Culinary Excellence: UWEA Wineries Shine - 2026 Chef Hat Awards

From the Barossa Valley to Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Western Australia’s Margaret River, the restaurants of Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia (UWEA) are celebrating outstanding recognition in the 2026 Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) Chef Hat Awards.

With two restaurants achieving an impressive 18/20 and several others improving on their 2025 scores, the results highlight the talent, creativity and dedication of the chefs and culinary teams making Australia’s wine regions exceptional dining destinations.

2026 Chef Hat Award winners across the UWEA collection

Congratulations to all 15 UWEA winery restaurants recognised in the 2026 awards.

New South Wales

Printhie Dining, Orange: 14/20

South Australia

Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant, Adelaide Hills: 18/20

Fino Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley: 14/20

St Hugo Restaurant, Barossa Valley: 13/20

d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant at d'Arenberg, McLaren Vale: 12/20

Tasmania

Josef Chromy Restaurant, Tamar Valley: 13/20

Victoria

Ten Minutes by Tractor Restaurant, Mornington Peninsula: 18/20

Laura at Pt. Leo Estate, Mornington Peninsula: 17/20

Brown Brothers Restaurant, King Valley: 14/20

Montalto, Mornington Peninsula: 13/20

Pt. Leo Restaurant, Mornington Peninsula: 13/20

TarraWarra Estate Restaurant, Yarra Valley: 13/20

Western Australia

Leeuwin Estate Winery, Margaret River: 16/20

Vasse Felix, Margaret River: 15/20

Wild Swan at Mandoon Estate, Swan Valley: 13/20

Scores and restaurant details are based on the 2026 AGFG Chef Hat Awards.

Celebrating the standouts and those raising the bar

Leading the UWEA collection are Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant and Ten Minutes by Tractor Restaurant, both retaining their outstanding ratings of 18/20 from 2025. Their results reflect a continued commitment to exceptional cuisine and consistency.

Laura at Pt. Leo Estate also stands out with a rating of 17/20, up from 16 last year. Leeuwin Estate Winery has risen from 15 to 16, while Vasse Felix has increased from 14 to 15.

Other notable improvements include Fino Seppeltsfield, which has moved from 13 to 14, and Brown Brothers Restaurant, which has risen from 13 to 14. These achievements recognise the continued development and dedication of their culinary teams.

Maintaining a rating year after year is equally worthy of celebration. Printhie Dining retains its 14/20 rating, Josef Chromy Restaurant remains at 13/20, Montalto holds its 13/20 rating, and Wild Swan at Mandoon Estate continues with 13/20.

We also extend a warm welcome to TarraWarra Estate Restaurant, a recent addition to the UWEA collection, which joins the 2026 celebrations with a 13/20 rating. Its recognition adds another outstanding culinary destination to our network of premium Australian winery experiences.

Together, these results demonstrate the different ways restaurants achieve recognition, whether through sustained excellence, continued improvement or joining the collection with an already recognised culinary offering.

What makes a Chef Hat award special?

The Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat Awards have recognised culinary excellence in Australia for decades. Ratings are determined through anonymous inspections, alongside feedback from diners, with inspectors assessing the food and awarding a score out of 20.

The assessment focuses on six key attributes: ingredients, taste, presentation, technique, value and consistency. Rather than prescribing a standard formula, the AGFG approach recognises creativity and individual expression, celebrating chefs who make thoughtful use of ingredients and deliver food that is distinctive, balanced and memorable.

Chef Hat ratings focus on the food itself, while other aspects of the dining experience, including service, setting and wine, are considered separately through the guide’s additional ratings and symbols.

For winery restaurants, these accolades are a meaningful acknowledgement of the skill and passion behind the menu, as well as the regional produce and culinary character that help define each destination.

Where exceptional food meets exceptional wine

At UWEA, we believe the best winery experiences go well beyond the cellar door. Exceptional dining connects visitors with the flavours, people and stories of a wine region, creating a richer understanding of what makes each destination unique.

From contemporary cuisine at Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant to vineyard dining at Ten Minutes by Tractor, and the regional food and wine experiences of Margaret River, the UWEA collection offers travellers compelling reasons to explore Australia's wine country through food as well as wine.

The 2026 Chef Hat Awards celebrate the chefs and teams who bring these experiences to life, showcasing the strength and diversity of winery dining across Australia.

Congratulations to all our recognised winery restaurants and their culinary teams. Whether maintaining an established rating or achieving a new milestone, your dedication to culinary excellence continues to make Australia’s wine regions destinations worth travelling for.

Discover extraordinary food, wine and behind-the-scenes experiences with Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia. Visit our website to explore our award-winning winery experiences.