Drinks Producers, Retailers, Advocates

"Michael is without doubt not just one of Victoria’s great winemakers, but someone who sits high in the echelons of global reverence," says Legends 2025 judge Dan Sims. "His meticulous attention to detail, and deeply philosophical approach to pinot noir and chardonnay, speaks of place with such genuine transparency." At Bindi, Dhillon embodies the patient craft of winemaking and viticulture at its very best. In the shadow of Mount Macedon, Dhillon has perfected this craft over decades. Born in Gisborne, where his family has farmed since 1853, he took over the family's 170-hectare property in 1998 and has since become one of Australia's most thoughtful winemakers, earning, among other plaudits, Halliday Winemaker of the Year in 2022. Dhillon tends vines by hand, crafting pinot noir and chardonnay that speak with rare clarity of their place, and works wonders with shiraz sourced from Heathcote, making wines that The New York Times described as “exceedingly graceful”. His low-intervention, terroir-driven approach reflects a close study of Burgundy (both in the bottle and in person) as well as a dyed-in-the-wool feel for the land on which he has lived his life.

Aaron Trotman has redrawn the map of drinking in Australia. NON, the pioneering non-alcoholic drinks brand he leads, approached the question of zero-alc drinks with a chef-like lens, balancing quality produce, herbs and spices to create drinks that don't mimic existing alcoholic drinks but stand proudly on their own. Each carefully constructed style layers ingredients with remarkable precision, resulting in drinks that feel celebratory, complex and original. NON treats non-alcoholic drinking as a winning, appealing choice rather than compromise, appealing to curious flavour-seekers as much as designated drivers. "What NON has done for the zero-alc category is not just trailblazing, but category defining," says judge Dan Sims.