We may have missed out on our annual awards event for a second year, but the celebrations continue in this edition.

This year, we didn’t just celebrate the winners either, with the announcement of all the shortlisted wineries in the lead-up to the awards. This meant we could recognise so many more exceptional producers from around the country who are at the top of their game.

In other new developments, we debuted the award for Viticulturist of the Year, and also introduced several new honours when it comes to the best wines, including the Sparkling, White and Red Wine of the Year. Throw in the tasting team’s nominations for each award and varietal category, plus a collaborative judging process to determine the winners, and you have the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. You can read up about all of it, as well as the stories behind the deserving winners, from page 23.

Also inside, writer Nola James talks to a number of top Australian riesling producers about their approach to this increasingly textural and diverse variety. Eliza Campbell asks TV presenter and MasterChef alumni Justine Schofield about her love for wine and food, and UK wine authority Jane Parkinson gets excited about our change of seasons with a selection of (mostly) French rosé.

In addition, Tony Love explores the Adelaide Hills to gauge how producers are faring after the region’s devastating bushfire in December 2019. And a visit to the Mornington Peninsula’s Ten Minutes by Tractor has James Halliday likening its restaurant to three-Michelin-starred venues in France. Plus, if you want to see all the still white and red wines put forward for this year’s awards, they’re showcased in this edition’s tasting notes, which start on page 69.

We hope it all offers plenty of wine, food and travel inspiration for the months to come.