And it makes a hat trick for the Yarra Valley producers.

It’s safe to say that 2023 has been a pretty good year for Oakridge. The coveted Yarra Valley producer has just topped the inaugural Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries, which celebrates the very best from around the country. They also took out Australian Winery of the Year in The Real Review’s annual honours in April, as well as Best Value Winery at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards. And did we mention they also happen to have one of the region’s most impressive cellar doors and restaurants?

The Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries were selected by the wine authority’s chief editor Campbell Mattinson, who had seriously high praise for the Yarra Valley winery. “Oakridge was for some time renowned as a master of chardonnay, which it still is, but it’s become overwhelmingly clear that Oakridge is a master of pretty much all the varieties in its orbit,” Campbell says. “Oakridge won the Best Value Winery title at our annual awards this year, but really, even when value is put aside, the wines are great, full stop, with no modifier necessary.”

Dining at Oakridge's restaurant at the cellar door

Chief winemaker Dave Bicknell says it all comes down to a team effort at the winery. “It’s a super result and validates what [the team does], as they all play their part in making this place work,” Dave says. The big win also reflects the quality of their vineyards, with Senior Viticulturist Steve Faulkner, like Dave, quick to acknowledge the collective approach. “We work as a team, winery and vineyard, with the single focus to make the best wine we can,” he says. “For us, the devil is in the detail, doing the one-percenters and pushing the boundaries of practices.”

Oakridge’s wines span various ranges, from the entry-level Over the Shoulder label, including a chardonnay and pinot noir that give major bang for buck, and Valley Series, to the single-site Vineyard Series (we love the Hazeldene Pinot Noir) and the top-tier Oakridge 864 Single Block wines, which includes a Syrah, several pristine chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignon and more.