Yalumba, Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, is set to launch its 2026 Rare & Fine Collection, with the flagship Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz 2023 available exclusively through online retailer The Wine Society exclusively from the middle of this month (19 August).
The 2026 release comprises six wines from four recent vintages (2021 to 2024), which use grapes some of the estate’s best vines and includes blends from across Barossa and Coonawarra.
It includes The Caley Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz 2021, The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz 2021, The Tri-Centenary Grenache 2024, The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 and The Steeple Shiraz 2022. In additions, the Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz 2023 will be released as part of The Wine Society’s in-bond First Release programme (in bond), which a spokesman from the Wine Society called “an absolute bargain”.
Sam Wigan, head winemaker at Yalumba said it was “not a given” that the estate makes each Rare & Fine wine every year, preferring to do so “only when all elements of viticulture and winemaking align to deliver something special.”
He called the 2026 Collection “an outstanding example of Yalumba’s regional and varietal expertise, and a true testament to the Hill-Smith family’s fine wine legacy.”
“Each of the collection’s six wines reflect the individuality of our old and cherished vines and the precision of our winemaking. Together, they embody our long-term vision, highlighting our dedication to diversity and authenticity in fine wine,” he said.
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He explained that the span of four vintages was “the hallmark of Yalumba’s regional expertise and fine wine philosophy”, noting that the Grenache “shines in its youth”, while the Cabernet and Shiraz blends “benefit from time in bottle.”
“Our annual Rare & Fine collection is designed to reflect the rhythm of our vineyards and the diversity of our craft.”
Fifth-generation owner Robert Hill-Smith added that the Rare & Fine collection wines “remind us that legacy is written one season at a time”.
“Each vintage captures our heritage and our responsibility to the future, crafting wines that endure, from vines that have endured.”
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