The Aussie wines the Halliday Tasting Team will be opening this festive season

Shanteh Wale, Katrina Butler, Marcus Ellis, Dave Brookes, Toni Paterson MW, Jane Faulkner, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich and Jeni Port.

Marcus Ellis

Mewstone Wines Hughes & Hughes Riesling 2025, Tasmania

Riesling is always a festive wine for me – refreshing, versatile at table and it can take a deep chill – and the 2025 Hughes & Hughes Riesling does everything I want it to, with a burst of citrus and orchard florals underpinned with river-stone mineral notes, plus a beautifully balanced palate, sugar a quiet ballast to the thrilling acid line.

Shanteh Wale

Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon (Magnum) 2025, Hunter Valley

Semillon, semillon, semillon – both young and mature. The 2025 Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon (in magnum, obviously) is perfect for our Aussie Christmas weather and fresh seafood. Its lower alcohol will also ensure most of the family will make it through to pudding before the food coma hits. And, of course, it’s unmistakably, delightfully Australian.

Jeni Port

Chambers Rosewood Old Vine Muscat Non Vintage, Rutherglen

Ever since my grandparents brought out the tawny port on Christmas Day to serve with the plum pudding, I associate the holidays with sweet treats. Cue Rutherglen Classic muscat (average age six to 10 years) to partner the plum pudding (hot or cold), the home-made pan forte, the rich fruitcake, the Florentines or the decadent vanilla ice-cream. I’m thinking of Chambers, Morris or Campbells who consistently overdeliver in the Classic category, combining a stunning raisin-y richness and complexity with spirit freshness. Too hot for muscat? Try muscat on the rocks, nothing better.

Jane Faulkner

Yangarra Estate High Sands Grenache 2023, McLaren Vale

Part tribute to the late Pete Fraser from Yangarra, yet the High Sands Grenache is one of my favourite wines and 2023 the finest to date, so I’ll be drinking it when I can. A backup is Yangarra’s skin-contact roussanne, Roux Beauté. Thanks for the beautiful wines, Pete.

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