Australian Wine List of the Year

2019 winners

AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2020

WHERE DO CONSUMERS BEGIN WHEN LOOKING FOR A VENUE WITH A CRACKING WINE LIST? WORD OF MOUTH WAS ONCE THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT, NOW AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS ARE THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE BEST RESTAURANTS, PUBS, CLUBS, HOTELS, BARS AND CAFES IN METRO AND REGIONAL AREAS.

Established in 1994, the awards were dreamt up by Rob and Judy Hirst while running Sydney’s first wine and spirit merchant, Tucker Seabrook. They saw a need for an awards program that recognised and rewarded the hard work and talent of sommeliers, and enormous investment in time and resources by business owners to develop quality wine lists and cellars.

Today, Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards are not only the most prestigious national awards in their field, but have also played a major role in lifting the standard of Australia’s wine lists over the past three decades.

The awards’ judging panel consists of more than 30 wine industry professionals, wine communicators, sommeliers, winemakers, Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine who assess the lists on quality, balance, price, presentation and suitability.

Sadly, Judy Hirst died in 2007 after a long battle with cancer. Now her legacy lives on in the Judy Hirst Award, which is given each year to the sommelier responsible for the Wine List of the Year. Her husband Rob continues to run the awards each year.

Amid a challenging time for the hospitality industry with COVID-19, Rob said the awards were committed to assisting venues by “highlighting their achievements through the widest possible recognition and exposure”.

He said this year’s awards give the industry a chance to share its achievements and a reason to celebrate while many rebuild.

So, what makes a venue’s wine list award-worthy?

Aria, Jonah’s and Pilu are restaurants that have worked exceptionally hard to develop quality wine lists that add to the customer’s experience, demonstrated by their repeat wins at the awards.

In fact, Aria was one of the earliest winners of the Wine List of the Year Award and its win in 2003 instantly set a benchmark for itself and wine programs across the country.

The Sydney-based restaurant’s head sommelier, Alex Kirkwood, said the award created an expectation for staff “to maintain a list worthy of national attention.”

Nowadays, Aria is pushing its wine list to the next level to provide an experience that’s internationally recognised. One of its

points of difference is its long-term storage program, which allows sommeliers to age wines for as long as they feel is appropriate before showcasing them. The restaurant’s investment in Coravin also provides more options for customers who want to drink less or can afford extraordinary wines by the glass but not by the bottle.

Alex says trends come and go, but that the key is creating a wine list that is easy for customers to navigate and offers great value for money.

“Guests can already feel out of their comfort zone when walking into a new venue, and to then be presented with a poorly written list that lacks structure and a sensible flow is a sure way to create a poor experience,” he said.

“Also, it is easy to buy expensive, bigname brands or cult producers. However, the real skill of a buyer comes on the opposite end. A great list can often be identified by the quality of wine under $100 a bottle.”

Pilu at Freshwater on Sydney’s North Shore is another restaurant that was elevated to national prestige after winning Wine List of the Year in 2011.

Executive chef and owner, Giovanni Pilu said interest in the restaurant and its wine list followed the award, particularly from consumers who were interested in Italian wine.

For Giovanni, creating a wine list that represents his Sardinian restaurant, philosophy, food and style of service is imperative.

“It doesn’t necessarily need to be an extensive list, but it is important that it reflects you and it needs to be a list that your guests enjoy drinking from time and time again - wines that are familiar but also have a story and are interesting,” Giovanni said.

Pilu, with views of Freshwater Beach, has built its name on providing Australians with an authentic taste of Mediterranean life. Giovanni is currently encouraging his team to build a more extensive collection of wines from Sardinia and the south of Italy, including a greater selection of wines from smaller, boutique wineries using organic and biodynamic methods.

“These choices are directly linked to our menu and our origins and make perfect sense for our wine team and the dining public,” he said.

Like Pilu, Jonah’s is one of Australia’s most luxurious ocean retreats and serves modern Australian cuisine. While the restaurant was already on consumers’ radar for its location and food, winning Wine List of the Year in 2019 also put Jonah’s on the map for its extensive wine list.

The Whale Beach-based restaurant’s food and beverage director, Niels Sluiman said since winning the award, the restaurant has welcomed more people who have studied the wine list beforehand.

Niels’ passion for putting local producers in the spotlight is infectious and has meant the wine list has naturally grown to complement the restaurant’s cuisine.

“I sincerely believe that we should always put local producers in the spotlight. We are fortunate to be surrounded by so many beautiful boutique wineries from the bubbly Canberra district and Hilltops, to the Hunter - to name only a few - which deserve all of our attention!” Niels said.

Hospitality has been one of the hardesthit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic and while some venues are open for business, many remain closed.

The most important thing sommeliers can do for their business currently, is keep an accurate record of stock, Niels said.

Alex agrees and says, “poor stock purchasing decisions can leave your business in a very tricky situation. It is essential to always be aware of your responsibility to the venue. Wine can be very emotional, so you need to ensure you find a balance between buying with your heart and head.”

Sponsors (in random order)

SEE ALL THE WINNERS OF THE 2020 AWARDS

IN A YEAR IN WHICH THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WAS TESTED TO THE LIMIT, THE 2020 AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS, ANNOUNCED ONLINE ON MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER, HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE DEPTH OF TALENT AND DEDICATION OF MANY SOMMELIERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

NO RESTAURANT HAS DONE MORE TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN WINE AND WINE LIST CREATIVITY THAN THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR, MELBOURNE’S ACCLAIMED ATTICA RESTAURANT. A REGULAR ON THE ROLE-CALL OF THE WORLD’S BEST 50 RESTAURANTS, ATTICA CELEBRATES BOUNDARY-PUSHING CUISINE. LIKEWISE, ITS WINE LIST IS DARING AND CHALLENGING WHILE KEEPING THE CLOSEST EYE ON QUALITY.

