Sweetwater continues to establish itself among the Hunter Valley’s great Shiraz sites, with our 2024 Sweetwater Shiraz receiving Gold at this year’s Hunter Valley Wine Show, following the Gold awarded to the 2023 vintage last year.
It’s a fantastic back-to-back result for a vineyard and wine we believe are genuinely world-class, and another strong endorsement of the quality and consistency coming from this remarkable site.
The Sweetwater vineyard has long been known for producing distinctive, site-driven Shiraz, grown on the estate’s characteristic red loam soils over limestone in the Lower Hunter Valley. All Sweetwater Estate wines are grown entirely from fruit sourced from the property, with a light-handed winemaking approach designed to preserve vineyard expression and fruit character.
A Strong Showing Across the Range
The success extended well beyond Shiraz.
The 2025 Sweetwater Shiraz Touriga also received Gold, as did the 2024 Mataro Shiraz Touriga, while the 2023 Sweetwater Shiraz was awarded Silver.
These results highlight another side of the Sweetwater vineyard. Alongside classic Hunter Valley Shiraz, varieties such as Touriga and Mataro are proving beautifully suited to the site, bringing perfume, spice, depth and personality to the wines.
Touriga, in particular, has become an exciting part of the Sweetwater story, with the inaugural 2023 Shiraz Touriga previously receiving 95 points and Gold from Halliday Wine Companion.
Together, these wines show the versatility of the vineyard and the differentways Sweetwater fruit can express itself.
Five Star Recognition from Halliday
The Wine Show results arrive alongside another milestone for Sweetwater Estate: Five Star Winery status in the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion.
Halliday defines a Five Star Winery as one that is regularly producing wines of exemplary quality, and it is a recognition that reflects the consistency we continue to see across the Sweetwater range.
Sweetwater has a long history, with vines first established on the property in 1844. Today, the focus remains firmly on making wines that capture the character of this special Lower Hunter Valley site.
We’re incredibly proud of the results and of the vineyard and winemaking teams behind them.
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