James Halliday is an unmatched authority on every aspect of the Australian wine industry. His winemaking has led him to sojourns in Bordeaux and Burgundy, and he has won a clutch of awards for his contributions to the industry, including the prestigious Maurice O’Shea Award. For the 2025 guide, wine writer and editor Campbell Mattinson leads the Halliday Wine Companion as chief editor. Campbell has worked on the Halliday Wine Companion for over ten years, is the author of six books, and is also the founder of The Winefront. He’s the only person to have won the Australian Wine Communicator of the Year award twice.