The world’s best shiraz for 2026 isn’t a rare collector’s bottle or triple-digit splurge. It’s a bang-for-your-buck sipper from SA punching well above its price tag.
Australians have long backed the quality of their world-class wines, but the latest winner comes with a surprise 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.
The 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 with a slow-cooked roast or savour 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.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
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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.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
Warmer days call for slowing down and relaxing in nature. Discover why The Tweed is the ultimate destination to do just that.
As the end of the year draws near, the need for rest and restoration grows ever more prominent. For many, that means heading into nature – and there’s plenty of science to back up the benefits of doing so. It quite literally makes us happier as it reduces stress hormones, lowers our blood pressure and more. And what better place to lean into this feel-good effect than during summer in The Tweed (in the Northern Rivers region of NSW)? Blending sparkling beaches, riverside towns and hinterland villages, this area has nature covered, while also offering top activities and dining options.
Slip, slop, slap.
And of course, pack your SPF. We Are Feel Good Inc’s Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that keeps your skin hydrated and shielded, thanks to nourishing Coconut Oil and Vitamin E. But it’s also helping preserve the natural beauty around you on your Tweed vacation, thanks to 30 per cent ocean waste packaging.
Discover eight experiences that make The Tweed the perfect place for summer.
1. Underwater worlds
Get a chance to swim with the locals.
There’s something about the ocean that calls to us as humans, and what’s below the surface is even more magical.
Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles (not to mention an abundance of other marine life) all use the protected waters around Cook Island, near Fingal Head, as their foraging ground, making it the perfect place to dive and snorkel to spot these adorable creatures.
Join Cooly Eco Adventures on a guided snorkelling tour that combines unforgettable turtle encounters with an inspiring look into marine conservation.
2. Farm-to-table dining
Treat your taste buds at Potager. (Image: Cara Sophie)
Respecting the land and nature also means appreciating its abundance of food. From farm-to-table cafes and boutique breweries to river cruises and restaurants championing local produce, dining around The Tweed often means engaging with the best local producers.
The award-winning Potager Restaurant, part of The Hinterland Collection, is the perfect example; beginning life as a kitchen garden, the passion to champion local producers is woven into every dish. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are picked from the garden or sourced from other local producers, the seafood comes from the Northern Rivers, and meat is sourced from ethical local producers. Even the cocktail list features local distillers.
Extend your stay with a night (or several) at boutique on-site accommodation, Potager House. This French-inspired country four-bedroom retreat boasts stunning views of the surrounding hills and nearby ocean, as well as a large pool, outdoor entertaining area and infrared sauna.
3. Water wellness
Find mindfulness in mangroves. (Image: Matt Johnson)
You’ll find mindfulness while floating around the mangroves of Kingscliff’s Cudgen Creek at any time, but Watersports Guru offers an immersive experience to help guests do so with more intent. Join a 90-minute guided session on a stand-up paddleboard to reconnect with nature and relax through breathwork, gentle movement and sensory awareness.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, Watersports Guru also offer Kayak fishing adventures or join a Sea Turtle Odyssey experience.
4. Restorative seaside stays
Unwind at Halcyon Wellness.
The Tweed encourages locals and visitors alike to slow down. To really indulge, a seaside stay is a must. Halcyon House has understood the assignment, blending a wellness philosophy centred on balance and self-discovery with luxurious surrounds. Stay in one of 22 rooms and suites (each individually designed by eclectic interior designer Anna Spiro) right on the beachfront. Book restorative treatments at the onsite spa, Halcyon Wellness, relax by the pool, dine at the hatted Paper Daisy restaurant and just let The Tweed work its magic.
While Blue Water Motel offers a relaxed coastal escape, just steps from Kingscliff Beach. Settle in stylish rooms, recently restyled by Jason Grant, nodding to the cool of Kingscliff with a fun retro vibe. Hire a bike from reception to explore the surrounding area.
5. Tasty drops
Join a Farm to Bottle tour. (Image: Salsingh Photography)
The owners at Husk Farm Distillery aren’t just about creating high-quality rum: they’re also farmers themselves. In fact, they create one of the world’s only single estate, farm-to-bottle spirits. Join a Farm to Bottle tour to discover the sustainable ‘full circle’ distilling practices used here, and even get hands-on with your own cane knife to help harvest and juice your own stalk of cane. And, of course, a welcome drink plus complimentary tastings along the way.
6. Rail trail adventures
Cycle the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
Exploring the rolling green slopes and historic towns of the 24-kilometre Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is one of the best ways to connect with the region’s lush hinterland and interesting heritage. In this section of the trail, discover the area’s railway history at heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station, and traverse by 18 railway bridges and through two railway tunnels.
Linking vibrant towns and villages with the larger hub of Murwillumbah, this section of the trail is covered in asphalt or compacted gravel, making it accessible for all ages and abilities, from prams to adaptive bikes.
7. Linger longer
Enjoy beachside locations, like Fingal Heads.
Linger longer at one of the seven idyllic beach, river and creekside locations of Tweed Holiday Parks – including at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff Beach, Hastings Point and Pottsville South. All just steps from the water’s edge, they make the ideal base to unwind, or head out for exploration of The Tweed. Choose from luxury waterfront cabins, accessible cabins, surfari tents (yes, they are basically glamping tents) or spacious sites for caravans, motorhomes and campervans or tents.
Stay for longer and indulge in plat at Tweed Holiday Parks.
