During his lifetime, Dan Murphy made it his mission to bring fine wine to the people of Australia. Today, we continue to fulfil his wish by stocking more than 6,000 local, imported, old and rare wines across our 220-plus stores. With the help of our Wine Merchants, we share specialist knowledge about varietals, vintages, cellaring and more every day.

Given Dan Murphy’s enduring affinity for fine wine, partnering with another of the industry’s biggest champions, the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, was a natural progression. Andrew Shedden, Dan Murphy's Head of Fine Wine explains: “We're really excited to be partnering with one of the most credible icons in the wine world, James Halliday, to help our customers and team members on their own wine discovery journey. We are pleased to showcase the best of the best from the Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2020, backed by our Lowest Liquor Price Guarantee.”

A highly respected, family-owned winery, Jim Barry Wines regularly ranks among the best of the best in the Wine Companion. Jim Barry’s commercial manager, Sam Barry, says the winery’s rich history and deep family roots have been paramount to success. “We still have the same vision and the same philosophy,” he says. “I think [the award] is a testament to the longevity of Jim Barry wines.” He adds that the winery’s relationship with Dan Murphy’s is long-standing too. “Jim Barry has had a long association with Dan Murphy’s,” he explains, “ever since the man himself visited Grandpa in our vineyard in 1968.”

Vanya Cullen has been winemaking at her family's Margaret River winery since 1983, where she has proven herself a great innovator. After taking over from her parents (the founders) as chief winemaker in 1989, and then managing director in 1999, Cullen steered the winery in a brave new direction, embracing biodynamic viticulture long before her peers. Cullen Wines was the first vineyard and winery in Australia to be certified carbon neutral. And it's thanks to Cullen’s forward-thinking nature, exemplary winemaking and commitment to the wine industry that James Halliday and his tasting team have named her their 2020 Winemaker of the Year.

With a rich winemaking heritage that spans more than 30 years, family-run Dal Zotto has become one of the country’s most iconic producers of prosecco. “Dal Zotto’s range is built on our prosecco,” explains company CEO and winemaker Michael Dal Zotto. “It’s the wine that we pioneered in Australia and it’s really close to the family’s heart.”

“To win the dark horse award is an absolute honour,” he says. “It gives us that indication that … with our prosecco, and our other Italian varieties, we’re on the right path.”

Our Wine Merchants share their favourite red wines from the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion.

It would be impossible to list the thousands of red wines that James Halliday celebrates in this year’s Halliday Wine Companion. To help you discover the best of the best, our Wine Merchants have picked their highlights from these the Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache varietals.

They have chosen from a pool of wines that all earned a score of 90 or above in the Wine Companion, which is a major achievement – it means the wine is of the highest standard. If the wine has a score over 97, it’s among the most exceptional in Australia and shouldn’t be missed.

If you’re searching for the very best white wines, look no further. Our Wine Merchants have selected their favourites from the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion.

Here in Australia, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to cool, crisp white wine varieties – as the results from the Halliday Wine Companion awards demonstrate. After carefully considering the winners, our Wine Merchants have determined the best of the best in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Semillon.

Come in-store to discover your own favourite, and chat to our Wine Merchants for even more insights into each bottle.