The family-owned and run winery, which sits with a picturesque rural view on the outskirts of Avenel, has been named a Five Star Winery, a top-honour that was also bestowed on it last year.
Led by Matt Fowles, the winery is known for its highly commended riesling, chardonnay, Shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, with its Stone Dwellers 2024 Riesling achieving a significant 95 points in the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion.
“Being recognised in the Halliday Wine Companion is always an honour, but to see our single vineyard estate wines perform so strongly this year showcases what this region really has to offer and just how good wine from the Strathbogie Ranges can be,” Mr Fowles said.
“While I think the word unique is well overused in the wine industry, over the many years we have been here, the overwhelming majority of industry visitors say that the Strathbogie Ranges are unlike any wine region they have ever seen.
“On top of this beautiful granite-rich landscape, we craft wines designed to match wild game, which is a unique approach in itself.”
Another of Fowles’ top performers in the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion was its Stone Dwellers 2022 Mourvèdre, which snagged a 95-point rating, as well.
Six other wines scored over 90 points, adding to the growing list of the winery’s high achievers.
Mr Fowles said an accolade like this, one that had been bestowed on the winery more than once, drew much-needed attention to the region.
“The Strathbogie Ranges is a unique and special place, and sometimes still a bit of a hidden gem,” he said.
“To have our wines recognised at this level helps shine a spotlight on the region as a whole.
“It shows that cool-climate wines from the Strathbogies can stand proudly on the national and international stage, and that’s something we’re very proud to contribute to.”
Mr Fowles notably extended his gratitude to vineyard manager Glenn Chisholm, who he said had “done an extraordinary job in ensuring our soil and vines are healthy”.
While this honour is significant, it’s only onwards and upwards for Fowles from here, with it being deep into a biodiversity project (named the BatNavs Project) to support microbat populations in its vineyard.
To discover more of Australia’s best wines, according to Halliday, visit winecompanion.com.au
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