Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley has been named the 2025 Halliday Winery of the Year, solidifying its status as Australia’s most in-form winery. Melanie Chester has taken Giant Steps to new heights in her short tenure as Chief Winemaker and General Manager of Giant Steps team. One of Australia’s brightest winemaking talents, Mel and the whole Giant Steps team are flying right now.
The upcoming releases below are the pinnacle of Australian fine wine right now, showcasing the unique terroirs of the Yarra Valley with an elegance and depth that are nothing short of spectacular. Among the highlights are the Tarraford Syrah and Sexton Cabernet, both of which have garnered trophies at the Yarra Valley Wine Show, a plethora of Single vineyard Chardonnays and Pinots with incredible reviews, and a set of Yarra Valley wines that offer tremendous value for money.
The Giant Steps crew are ecstatic with the 2023s. We caught up with Head of Winemaking and Viticulture Mel Chester at DDHQ recently to taste some wines and have a chat. You can watch the full chat on our YouTube channel below but here's what she told us about the harvest:
"Amazing vintage. From a farming perspective, it was very challenging. It was a wet, cold spring, super wet, cold summer. It was not a warm summer, but on those cold vintages, where it's sort of on a knife's edge, I sometimes think we get the best expressions of Pinot and Chardonnay.
The Pinots this year are fleshy and perfumed and there's this beautiful flavour and texture to the wines. The Chardonnays are crystalline and there's a real clarity for both of those varieties in 2023. There's just a really clear voice to all of the wines."
- Mel Chester on the 2023 vintage for Giant Steps
Here are the early reviews from the Halliday Wine Companion:
2023 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir - Pinot Noir of the Year!
Halliday Rating: 98
2023 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay
Halliday Rating: 96
2023 Giant Steps Bastard Hill Pinot Noir
Halliday Rating: 97
2023 Giant Steps Bastard Hill Chardonnay
Halliday Rating: 98
2023 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay
Halliday Rating: 97
2023 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir
Halliday Rating: 96
2023 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir
Halliday Rating: 97
2023 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Halliday Rating: 95
2023 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
Halliday Rating: 96
Unsurprisingly, the demand for these wines has gone through the roof in recent years and our allocations become more precious with every release. With 2023 heralded as one of the best vintages in a decade or more, they will likely fly.
To ensure you get first access from to these elite Yarra Valley wines, please subscribe to our mailing list below and we will inform you upon their release.