National Wine Festival toasts 50 years of excellence

Australia’s most prestigious wine show opens its cellars to the public for the first time, and Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia will be there!

The National Wine Festival, a four-day celebration of the nation’s best wines, will debut in Canberra from 12-15 June, 2025.

Marking the 50^th anniversary of the National Wine Show of Australia, the festival begins on 12 June with the National Wine Show of Australia’s prestigious 2025 Trophy Presentation Dinner at Australian Parliament House, where festivalgoers can take a front-row seat as the nation’s best wines are announced.

Three days of masterclasses, themed dinners, and a food, wine and tourism expo will follow at the five-star Hyatt Hotel Canberra.

More than 900 wines - representing every entry in the 2025 National Wine Show - will be available for tasting during the festival. From exquisite Tassie sparklings to luscious cab savs from WA’s Margaret River, more than 5,000 bottles representing every major Australian wine region will be opened, including the just-announced National Wine Show trophy winners.

“James Halliday was on our advisory committee for more than four decades and the new National Wine Festival is a natural extension of what James has called Australia’s most important wine awards,” National Wine Show Chair Andy Gregory said. 

“It’s an opportunity to fly the flag for Australian winemaking and demonstrate why our wines are among the best in the world. This is the only national wine event where you can taste the best of every Australian wine region, side by side.”

Festival highlights include guided tastings from award-winning judges, an exploration of future wine trends, and an unmissable tasting of newly crowned trophy winners with leading Australian winemaker and National Wine Show Chair of Judges Matt Harrop.

Tickets and information: www.nationalwinefestival.com.au