Langmeil Winery has been shortlisted in the prestigious Old Vine Photography Competition 2026, earning international recognition in the 'Landscape & Plants' category for a striking portrait of its legendary The Freedom 1843 Shiraz vineyard.
The competition, which attracted nearly 300 entries from 18 countries across four continents — from Bolivia to Japan, the United Kingdom to Iran — set an exceptionally high benchmark for submissions. To be shortlisted from such a globally diverse and talented field is a significant achievement and a testament to the extraordinary story these vines carry.
The shortlisted image captures the Barossa Ancestor vine of the Freedom 1843 Shiraz — a vineyard that Langmeil is home of what we believe is the world's oldest surviving Shiraz vineyard; The Freedom 1843. Planted in 1843, these vines have endured more than 183 years of Barossa seasons, producing fruit of remarkable quality and representing living heritage unlike any other in the wine world.
Photographed in 2016 by Dragan Radocaj, Judge Randy Caparoso offered the following commentary:
"If I were to look at this photo without knowing its provenance, I would guess it is a grapevine over 100 years old. The camera lens successfully captures the etched crevices, long spurs and muscular enough trunk indicative of age, like the face of a wily 90-year-old man or sharp-eyed 100-year-old woman. Of course, knowing that it is a 183-year-old Shiraz makes it even more impressive; particularly the cluster sizes, demonstrating that old or ancient vines also exist for this reason: Because these vines are still vigorous enough to produce a healthy crop. There is a lot 'here' here."
The Freedom 1843 Shiraz sits at the heart of Langmeil Winery's Old Vine Garden Collection — a range of wines that express place, time, and viticultural courage. The Freedom vineyard is not merely a historic curiosity; it is a working vineyard, and these vines continue to produce fruit of profound character and depth with each passing vintage.
Voting for the Old Vine Photography Competition 2026 is now open and closes on 8 July 2026. Winners will be announced on Old Vine Day: 15 July 2026.
Langmeil Winery encourages its supporters, wine lovers, and those who believe in the importance of preserving old vine heritage to cast their vote at:
www.oldvines.org/the-old-vine-photography-competition-2026-shortlist-and-voting