ATTICA SOMMELIERS DOM ROBINSON AND JANE LOPES ARE JOINT WINNERS OF THE JUDY HIRST AWARD AS THE SOMMELIERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINNING LIST. MS LOPES RETURNED TO THE US DUE TO THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN BUT IS RECOGNISED FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL WORK IN CURATING THE WINE LIST OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AND WORKING WITH CURRENT HEAD SOMMELIER DOM ROBINSON ON THE WINNING LIST.

2020 Wine List of the Year - Attica, Melbourne

NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS

• 2020 Wine List of the Year - Attica,

Melbourne • Judy Hirst Award - Jane Lopes and

Dom Robinson, Past and Present Head

Sommelier at Attica

STATE/TERRITORY WINNERS

• Best Wine List ACT - Italian and Sons,

Canberra • Best Wine List NSW - Sixpenny,

Sydney • Best Wine List QLD - Blackbird,

Brisbane • Best Wine List SA - Hardy’s Verandah,

Adelaide Hills • Best Wine List TAS - Black Cow,

Sydney • Best Wine List VIC - Attica,

Melbourne • Best Wine List WA - Il Lido, Perth

NATIONAL CLASS OF TRADE OR CATEGORY

• Best City Restaurant Wine List -

Attica, Melbourne • Best Country Restaurant Wine List -

Laura, Frankston, VIC • Best Hotel Restaurant Wine List –

Bert’s, Newport, NSW • Best Pub Restaurant Wine List -

Mayfair Lane, Perth • Best Club Restaurant Wine List -

Terrace, Launceston, TAS • Best Wine Bar List - Saga Bar, Sydney • Tony Hitchin Award (Best New List) -

Mimi’s, Sydney • Best Small List (50 Wines) – Joint

Winners - Cott and Co, Perth and

Ishizuka, Melbourne • Best Small List (100 Wines) - Spice

Temple, Sydney

Jonah’s, Whale Beach

• Best Food & Wine Matching List -

Aria, Sydney • Best List of Wine By The Glass - Cru

Bar & Cellar, Brisbane • Best Champagne List - Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney • Best Sparkling Wine List - Reign at the QVB, Sydney • Best Non-Alcoholic List - Attica,

Melbourne • Best Aperitif List - Banksii, Sydney • Best Digestif List - Rockpool Bar &

Grill, Sydney • Best Beer List - The Avoca Hotel,

Avoca, VIC • Best Sake List - Harbourside Bar and

Kitchen, Cairns • Best Listing of a Region’s Wines - The

Boat House, Canberra • Best Listing of Australian Wines -

Bennelong, Sydney • Best Listing of ACT Wines - The Boat

House, Canberra • Best Listing of NSW Wines - Newcastle

Club, Newcastle • Best Listing of QLD Wines - Cru Bar & Cellar, Brisbane • Best Listing of SA Wines - 2KW Bar,

Adelaide • Best Listing of TAS Wines - Terrace,

Launceston • Best Listing of VIC Wines - Point Leo

Estate, Mornington Peninsula • Best Listing Of WA Wines -

Shorehouse, Perth

• Gourmet Traveller Wine Readers’

Choice - Mitchell Harris, Ballarat • Sommeliers’ Choice Award - Bibo,

Sydney

HALL OF FAME

NATIONAL WINNERS

• Jonah’s (2017) • Bentley Restaurant & Bar (2015) • Lake House (2014) • Rockpool Bar & Grill, Perth (2014) • Pilu at Freshwater (2011) • Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne (2010) • Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney (2009) • Aria (2003)

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

• David Lawler (2018) • Frank Moreau (2014)

STATE AND CATEGORY AWARDS

• Apothecary 1878 - now Apoteca (Best

SA) 2004, 2011, 2012 • Barn Steakhouse (Best SA) 2013, 2017, 2019 • Cru Bar & Cellar (Best QLD) 2004, 2009, 2015 • Rockpool Bar & Grill, Perth (Best WA) 2011, 2012, 2014 • Stillwater (Best TAS) 2016, 2017, 2018 • Stone House (Best NT) 2017, 2018, 2019 • Terrace, Launceston (Best TAS) 2008, 2009, 2019 • Aria (Gourmet Traveller Wine Readers’

Choice) 2011, 2012, 2013 • Botanical (Best Pub Restaurant List) 2012, 2013, 2014 • Chiswick (Best Small List) 2015, 2017, 2018 • Glass Brasserie (Best International Hotel

List) 2008, 2009, 2010 • Jonah’s (Best Hotel Restaurant List) 2015, 2016, 2017 • Lake House (Best Country Restaurant

List) 2008, 2010, 2013 • Love, Tilly Devine (Best Wine Bar List) 2013, 2016, 2017 • RACV City Club - now Members’

Dining Room (Best Club Restaurant List) 2013, 2014, 2015 • Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney (Best

Aperitif List) 2011, 2012, 2017 • Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (Best Club

Restaurant List) 2003, 2004, 2008 • Settlers Tavern (Best Listing of WA

Wines) 2017, 2018, 2019 • Settlers Tavern (Best Pub Restaurant List) 2009, 2010, 2011