These bottles are too good to gatekeep.
The Best in Glass Wine Awards are back, baby. And you know we always have the tea (read: wine) on the top drops, but this time we’ve gone straight to the experts for their hot picks. This year, more than 700 wines were whittled down to 43 winners across the Australian, international and best value superstars, and the judges tasted and debated them all.
The panel for the 2026 Best in Glass Wine Awards included Dan Murphy’s wine merchants, wine buyers, drinks specialists, category managers and wine writers (TLDR: our trusted experts). And right now, My Dan’s members can pick up the Best in Glass award winners for an absolute steal – all wines are less than $50 and start at as little as $10. This means there’s something for every budget (and palate), and if you’re not a My Dan’s member, it’s free to join.
Now, if 43 wines are too many for you to choose from, don’t worry – we asked some of our judges for their standout winner and why it won them over so you can steal their favourites.
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1. Frescobaldi Nipozano Riserva
Chosen by: Han Lau, imported wine specialist; Raphael Vigneau, wine merchant; and Josh Mellsop, wine merchant.
You know a wine’s good when it not only takes out a title, but also gets selected by three different judges as their favourite. The bottle getting a lot of love is the Frescobaldi Nipozano Riserva from Tuscany in Italy, crowned Best International Other Red. It’s made from sangiovese, which is Italy’s most planted variety (and Tuscany’s pride and joy). Sangiovese is a famously food-friendly wine that's savoury and spiced with high acidity, which leaves you with that mouth-watering feeling. Expect flavours of red cherries, red plums, roasted tomato or tomato leaf and earthy notes.
Han Lau, imported wine sourcing specialist at Pinnacle Drinks, says it’s “deliciously drinkable”, which is what we like to hear. Han also says Chianti Rufina is underappreciated – a high-altitude subregion of Chianti in Tuscany.
“This wine shows all the characteristics of great sangiovese – vibrant fresh cherry and red plum flavours with the unmistakable whiff of that ‘summer rain on a hot dusty path’ character that you get only from Tuscany,” says Han.
Raphael Vigneau, wine merchant at Dan’s in Melbourne’s Doncaster East, says the Frescobaldi family has been producing wine in Tuscany for over 700 years. “What I love about high-quality Chianti is that it’s undervalued, offering extremely good wine for a reasonable price.” The wines are always super food-friendly, too. “The Nipozzano Riserva would pair well with something like a bistecca alla Fiorentina [AKA a thick-cut porterhouse or T-bone steak].”
Josh Mellsop, wine merchant at the Richmond Dan Murphy’s in Melbourne, describes the Riserva as “expressive” and “brillant”. So, what is he serving with this sangiovese? “It’s Chianti with a slightly lighter touch, which pairs perfectly with almost anything tomato based.”
2. Wynns The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon
Chosen by: Antony Tatangelo, marketing coordinator
For our mate Antony Tatangelo – marketing coordinator and a former wine merchant – his pick of winners comes from the best-value category with the Wynns The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet is the most popular red wine grape in the world, and it’s one of those wines that loves to spend a few years in the cellar (or cupboard), but it also has serious drinkability. Cab sauv typically has dark fruit flavours like blackberries, blackcurrants and black cherries, and herbs like mint, sage and eucalyptus, along with chocolate, tobacco and licorice notes.
“I honestly can’t get over the versatility of The Siding for its price”, says Antony – it sits at around $14 year-round. Wynns is an iconic Aussie winery in South Australia’s Coonawarra that's been around since 1897, and The Siding showcases the region's iconic terra rossa soils (reddish, clay-like soil). Antony says this is a versatile cabernet, especially when it comes to food. “It holds its own against the heavyweights over a winter slow-cook, yet feels right at home with friends at a summer arvo barbecue.”
So, who is this wine perfect for? “It seems to have this semi-mystifying balance that wins over Barossa shiraz and Yarra Valley pinot drinkers alike,” Antony says. “Priced like a party wine – and one of the best there is – yet it ages as well as other bottles triple the cost.” Consider us sold.
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3. Chateau Cres Ricards Oenothera
Chosen by: Vanessa Clarke, wine merchant, Cheltenham
If you pop into Dan Murphy’s Cheltenham store in Melbourne, you’ll find Vanessa Clarke, a big fan of the Chateau Cres Ricards Oenothera, a shiraz-dominant blend from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Shiraz (often called syrah around the world) originated in France’s Rhône Valley, but it’s also Australia’s most widely planted grape.
