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This South Australian winery made a historic debut on the AGFG hatted list for 2026

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
A South Australian winery has made a historic debut on the Australian Good Food Guide annual Chef Hat Awards list.

The highly anticipated Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) list of restaurants earning Chef Hat Awards has been released for 2026, and some exciting newcomers have entered the list. Most notably, a boutique Adelaide Hills winery and restaurant has made dining history with the first-ever 17-point debut in South Australia: awarded to Anvers Wines with a debut menu by Executive Chef Connor Bishop.

“Executive Chef Connor Bishop is on our list of rising stars of Australian dining," said Joseph Steele,  National Operations Manager at AGFG. “We will be keeping a keen eye on him and what he does over the next year. His Long Story menu is absolutely stunning."

Beetroot, garden verde and chevre at Anvers Wines
Anvers Wines made a historic debut for SA venues.

It was that menu – judged by the Australian Good Food Guide and assessed on a highly confidential criteria that we do know involves ingredients, taste, presentation, technique, value, consistency and overall dining experience – that earned Anver its hats, and placed it in the top 0.25 per cent of venues nationally. It was crafted by Bishop as a holistic sensory experience, built around the best seasonal, local produce. Think menu highlights like rich dairy from Fleurieu Milk Company, Ox Tongue from Willunga, Spring Ridge venison, and select ingredients sourced from the surrounding region.

“Since coming on board to lead the kitchen at Anvers, I’ve been constantly inspired by the team and the quality of ingredients we have at our fingertips here in the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula," shared Bishop. “This award is a recognition of craft, discipline and a steady pursuit of ‘better’, reflecting the work carried out over time by the team who execute it, and the guests who return for it. It’s a proud moment for everyone, as well as the incredible South Australian producers we are so lucky to work with."

About Anvers Wines

Anvers Wines in south australia
Take in the surrounding views from the converted cellar door.

Since 1998, Anvers Wines has been creating cool climate wines and telling the story of their unique patch of land on the cusp of McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills winegrowing regions. Visitors can soak in the old dairy turned cellar door, dating back to 1949, with rolling vineyard views able to be enjoyed through floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

In those vineyards, a unique terroir consisting of limestone, buckshot ironstone, shoal and quartz with medium clay soils creates tasty results. The estate aims for a minimal intervention approach to winemaking and has been a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia since 2023.

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Port Lincoln Hapuka with Blue Lip Mussels and Salmon Roe at anvers wines
Discover what to try after Anvers Wines.

While many venues earned themselves more hats than ever, it’s the newcomers to the list who are causing a stir. Only one point behind Anvers Wines, Tasmania’s Oirthir entered the list in 2026 at 16 with an experience Steel says is “one of the most unique dining experiences that we’ve come across in terms of ingredient use, provenance and overall creativity. Definitely another one to watch". Its menu pays tribute to the Scottish heritage of co-owners and chefs, husband-and-wife team Bob Piechniczek and Jillian McInnes. The couple’s experience in the French culinary tradition also shines through.

In Brisbane, the modern take on traditional Korean cuisine at Suum debuted with 15 points. Garaku at Prefecture in Sydney earned 14 points for its Kaiseki style dining (a traditional Japanese, multi-course meal). Malin in Melbourne, Barragunda Dining on the Mornington Peninsula and de’sendent in the Margaret River, all also debuted with 14 points.

The Details

Location: Anvers Wines, 633 Razorback Rd, Kangarilla
Opening hours: The restaurant is open for lunch from midday to 3pm, Thursday to Sunday. The cellardoor is open daily from 11am to 4pm.
Website: Anvers Wines
Full list: Find the full list of AGFG Chef Hat Award winners on the website.

Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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Mornington Peninsula’s storied past: war, shipwrecks and a runaway convict 

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
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    The Mornington Peninsula is a coastline of contrasts, where convict and military history meets shipwrecks, wild seas and adventures above and below the surface.

    The Mornington Peninsula can be the kind of place where salt-tangled hair feels like a badge of honour – proof you’ve been somewhere wild, raw and real. Peel back the layers and you’ll discover stories that anchor this region to something other than its famed food and wine.

    This land is the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people. Long before grapevines were planted and artisanal goods were crafted, the Bunurong Traditional Owners lived in deep connection with the land and sea. Today, places such as Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary echo that tradition, with families exploring its rockpools in search of colourful sea stars and crabs at low tide and learning how these fragile ecosystems have been cared for across countless generations.

    a group of people visiting the Port Nepean National Park
    Take in the rugged coastal landscape at Port Nepean National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    A visit to Point Nepean National Park feels like stepping back through time. The fort, built in 1882, protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay until the end of the Second World War. It was here that the first Allied shot of the First World War was fired – at a German cargo ship trying to escape just hours after war was declared. Nearby, the old Quarantine Station, one of Australia’s first permanent quarantine facilities, established in 1852, still stands. Walking through the hospital and disinfecting complex evokes stories of those who arrived from faraway shores.

    Not far from here is a story of survival that inspired the Aussie phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s chance’. In 1803, escaped convict William Buckley vanished into the bush near what’s now Sorrento. Everyone thought he had no hope of surviving, but he reappeared 32 years later, having lived with local Aboriginal people.

    Even the waters here hold history. The infamous stretch known as The Rip, just three kilometres wide at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, is among the most treacherous waterways. Countless ships were lost here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1967, Australia’s own Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the coast, never to be found.

    a seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay
    A seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    But for all its danger, the sea here also holds extraordinary beauty. Dolphins are often seen near Sorrento’s cliffs, while below the surface, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs teem with life. Marine tours offer a viewing to this underwater wonderland, while back on terra firma, walking trails lead along beaches, through coastal scrub, and over rock pools.

    And if you think you’ll forget about the Mornington Peninsula once you’ve left? You’ve got Buckley’s chance.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the suite interior at InterContinental Sorrento
    Luxury interiors at the historic InterContinental Sorrento. (Image: Greg Elms)

    Point Nepean Discovery Tents is immersive glamping beside the historic Quarantine Station. Or upgrade to luxury at the 1875-built InterContinental Sorrento.

    Playing there

    an aerial view of Cape Schanck Lighthouse
    Make your way to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Bayplay Adventure Tours offer eco-adventures from snorkelling with sea dragons to kayaking with dolphins and cycling Point Nepean. Cape Schanck Lighthouse is fascinating to explore on a guided tour, which takes you into the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage.

    Eating there

    Portsea Hotel is a beautifully restored 1876 Tudor-style pub right on the beach, serving seasonal local fare.