Winemaker Alex McKay, of Collector Wines, has taken out the top award at the 2026 Canberra and Region Wine Show with his 2024 Marked Tree Red Shiraz.

The wine was named Champion Wine of Show at the awards ceremony hosted by the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society, which attracted 300 entries from 48 wineries.

McKay’s Shiraz also won Best Red Wine, Best Shiraz and the Dr Edgar Riek OAM Trophy for Best Canberra District Shiraz.

The wine takes its name from Marked Tree Road, near Lake George, a route frequented by Canberra artist Rosalie Gascoigne, whose work inspires the winery’s labels.

Collector Wines also won Best Sangiovese for its 2026 Rose Red City Sangiovese.

For the third consecutive year, Nick O’Leary won the Wine of Provenance award for his White Rocks Riesling, as well as being named the show’s Most Successful Exhibitor.

Moppity Vineyards collected two trophies for its 2025 Emprise Chardonnay, winning Best Chardonnay and Best White Wine of Show.

The awards came despite difficult growing conditions in the Canberra region, including a severe frost in November 2025 that damaged vineyards and affected the 2026 vintage.

Organisers said entries had remained relatively steady over the past five years, averaging 315 wines annually.

Newly appointed chair of judges and Henschke chief winemaker Gwyn Olsen praised the winning shiraz.

“The Collector 2024 Marked Tree Red Shiraz was a wonderful expression of shiraz. The Champion was hotly contested amongst all the winning wines,” she said.

“It’s wonderful to see such great vibrancy and expression in such variety of so many wines from the region.”

The full results are here. 

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