When a 145-Year-Old Winery Wins Big in Japan and Australia

McWilliam’s Wines just achieved something truly special. On 7 November 2025, this Australian producer won the Best Australian Wine of Show at the 2025 Japan Wine Challenge. That same week, they also took home Best Fortified of Show at the NSW Wine Awards. These aren’t just nice accolades. They’re proof that Australian fortified wine remains world-class, even as the wine world increasingly focuses on table wines.

The hero of this story is the McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate 20-Year-Old Rare Tawny. This wine carries 145 years of winemaking tradition in every bottle. At the Japan Wine Challenge, over 1,000 wines from 17 countries competed. McWilliam’s stood out as one of only two Australian producers to win a trophy. They actually claimed three awards: Best Fortified Wine, Best New World Fortified Wine, and Best Value Fortified Wine.

Why This Wine Won

The secret lies in patience and precision. This wine spent twenty years maturing in small oak barrels. That extended time in wood creates something special. The wine develops rich nutty flavours and complex aromas that simply can’t be rushed. McWilliam’s holds one of Australia’s largest collections of aged fortified wines. It’s a living treasure chest that helps them create these award-winning expressions.

“These awards highlight the craftsmanship and passion behind McWilliam’s fortified portfolio,” said Carrah Lymer, Brand Manager for McWilliam’s Wines. “To be recognised on an international platform is an incredible honour. Fortified wines are a cornerstone of McWilliam’s, and this recognition reinforces the importance of preserving our heritage while continuing to innovate.”

Why Japan Matters

The Japan Wine Challenge holds special significance for Australian wine producers. Japanese consumers have shown genuine interest in premium Australian fortified wines. This is important because fortified wine sales have been declining in traditional Western markets. The fact that McWilliam’s won the Best Value award for wines priced around AUD $50 proves something crucial: Australian fortified wines can command premium prices in Asian markets.

Mel McWilliam, great-great-granddaughter of the company founder, added her perspective: “It’s a great indication of how good we can make wine here. Like most of the wineries here, we make quite large volumes. To be able to make such volumes and still get recognised for quality is really good.”

This matters because many people assume that large-scale wine production means lower quality. McWilliam’s proves that assumption wrong. When you combine volume production with technical expertise and proper aged inventory, you can achieve genuine excellence.

Where to Find It

The Hanwood Estate 20 Year Old Tawny retails for around AUD $80. For a wine of this age and quality, that’s reasonable. It’s special enough for celebrating important occasions, yet not so expensive that it feels untouchable. You can find it through Calabria Family Wine Group, McWilliam’s website, independent wine retailers, and Dan Murphy’s stores.