The 2026 Young Gun of Wine Winners Have Been Announced

For many of us (guilty), a pretty label can be the deciding factor when buying a bottle of wine. The annual Young Gun of Wine awards are a great reminder of the hard graft that goes into the liquid. Now in its 20th year, the awards aim to celebrate emerging Aussie winemakers shaping the industry’s future and bringing young drinkers to the table at a time when industries around the world are in decline.

The Top 50 finalists gathered at a ceremony at Red Emperor in Melbourne on Tuesday, where the six winners were revealed. Judges included YGOW founder Rory Kent; Nick Stock, wine critic and co-owner of Willunga’s Old Bush Inn; Meg Brodtmann MW, winemaker, wine educator and wine communicator; Zoë Ladyman, national business development manager at Primavera Selections; Isabelle Szyman, wine buyer and events coordinator at Melbourne’s Rathdowne Cellars; and the 2025 Young Gun of Wine, Owen Latta, winemaker at Eastern Peake and Latta Vino.

Best New Act, awarded to the country’s “hottest new wine label”, went to Barossa Valley winemaker Marcus Torzi, who launched his label, Whispers of Chaos, last year at the age of 21 while he was still at university. The Danger Zone trophy, awarded to an interesting wine that “sticks the landing”, went to a Spanish-style dessert wine by Michael Williams of McLaren Vale’s L’Anima.

People’s Choice went to Ella Hoban, wine educator and sparkling winemaker for international wine group Vinarchy, whose portfolio includes Croser, Jacob’s Creek and Grant Burge. The Vigneron award went to Lucas Blanck of Kerri Greens on the Mornington Peninsula. Winemakers' Choice, decided by a vote among the Top 50 finalists, went to Matthew Large of Praeter Wines in South Australia.

The big award went to winemaking duo Lauren and Matthias Utzinger of Utzinger Wines in Tasmania. The couple’s winemaking career has spanned Switzerland, Provence and the southern Rhône, before they planted their own cool-climate vines on a north-facing plot in the Tamar Valley. A percentage of their property is devoted to protecting native vegetation and wildlife.

“Lauren and Matthias’s work with Utzinger represents the best elements of the changes happening in how young winemakers approach their work,” said judge Nick Stock at the ceremony. “Their commitment to the craft of winegrowing and winemaking is inspirational – and for this reason, as well as many others, they are truly deserving winners of the 2026 Young Gun of Wine Award.”

The full list of winners:

Best New Act: Marcus Torzi, Whispers of Chaos, SA
Danger Zone: 2024 L’Anima ‘Sobremesa’ Passum Muscat Blanc, SA
People’s Choice: Ella Hoban, Croser and Grant Burge
The Vigneron: Lucas Blanck, Kerri Greens, VIC
Winemakers Choice: Matthew Large, Praeter, SA
The 2026 Young Gun of Wine: Lauren and Matthias Utzinger, Utzinger Wines, TAS

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