Oakridge 864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay 2022 has been named WINE OF THE YEAR in the prestigious Halliday Wine Awards!

This recognition underscores the mastery of our team in crafting benchmark chardonnays under the guidance of longstanding chief winemaker, David Bicknell, described by Wine Companion Tasting Judge, Phillip Rich as “the godfather of modern Australian chardonnay”

David Bicknell has been crafting our wines since 2002, with the 2022 vintage of the 864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay representing the 11th iteration of this highly acclaimed single block wine. On the win, David said:

“It’s the culmination of a generation’s work, involving a whole group of people. And we’ve got a team of amazing depth and talent. It’s important to recognise Steve, Georgie and the viticultural team and the work they’ve put in, because that gives us the ability in the winery to create something like this.”

 

The Funder & Diamond vineyard, known for its mature vines planted in the red volcanic soils of Wandin East, consistently produces exceptional fruit. David describes the low-yielding Drive Block as “metronomic in what it does, regardless of the season.” The 2022 vintage he considers to be of particularly high calibre, calling it one of the best of the past decade. Despite facing challenges throughout the growing season, and extremely low yields, the wines produced were of exceptional quality and fruit purity. Chardonnay was a standout, with the harvest producing wines of remarkable natural acidity.

Each year, the Halliday Wine Companion guide selects the best Australian wines, winemakers, and wineries from a vast pool of entries. The final judging event, which recalled 100 standout wines from an initial review pool of 7,500, highlights the competitive nature and high standards of this prestigious event.

“Very bright. Aromas of stone fruits and lemon verbena together with some struck match, oyster shells and a little gently toasted hazelnut. There’s a wonderful purity of fruit, too, on the superbly balanced, silken textured and tensile palate. At the risk of repeating myself, this is ‘grand cru’ quality Australian chardonnay but at a fraction of the price.”

98 points, Philip Rich — 2025 Halliday Wine Companion

While the 864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay took center stage at this year’s awards, also winning ‘Chardonnay of the Year’ and ‘White Wine of the Year,’ the winery’s overall performance in the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion ratings, released today, was equally outstanding. An impressive 19 out of the 20 wines submitted received scores of 95 points or higher. Notably, eight of these wines were awarded an exceptional 97 points or more, showcasing Oakridge’s expertise across a diverse range of varieties.

In addition to these accolades, Oakridge Wines was honoured with a Top Five Star Winery rating for the 17th consecutive year, underscoring its consistent commitment to quality and excellence.

As we celebrate these remarkable achievements, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated team, loyal customers, and esteemed partners for their continued support and contribution to our ongoing success.

The 864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay 2022 will be released in limited quantities on Monday, 2 September, as part of the annual 864 Vintage Release. This release will also feature the 864 Henk Aqueduct Chardonnay 2022, 864 Henk Aqueduct Pinot Noir 2023, 864 Close-Planted Block Syrah 2022, and 864 Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.

Launch events for the 864 range will be held in Sydney on 4 September and Brisbane on 11 September. Limited tickets are available now.