LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine 8th Edition Tasting Events

Oenophiles across the country were able to taste the wines featured in the latest edition of the esteemed LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine at the series of ‘LANGTONS Classified’ events across Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne earlier this month. Last held in 2018, the Classification tasting experiences featured the recently lauded wines that represent the pinnacle of fine wine in Australia. 

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The country’s iconic and collectable wines were on-pour by their respective producers at the exclusive events hosted by luxury fine wine retailer LANGTONS. Guests sampled sought-after drops including Bass Philip Wines Reserve Pinot Noir; Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz; Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz; Rockford Basket Press Shiraz; and Tyrell’s Vat 1 Semillon.

Guests purchased either general admission tickets for access to 79 Classified wines or a 1st Classified ticket to taste the full 100-bottle line-up. For the first time, guests attending the LANGTONS Classification tasting experiences also received first access to a selection of the Classified wines before the general public via LANGTONS’ online wine store.

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A highly anticipated announcement on the wine industry calendar, the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine has been running for three decades as an essential guide and benchmark for fine wine in Australia. The 8th edition of the Classification featured 100 wines from 60 wineries, which achieved a coveted spot in the Classification based on consumer demand, collectability, and prices commanded at auction. To be eligible, wines must have already been available for 10 vintages and have a strong presence in the wine auction market. 

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The unveiling of the 8th LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine also revealed new wine-drinking habits among Australians. Compared to the usual inclusion of full-bodied shiraz and cabernet examples, the year marked a growing demand for lighter-style wines with elegance and vibrancy. Red and white wines from cool-climate regions proved popular with drinkers, as evidenced by the inclusion of pinot noir from Tasmania and chardonnay from the Yarra Valley.

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“The 8th edition of the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine was certainly a shake-up to what we’ve seen across the last three decades of the guide. We saw a shift in consumer interest from full-bodied, hedonistic red wines to more vibrant styles that embody elegance and complexity,”  says LANGTONS Head of Auctions and Secondary Market Michael Anderson.

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“Our Classified tasting experiences invited fine wine lovers to engage with these top-tier wines and their producers for an interactive yet relaxed tasting experience. Furthermore, we wanted to give these avid fans first access to these wines to help build their personal collections and find those special-occasion bottles.” 

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The 8th edition of the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine also marked the debut of a new tiering system that included just two categories instead of the previous three: First Classified and Classified. First Classified status was only attributed to a small selection of top wines, with the name a nod to the first growths of the 1855 Bordeaux Classification – the inspiration behind the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine. A total of just 21 wines reached the First Classified status in this Classification. 

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Nineteen new wines joined the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine including The Relic Shiraz Viognier and The Schubert Theorem Shiraz (The Standish Wine Company), Hoffmann Dallwitz and Little Wine Shiraz (Sami-Odi), Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (Tolpuddle), and Quartz Chardonnay (Bindi). Long-standing Classification wines Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace, Wendouree Shiraz, Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, and Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay were once again included in the line-up. 

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The LANGTONS Classified tasting experiences were held with event partners Vintec and Riedel across Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne during the below dates. Information and tickets were available at langtons.com.au/classification-events

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• Thursday, 26 September at Crown Perth
• Tuesday, 1 October at the National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide
• Friday, 4 October at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
• Tuesday, 8 October at Hyatt Regency, Sydney
• Friday, 11 October at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

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About LANGTONS and the Classification of Australian Wine

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Debuting as a wine auction house more than 30 years ago, LANGTONS has grown to establish itself as Australia’s premier destination for fine wine. LANGTONS offers a curated selection of Australian and international fine wines through its online wine store and also offers consumers the chance at one-of-a-kind collectibles through its weekly wine auctions. LANGTONS’ calendar of wine masterclasses, dinners, and tastings brings the world’s most sought-after bottles in reach of Australian drinkers. 

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Running for more than three decades, the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine is the highly respected fine wine guide delivered by luxury wine retailer LANGTONS. Inclusion in the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine is the pinnacle of vinous accolades, setting the benchmark for fine wine in Australia and beyond.

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Inspired by the renowned 1855 Bordeaux Classification, wines that comprise the LANGTONS Classification of Wine are categorised as Classified, along with a small number deemed First Classified representing the most desired drops in the country to take on the world’s best. The wines encompassing the guide are recognised for their consumer demand, collectability, and prices demanded at auction. Each wine must have been available for the last 10 vintages and have a strong presence in the secondary market (auction).