The 2023 Halliday Wine Companion was released today and features an impressive tally of 13 Oakridge wines with scores of 95 points (GOLD medal) and above. The soon to be released 2020 864 Funder & Diamond a stand out entry, scoring an exceptional 98 points.
“The 864 Chardonnay is rightfully considered one of the great wines of Australia, this brilliant wine – from a cooler year – is another superb rendition.” PHILIP RICH, 2023 Halliday Wine Companion
We’re equally proud to once again receive a ‘Top 5 Star Winery’ rating, awarded to wineries that consistently produce wines of exemplary quality and typicity, and show excellence in the context of their region.
Congratulations to David, Tim and the team for this outstanding effort!
OAKRIDGE TOP RATED WINES
98 points 2020 864 Funder & Diamond Chardonnay
The 2020 864 Chardonnay will be released globally on September 1. Sign up to our email newsletter below to stay in the loop;and join the Oakridge Wine Club for exclusive pre-release access to this iconic wine, plus many more members benefits.
After a three year hiatus the 2023 Age Good Food Guide Awards are back and better than ever… And we’re absolutely thrilled the Oakridge restaurant has retained its One Chef’s Hat!
This is testament to the extremely hard work and passion of the entire kitchen and service team, led by our Executive Chef, Aaron Brodie.
Read the full review below:
“Great winery views meet an even greater sustainable vision. Want to talk sustainable wine-dining? Oakridge rides the green wave hard, from Tesla chargers in the car park to a blooming kitchen garden, which chef Aaron Brodie integrates into generous three or four course menus sprinkled with the bounty of the Yarra Valley. Lunch, which comes with vineyard views, begins with your table engulfed by snacks: house-made kangaroo and emu charcuterie, mustardy zucchini pickles preserved from the summer harvest and mayne a rich, silky miso custard loaded with wild mushrooms and macadamias. Malty focaccia made from fresh-milled grains with Oakridge’s pinot noir turned to sweet vincotto typifies the mix of old-world skills and modern sensibilities at play. Likewise plush duck breast with textbook duck-neck sausage and a dessert of steamed cake embedded with quandongs. And slicked with custard. A rigorously drilled service team and beautiful cellar door, meanwhile, tie the package in a neat bow.” ~ 2023 Age Good Food Guide
Oakridge has been named as one of Victoria’s best restaurants, with the Delicious 100’s Top 1-50 revealed today. Described as “the ultimate winery-restaurant experience”, Oakridge was the highest placed Yarra Valley venue, coming in at an impressive #44. Congratulations to Executive Chef Aaron Brodie and the team and to all the amazing restaurants who also made the list!
Below is the full Delicious 100 review, taken from the Herald Sun (Aug 6).
“Oakridge gives you the ultimate restaurant-cellar door experience while you drink in the views of the Yarra Valley. The restaurant is crisp and modern, with the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking vine-swept hills. Attentive staff set the scene for a relaxed and stylish lunch that can be enjoyed with our without matched wines by respected winemaker David Bicknell. Executive chef Aaron Brodie steps seamlessly into the lead chef role after power-couple Matt Stone and Jo Barrett departed in 2020. Brodie comes from good pedigree, having worked under the pair for several years (as well as Gordon Ramsey) and shares mod-Aus food made from ultra-local produce grown in-house or sourced from the Yarra Valley. The daily changing, seasonal menu may see you inhale housemade sourdough with cultured butter or savour wedges of sweet roasted pumpkin and pumpkin-seed miso on pearl barley with chestnuts. Even brussels sprout non-believers will enjoy them on burrata curds with abalone mushrooms in a punchy XO sauce. End on a comforting – yet sophisticated – note with a marmalade and native fruit pudding that’s reminiscent of something Nanna would make. You’ll leave Oakridge with a full belly and happy heart” – Nerida McPherson, Delicious
We are thrilled to announce that Oakridge has been awarded the ‘CHAMPION VICTORIAN WINERY’ Trophy at the 2022 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards. Oakridge has a long history of success at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, including Best Victorian Chardonnay in 2021, and has been awarded five gold medals this year. Congratulations to winemakers David Bicknell and Tim Perrin and the winery and vineyard teams for this outstanding effort.
We are beyond thrilled to announce that Oakridge has been named the number one winery in Australia and Winery of the Year in The Real Review’s Top Wineries of Australia 2023, released today.
“This is particularly gratifying, as we’ve been fully focused on the inheritance and rebuilding of great vineyards, winery operations, consistency and reputation over many years. We’re ready now for the next step in realising our potential. None of this would have happened without the care and dedication of the various teams here, winery, vineyard and hospitality. There’s a genuine affection and desire to make this place the best it can be.” David Bicknell, Chief Winemaker
Oakridge Chief Winemaker, David Bicknell
Now in its sixth year, the list is considered a national benchmark, rewarding a select group of wineries that consistently produce excellent wine. Approximately 10,000 wines are tasted by The Real Review each year. Winery rankings are determined by all reviews within the past two years, rewarding consistency across multiple vintages.
The Real Review tasting team, led by principals Bob Campbell ONZM MW and Huon Hooke, were especially impressed with Oakridge’s 2021 vintage single vineyard pinot noirs and cabernets. Both the 2021 864 Henk Aqueduct Pinot Noir and 2021 864 Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon achieved an outstanding 98pts.
“It’s always nice to get a glowing review for any wine we make. It’s nice to be liked! The same amount of attention to detail goes into everything we do, and sometimes a particularly good vintage like 2021 helps catalyse that realisation and put some of our other work front and centre. In the end, if the punters like it, that’s the best review.” – David Bicknell
Oakridge Senior Viticulturist, Steve Faulkner echoes this sentiment of extreme attention to detail.The Aqueduct block on the Henk vineyard is a tale of two parts “the soil changes significantly as the hill rises. We pick this block in two parts to accommodate the distinct differences in growing characteristics.” said Steve
“To ensure its longevity, the Winery Block has been the subject of an intense rejuvenation project over the past four years. The way this block has responded gives me great confidence in our viticultural and biological farming methods. The results can clearly be seen in the wines.”
The award rounds out a fantastic 12 months for the Oakridge winemaking team and further cements Oakridge’s reputation as one of the country’s best wineries. Oakridge also took home the Champion Victorian Winery trophy at the 2022 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards.
This is the second time in three years that a Yarra Valley winery has taken top spot in the Real Review Australian rankings. Yarra Yerring was awarded Winery of the Year in 2021, other winners include Wine By Farr (Geelong) and Cullen (Margaret River).
Congratulations to Chief Winemaker David Bicknell, Senior Viticulturist Steve Faulkner, the winery and vineyard teams for yet another outstanding achievement.
TOP RATED OAKRIDGE WINES
2021 864 Henk Aqueduct Pinot Noir – 98pts RANKED #1 of 64 – 2021 Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley
2021 864 Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon – 98pt RANKED #1 of 20 – 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Victoria
2021 Original Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 97pts RANKED #2 of 20 – 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Victoria
2021 Vineyard Series Henk Pinot Noir – 96pts RANKED #3 of 64 – 2021 Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley
2021 Vineyard Series Willowlake Pinot Noir – 96pts RANKED #4 of 64 – 2021 Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley
2021 864 Close-Planted Syrah – 95pts RANKED #9 of 73 – 2021 Shiraz from Victoria
2021 Vineyard Series Henk Chardonnay – 95pts
2020 864 Funder & Diamond Chardonnnay – 95pts
2019 Original Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 95pts
Browser not supported
Sorry, it looks like we do not support the browser you are using.
