Best Australian wines to cellar

Best Wines to Cellar

We've compiled a list of the the best wines to add to your cellar from the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion.

How do you select a wine to cellar? That's easy – fill your cellar with wine you want to drink. But remember that over time your taste may change, so if you don't love Coonawarra cabernet now, you might in ten years time. Be sure to include a range of styles, varieties and producers from diverse regions.

The ageing success of riesling depends on the acidity levels and residual sugar. A dry riesling is best enjoyed within one to three years. While other expressions, like Pooley's Margaret Pooley Tribute Riesling, can be put down for five to 10 years. And botrytised riesling can be left to cellar for 20 years.

It's the age-old question, do I store the bottles laying down or standing up? There's a simple rule – wines under cork must be laid down to ensure the cork doesn't dry out. Styles of chardonnay – like the Deep Woods Reserve Chardonnay and the Leeuwin Art Series – are generally under Stelvin and can be stored standing up.

Cabernet Sauvignon and shiraz are built for ageing and can be cellared for between 10 and 20 years (and beyond). Cellaring classics include: Cullen's Diana Madeline, Vasse Felix's Tom Cullity, Henschke's Hill of Grace and Penfolds' Grange.

These 40 wines have a few things in common. They are each Top Rated by varietal, our Tasting Team has scored them outstanding or exceptional (between 96 and 99 points), and, perhaps most importantly, they're all ageworthy and deserve a place in your cellar. 

Halliday members receive exclusive access to the ultimate guide to virtually storing wines with the Virtual Cellar.