Last night I was pleased to attend Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards presented by leading wine distributor, Fine Wine Partners and Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine, held at Doltone House in Pyrmont. This award offers the most highly prized accolades for Australian wines lists with 380 restaurants, hotels and clubs entering these prestigious awards.  Gourmet Traveller WINE Readers’ Choice Award went to ARIA Sydney

AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR went to Pilu at Freshwater with their Sommelier Lara Caraturo winning the Judy Hirst Award

STATE / TERRITORY WINNERS
ACT – Rubicon
South Australia - Apothecary 1878
Tasmania - Me Wah
Queensland- Aria Brisbane
New South Wales - Pilu at Freshwater
Victoria - Royal Mail Hotel
Western Australia - Rockpool Bar & Grill

HALL OF FAME (PAST WINNERS OF WINE LIST OF THE YEAR)
Rockpool Bar & Grill – Melbourne (2010)
Rockpool Bar & Grill – Sydney (2009)
Taxi Dining Room – Melbourne (2008)
Aria - Sydney (2003)
Circa, The Prince - Melbourne (2001)
Syracuse – Melbourne (1999)
Walter's Wine Bar – Melbourne (1996)

HALL OF FAME (THREE TIME WINNERS)
Best Club Restaurant - Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron – Sydney,
NSW Best Pub Restaurant - Healesville Hotel – Healesville, VIC
Best Small List – Fino – Willunga, SA
Best International Hotel Restaurant List – Glass Brasserie – Sydney, NSW
Best Wine Bar List – Must Winebar – Highgate, WA
Best ACT List – The Ginger Room – Parkes, ACT
Best SA List – Appellation – Marananga, SA
Best WA Restaurant – Friends – East Perth, WA
Best WA Restaurant – Must Winebar – Highgate, WA

Best Wine Bar - Melbourne Supper Club
Best Food & Wine Matching - Jacques Reymond,
Best Digestif List - Acqua e Vino,
Best Country Restaurant  - Royal Mail Hotel,
Best Cafe/Brasserie -  European, Best Beer List - Healesville Hotel.

New South Wales was awarded Best Small List
Blancharu, Best Restaurant
Pilu at Freshwater
Best By the Glass List - Glass,
Best International Hotel Restaurant - Galileo,
Best Aperitif List - Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney.

West Australia’s
Settler’s Tavern collected their third win for Best Pub Restaurant with the new Rockpool Bar & Grill Perth winning Best New List.

Queensland took out two awards this year, Best Regional List – Ortiga and Best Club Restaurant was awarded for a second year to the Brisbane Club.

All these great restaurants are on our site, so look them up to get further details.

Regards, Maureen de Groot