The Vintage Journal: SA Wine Guide 2026

Barossa reviews in the 2025 guide written by Ken Gargett, Andrew Caillard MW, Tony Love, and Andrea Pritzker MW
www.vintagejournal.co

The South Australian Wine Guide 2026 has been launched to rebalance the ledger, and provide a definitive guide that throws a light on all of South Australia’s wine regions, with a singular focus on the unique wines from what is still ‘The Wine State’. This guide will proudly put every South Australian region on a pedestal to identify the leading local wines and highlight unique regional stories often hidden from view.

SINGLE VINEYARD SERIES

Two Hands Yacca Block Single Vineyard
Shiraz 2022
99 points
Deep crimson. Pure blackberry sage aromas with mocha notes. Generous and
inky with ample blackberry pastille, chinotto flavours, fine slinky textures and
beautifully balanced roasted chestnut, marzipan notes. Finishes long with a lovely
graphite plume. Gorgeous wine. 14.6% alc Drink now–2042

Two Hands Holy Grail Single Vineyard
Shiraz 2022
98 points
Deep crimson. Classical blackberry dark chocolate aromas with chinotto, bush
garrigue notes. Beautifully balanced and evocative wine with pure blackberry
chinotto, dark chocolate, hint ginger flavours, fine loose-knit velvety textures and
beautifully integrated mocha/ vanilla notes. Finishes chocolaty firm and bittersweet
with superb mineral length. 14.5% alc Drink now–2046

Two Hands Coach House Block Single Vineyard
Shiraz 2022
95 points
Deep crimson. Dark chocolate, panforte, dark plum aromas with brambly notes.
Ample choco-berry fruits, dense chocolaty/ velvety tannins and well-integrated
roasted walnut, roasted chestnut, mocha notes. Chocolaty firm at the finish. A plush
almost decadent Barossa Shiraz with the tannin vigour and acidity giving energy
and flow. Drink now–2040

RARE RELEASES

Two Hands Spirit of Place 1918 Vines
Shiraz 2022
96 points
Deep crimson. Inky, blackberry pastille, chinotto aromas with underlying roasted
almond notes. Generously concentrated and gravelly textured wine with lovely
blackberry pastille, chinotto, marzipan flavours and fine, loose-knit chalky tannins.
Finishes firm and minerally. Very well-balanced wine with lovely density, vigour
and length. Drink now–2038

PICTURE SERIES

Two Hands Gnarly Dudes
Shiraz 2022
95 points
Deep crimson. Expressive chinotto, dark cherry espresso aromas with hints of
chocolate. Inky deep and vigorous with fresh dark cherry pastille, chinotto flavours,
fine chalky firm tannins and well-integrated acidity. Finishes Claret-firm with
persistent juicy dark berry fruits. Where less is more. Drink now–keep for a while