2026 Viticulturist of the Year
Dr Dylan Grigg, Vinya Vella and Meristem Viticulture – various regions
This award acknowledges the tremendous skill of the viticulturist. As vine and soil custodians, their job is to produce optimal fruit regardless of season or vintage. Dr Dylan Grigg could not be more deserving of this award. His knowledge and his generosity in sharing it make Australian viticulture stronger as a whole and the wines better for it.
Besides making some of Australia’s most exciting grenache under his Vinya Vella label, Dylan operates Meristem Viticulture consultancy, working with clients in the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills and overseas in Spain and Italy.
With a PhD in viticultural science, Dylan’s doctoral thesis investigated how grapevine age influences various aspects of wine production, from grapevine growth to wine quality. There is no viticulturist more qualified to work with Australia’s precious old-vine resources than Dr Grigg. – Dave Brookes
Dr Dylan Grigg could not be more deserving of this award. His knowledge and his generosity in sharing it make Australian viticulture stronger as a whole and the wines better for it.
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Top-rated wines from Vinya Vella
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Vinya Vella
Old Bush Vine Grenache 2023
Barossa Valley -
Vinya Vella
Bush Vine Grenache Rosé 2024
Barossa Valley
The previous Viticulturist of the Year recipients include Vanya Cullen (2022), Tom Carson (2023), Mark Walpole (2024) and Bart Molony (2025).
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This is an edited extract from the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Katrina Butler, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by James Coe.
