was awarded a double gold medal and 96 point rating by the expert panel of judges consisting of leading trade influencers and decision makers from across the USA. The judges praised the supreme quality of the wine which subsequently received awards for ‘Australian Wine of the Year’ and ‘Shiraz of the Year’. A straight flush of gold medals for the 2022 Hare’s Chase Springer Shiraz, 2022 Hare’s Chase St Melengell Cabernet Sauvignon and 2022 Hare’s Chase Ironscraper Shiraz resulted in Hare’s Chase winning Australian Winery of the Year.
The Sommelier’s Choice Awards is a prestigious competition that evaluates wines specifically for the restaurant and bar market. Wines are judged on key criteria such as quality, typicity, food friendliness, value for money, and packaging, providing sommeliers and beverage buyers with a trusted guide to wines that truly belong on a list in the USA. Assessed by a panel of leading sommeliers, wine directors and Master Sommeliers from across the country, the awards and medals affirm Hare’s Chase’s commitment to crafting high quality wines, and the ongoing appeal and relevance of classically styled Barossa reds in the world’s largest wine market.
These awards were promptly backed up by the same 2022 Hare’s Chase Vigilance Shiraz receiving a platinum medal and 97 points at the highly regarded Decanter World Wine Awards which released the latest results late June 2026. Platinum awarded wines made up just 1.18% of all wines tasted in the show. Now in its 23rd year, Decanter World Wine Awards has established itself as the world’s largest wine competition. Respected globally for its rigorous judging process and world-class judges
“The origins of world class quality wine begin in our Estate vineyards at Marananga on the western ridge of the famous Barossa Valley,” said Matt Reynolds, Hare’s Chase Chief Winemaker and General Manager. “Our ongoing commitment to sustainable vineyard management practices backed by the highest standards of artisan winemaking are the foundations of our aspirations to craft classically styled, boldly flavoured Barossa Valley red wines of the highest order. The whole Hare’s Chase team is over the moon about these results. They validate years of hard work to yield the potential of this amazing site” said Matt.
The expert judging panel from the Sommelier’s Choice Awards had this to say about the 2022 Hare’s Chase Vigilance Shiraz which won awards for Australia’s Best Wine and the Competition’s Best Shiraz “This full-bodied red offers rich black fruit complemented by baking spices and oak spice, finishing with smooth tannins and a balanced, lingering presence.” Winemaker Matt Reynolds believes the 2022 to be the greatest Barossa Valley vintage in living memory, delivering deeply coloured wines of great flavour complemented by long lines of velvety tannin. “These awards cement the reputation of the Barossa Valley as a world class wine region, and Marananga as one of the very best sub regions for Shiraz,” said Matt. “2022 was an exceptional vintage, and will be long regarded as a highpoint reference for Barossa Shiraz. The recognition we have received at these Awards for our 2022 reds only reinforces our own view that this is a vintage for collectors of the very best Barossa wines.”
You can purchase all the award winning wines in a limited 'Pre-Release' online.