The 30 Best Australian Wines Under $30

Leading Australian wine commentator and critic, Huon Hooke, this week published his list of ‘value wines for trying times’ over at The Real Review. Hooke suggested that “people tend to trade down, rather than stop drinking altogether,” during trying economic times.

If “trade down” is code for increasing consumption of any alcoholic product dramatically, then Hooke’s assumption is right on the money.

Instead of publishing the entire list – which you can view here – with links to individual tasting notes for RR members, I decided to cut the list down to 30 (arguably 32) using his points rating to leave off the lower-rated inclusions.

Dive into Huon’s value for money 30 best Australian wines for under $30, all sampled in 2020 by the man himself.

RELATED: Sip & Swirl Your Way Through 30 Of The Best Wine Bars In Sydney

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White

• Freycinet Wineglass Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 – $27 (96pts)
• Poonawatta The Eden Riesling 2019 – $30 (95pts)
• Quealy Musk Creek Pinot Gris 2018 – $30 (95pts)
• Santolin Wines Cosa Nostra Vermentino 2019 – $25 (95pts)
• Vinaceous Divine Light Riesling 2019 – $25 (95pts)
• Spring Vale Gewürztraminer 2018 – $30 (95pts)
• Lone Star Creek Vineyard Chardonnay 2018 – $24 (93pts)
• Grove Estate Think Outside The Circle Fiano 2019 – $20 (93pts)
• Chaffey Bros Tripelpunkt Riesling 2019 – $26 (93pts)
• Santolin Wines Cosa Nostra Arneis 2019 – $25 (93pts)
• Xanadu Exmoor Chardonnay 2018 – $20 (92pts)

Rosé

• S.C. Pannell Arido Rosé 2019 – $25 (95pts)
• Fighting Gully Road Sangiovese Aglianico Rosé 2019 – $25 (95pts)
• Cooper Burns Grenache Rosé 2019 – $22 (95pts)

Red

• Domaine Naturaliste Discovery Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – $24 (94pts)
• West Cape Howe Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – $30 (94pts)
• Franklin Tate Estates Cabernet Merlot 2017 – $17 (93pts)
• Handpicked Trial Batch Nebbiolo 2018 – $29 (93pts)
• Hither & Yon Touriga 2018 – $29 (93pts)
• Lone Star Creek Vineyard Lone Star Red Pinot Noir Syrah 2019 – $26 (93pts)
• Oakridge Pinot Noir 2018 – $30 (93pts – which their Chardonnay also received and also retails for $30)
• Robert Oatley Signature Series Grenache 2019 – $24 (93pts)
• S.C. Pannell Dead End Tempranillo 2018 – $28 (93pts)
• Sanguine Estate Progeny Shiraz 2018 – $25 (93pts)
• ATR Wines Chockstone Shiraz 2018 – $28 (92pts)
• 3 Drops Cabernet Franc 2018 – $26 (92pts)
• Lone Star Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 – $27 (92pts)
• Peter Lehmann H&V Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – $25 (92pts – which their 2019 H&V Riesling also received and also retails for $25)

Sparkling

• Capital Wines The Speaker Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2012 – $25 (95pts)
• Balgownie Sparkling Shiraz NV – $30 (92pts)