Hentley Farm Restaurant has been named Restaurant of the Year at the 2026 South Australian Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, securing the state’s highest restaurant honour for the second consecutive year. The Seppeltsfield restaurant also claimed the Best Restaurant in a Winery title.

For a regional restaurant set within a Barossa winery, the back-to-back result is especially significant. It marks Hentley Farm’s third Restaurant of the Year title overall, following wins in 2019 and 2025, and recognises an experience that has continued to evolve rather than repeat itself.

At the heart of that evolution is the creative partnership between Executive Chef Kyle Johns and Chief Winemaker Andrew Quin. Drawing on classic culinary techniques, Johns creates contemporary dishes rich in flavour and texture, each developed to sit naturally alongside Quin’s expressive wines.

“Winning last year was a huge moment for us, but it also raised the bar for what came next,” said Executive Chef Kyle Johns. “We didn’t want to repeat what had already worked. We wanted to keep refining our cooking, developing new dishes and finding fresh ways for our members and guests to experience them alongside the wines. To be recognised again means a great deal and gives us even more motivation to keep moving forward.”

That drive to evolve shapes both the menu and the way guests experience the restaurant. The signature Discovery Menu offers the most complete expression of Hentley Farm’s approach to food and wine. The Petite Discovery in the Barn presents a more concise expression of the same philosophy, while the intimate Chef’s Table places guests beside the open kitchen for an immersive view of the chefs at work.

Across each experience, the cooking is guided by balance, layering and technical precision, supported by a considered approach to ingredients, waste and kitchen practice. The aim is not simply to create something new, but to develop each dish with purpose, offering guests a fresh perspective while strengthening the connection between the menu and the wines.

“To be recognised as South Australia’s best restaurant for the second year running is incredibly significant and a wonderful reward for our team’s continued pursuit of excellence. Since our last win, we have focused on developing and nurturing our people, and that commitment has truly shone through over the past six months. Our members and diners can feel that investment in the warm, intimate experience we provide. Kyle and Andrew share an ambition to showcase the ultimate food and wine experience, demonstrating that great wine and great food are inseparable,” said Hentley Farm Chief Executive Officer Stuart Mosman.

The recognition reinforces Hentley Farm’s position as one of South Australia’s leading regional dining destinations and gives the restaurant renewed momentum to continue exploring what the relationship between food and wine can become.

WHERE: Gerald Roberts Road, Jenke Road, Seppeltsfield