Vanessa says the Oenothera is a wine that makes you think of a winter night by the fire, which is perfect as we head into the cooler months. What you’ll smell? “Delicious fruit”, says Vanessa. And to taste? “A generous palate of blackberry and cherry followed by savoury notes of black olives and herbs. The finish is long, smooth and velvety, with balanced acidity [that’s that mouth-puckering texture again] that lifts the fruit flavours.”
4. Dominique Portet Fontaine Rosé
Chosen by: Will Slocombe, wine merchant, Collingwood
Will Slocombe, resident wine merchant at Dan Murphy's Collingwood in Melbourne, is making a serious case for rosé – Dominique Portet’s Fontaine Rosé, to be exact. If you need a crash course in rosé, these wines are generally made from red grapes (almost any variety). But rosé is pink due to the grape skins and seeds spending less time in contact with the juice than traditional red wines. The darker the rosé, the longer the wine’s hung out with the skins.
“When judging the rosé bracket, it became very clear that Dominique Portet possesses the magic formula for making an exceptional rosé,” Will says. He adds that this wine is timeless in style, reliable and stands out from the pack in the quality-to-price stakes – often down to $25 for My Dan’s members. “Beautifully balanced, a Goldilocks-style – not too heavy, not too light – dry and fresh but with a soft, supple texture. A versatile wine that will suit any occasion.”
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5. Torroxal Albariño
Chosen by: Amelia Ball, Dan’s Daily editor
Amelia Ball, long-time wine writer and subeditor on Dan’s Daily, points to the Torroxal Albariño as a standout – it won Best International Other White. “This Spanish wine jumped out at me because it strikes a pretty great balance of all the things I love in a good white,” she says. “There’s brightness and good acidity – I have a soft spot for zippy rieslings – but it also has some richer flavours, all without becoming too big. Albariño’s textbook stone fruit flavours are loud and clear, but there’s a freshness that stops this from being super ripe.”
With albariño often sharing the dining table with a load of different dishes in its native Spain, it’s a versatile food wine. Amelia says this is a great pick to sip on pre-dinner, but it would also slot right in with cheese, seafood (her vote’s on a garlicky, oily prawn pasta) and even Thai or Vietnamese dishes. It’s also going to nail the brief when you’re with friends who like different wine styles. “Consider this the wine to take when you want to keep both riesling and chardonnay people happy,” she says. “Plus, albariño is something a little different, which is always a winner when you need a solid BYO that you want everyone to enjoy.”
6. Maison Les Alexandrins Cotes du Rhone Blanc
Chosen by: Nick Rose, category manager, fine wine
Fine wine’s Nick Rose is backing a new kid on the block that he says is one to watch – Maison Les Alexandrins. The Cotes du Rhone Blanc is a blend of white wine grapes from France’s Rhône Valley, commonly known as Rhône whites – in this case, grenache blanc, marsanne and viognier. The Rhône may be loved for its reds, but it also produces delicious white wines.
“Grenache blanc, marsanne and viognier work harmoniously together to deliver a wine with nice fruit weight – think nectarines and green pears – that is super crisp and refreshing. It's really moreish and delivers exceptionally good value,” says Nick.
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7. Pizzini Arneis
Chosen by: Rob Aitken, wine buyer
The top pick for wine buyer Rob Aitken comes from Victoria’s King Valley – the Pizzini Arneis (ar-nay-ss), which one the best other white. “In a class that’s so challenging to judge with a mixture of varieties, it really stood out,” says Rob. If you’re not familiar with arneis, it’s an Italian white with flavours of apple, peach, honey, almond and sometimes even nutmeg.
Rob says Pizzini’s arneis will transport you to Piedmont in Italy. Yes please. “Its inviting aromatics, rich nashi pear fruit flavours and almond-skin savouriness keep you coming back. While it’s a relatively unknown variety here in Australia, the Pizzinis have really championed arneis and are absolutely nailing it.” Rob says if you usually reach for pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc, then arnesis is a great alternative. And it’s excellent value, especially when on offer for My Dan’s members.
Want to taste the winners? Showcase events are landing in key stores across Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart on May 30. Find all the details here.
For more on the Best in Glass Wine Awards, discover the best white wines, best red wines and the best value wines.
