A World-Class Shiraz at an Affordable Price
The world’s best shiraz for 2026 isn’t a rare collector’s bottle or a triple-digit splurge. It’s a budget-friendly sipper from South Australia that punches well above its price tag. Australians have long supported the quality of their world-class wines, but this year’s winner comes with a surprising twist: it costs just $25. The McLaren Vale shiraz proves you don’t need deep pockets to drink like a champion.
Beresford Estate’s Classic Shiraz 2023 has just won the title of the world’s best shiraz at the 2026 International Wine Challenge, one of the most prestigious wine awards in the world. Rising to the top of 111 international shiraz entries, the wine scored an impressive 97 points during the blind tasting and emerged as the highest-scoring Australian Trophy winner across the entire competition. It also took out four trophies, making it one of the most awarded wines in the competition, across all countries.
Beresford Estate’s Classic Shiraz has been named the world’s best.
This accolade adds to South Australia’s growing culinary clout, which has been enjoying a surge of global attention since the Michelin Guide revealed the state would feature in its first-ever Australian edition. At just $25 a bottle, Beresford Estate’s Classic Shiraz outshone a host of premium labels such as Penfolds, Tolpuddle, House of Arras, and Stefano Lubiana—showing you don’t need to fork out a fortune to sip the world’s top drops.
Beresford Estate offers guided wine tastings as well as vineyard accommodation.
But what exactly makes this drop stand out from the pack? The shiraz is a well-balanced, medium-bodied expression of McLaren Vale’s unique terroir, layered with hints of red cherry, cloves, musky redskin, vanilla bean, and fine-grained tannins that coat the mouth with a smooth texture. Subtle plum and floral notes on the nose add lift and elegance, creating a wine that is at once approachable and complex.
A rigorous winemaking process ensures the shiraz is well-balanced.
And with winter officially settled in, now is the perfect time to crack open a bottle. Bring it to a fireside dinner reservation, pair it with a slow-cooked roast, or savour it over a lingering lunch with friends.
Cosy up by the fire with a glass of world-class shiraz.
Established in 1985, Beresford Estate has long been capturing the spirit of McLaren Vale’s subregion of Blewitt Springs in a quiet pocket of South Australia. Now, with a world title under its belt, the secret is officially out.
Can You Visit Beresford Estate, McLaren Vale?
Beresford Estate is set on 28 hectares of vineyards.
Beresford Estate welcomes visitors to explore its range of wines in person. The 28-hectare vineyard offers a variety of experiences onsite, from shiraz soirees with canapés and live music to classic guided wine tastings and gourmet Picnic & Sip hampers. Guests can also stay on the estate in contemporary suites overlooking rolling vineyards.
Planning an escape to McLaren Vale? Read our pick of the best things to do in McLaren Vale.
