What's New in 2025

Established in 1883 and this year the prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine, the 2025 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards welcomes a number of refinements and new initiatives following a detailed review in consultation with our Committee.

Introduction of Chenin Blanc as a Class

To acknowledge the growth in entries in the Single Varietal White category, the Awards have introduced a new class for Chenin Blanc.

Full details of this new class can be found in ‘Sections and Classes of Entry’ in the Entry Booklet 

New Design Category

We are introducing a design category to the 2025 Awards to recognise the vital role that packaging, labelling and overall visual presentation play in a wine's success.

In today’s competitive market, a bottle’s design is often the first impression a consumer receives, influencing perception and purchase decisions.

This new category celebrates the creativity, innovation and storytelling that go into a wine’s visual identity, offering wineries an opportunity to showcase the artistry that complements the quality of their product inside the bottle.