Shaw + Smith Named Winery of the Year by UK Critic Matthew Jukes

Australian Adelaide Hills winery Shaw + Smith has been named Winery of the Year in London by leading British wine critic Matthew Jukes, in conjunction with the release of his annual 100 Best Australian Wines list.

The award was presented at Stoke Lodge in London, the official residence of Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Stephen Smith, who attended the event and joined the celebrations. In recent years, Stoke Lodge has become a regular venue for promoting Australian food and wine in the UK.

Matthew Jukes is regarded as one of the most influential commentators on Australian wine in the British market. His annual 100 Best Australian Wines list focuses on wines available through UK retail and on-trade channels, placing emphasis on stylistic diversity, regional representation and value balance. The list is widely seen as an important barometer of Australian wine trends in the UK.

In this year’s selection, Shaw + Smith had two wines included: the 2025 Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc and the 2023 Lenswood Vineyard Pinot Noir, highlighting the winery’s core strengths in white wines and cool-climate reds.

Shaw + Smith co-founder Michael Hill-Smith AM MW said the recognition carried particular significance given Jukes’ long-standing advocacy for Australian wine in the UK. He also acknowledged the role played by UK importer Liberty Wines and its founder David Gleave MW in building the winery’s presence in the market.

“Matthew Jukes has been doing important missionary work for Australian wine in the UK for years, so to be named his Winery of the Year is truly exciting — there has never been a better time to drink Australian wine than now,” Hill-Smith said. “We must also thank David Gleave MW and the team at Liberty Wines for our success in the UK — they have been a fantastic partner for us.”

Founded in 1989 by Michael Hill-Smith MW and Martin Shaw, Shaw + Smith has remained focused exclusively on the Adelaide Hills, sourcing all of its fruit from the region. Known for its cool-climate conditions, the Adelaide Hills has built an international reputation in recent years for varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Shaw + Smith’s management team currently includes joint chief executives David LeMire MW and Adam Wadewitz, who also serves as chief winemaker. The winery emphasises a terroir-driven approach and positions its wines in the mid- to upper-premium segment, with a reputation for restraint, precision and structure.

The endorsement from a leading UK critic is expected to deliver tangible commercial benefits for Shaw + Smith in the highly competitive British market.