Australia’s most prestigious awards program for wine and beverage lists,
established in 1993 by Tucker Seabrook and Rob and the late Judy Hirst
Entries are now open for the 2025 Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards!
Join us on social media or via our mailing list to keep up to date.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards were established in 1993 by Tucker Seabrook, Sydney’s first Wine and Spirit Merchant (established 1838).
The aim of the Awards is twofold – to recognise and reward the enormous investment by restaurant owners, managers and sommeliers in the time, skill and resources that go into developing the best quality wine lists and teams and the cellars behind them. At the same time the Awards recognise, pay tribute to and reward the dedication and talent of those individuals, those sommeliers who create these lists for Australia’s best restaurants, hotels, clubs, wine bars, pubs and cafes – large and small.
Peter Forrestal, current Chairman of Judges and Chair since taking over the role from Huon, and a member of the judging panel since 1994, endorses Huon’s comments and salutes the rise to prominence of Australia’s sommeliers over the past 20 years particularly. ‘Not only does Australia now boast an abundance of sommeliers but those we have are as well educated and as experienced as those of any country in the world. They have been fortunate to have a vigorous and enthusiastic industry body in Sommeliers Australia and strong support from international organisations such as the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Importantly, the Awards have also had an impact on the public’s interest in fine wine generally and have improved their appreciation of those establishments which have successfully participated in the Awards over the years and been celebrated.
QANTAS Magazine and Travel Insider are the Awards Consumer Communications Partner, and since 2016, the Drinks Association have been the official Awards Trade Communications Partner.
The Awards:
Driven by a mantra of 'discovery, familiarity, value and experience', the Gimlet list artfully blends the great and the good with a dose of variety and complexity. The intentions here are pretty clear when Selosse & Rousseau get their own feature pages - and what a huge treat to try such great wines by the glass. Indeed, the selection by the glass here is exceptional, with a nice blend of essential drinks vs indulgences. Very clever! There's a subtle playfulness here too - just like the 'neither red nor white wine' section, just to remind that not everything has to be serious. It's a list with high appeal for all wine lovers, outstanding in its breadth, depth, balance and originality.
08 Apr 2025
Download media release HERE Calling all curators of Australia’s finest wine and beverage lists: Are you ready to have your venue recognised as one of the nation’s most prestigious wine and beverage lists? Now is the time to submit your entry: The 32nd edition of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards has officially opened […]
29 Sep 2024
Download Media Release HERE Images for editorial use are available HERE The results of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards are in, and Melbourne’s premier dining destination Gimlet at Cavendish House, has been crowned Australia’s Wine List of the Year. Now in its 31st year, the awards ceremony was held at the Ovolo Hotel […]
01 Apr 2024
Click HERE to download media release Images for editorial use are available HERE Calling all wine list curators: The date has arrived – Monday, 1st April, and entries are now open for Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2024. Venue owners, sommeliers, and beverage directors are encouraged to gather their lists to present to […]
24 Sep 2023
Download Media Release HERE Sydney waterfront restaurant Cirrus Dining has been crowned Australia’s Wine List of the Year at the 30th anniversary of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards ceremony, held tonight at the Ovolo Hotel in Woolloomooloo NSW. The seafood jewel in Bentley Restaurant Group’s crown of fine dining establishments, Cirrus Dining stood […]
Qantas magazine and Travel Insider, an official partner of the AWLOTY Awards, is the leading destination for travel content in Australia. It is not only a celebration of travel and all that it offers but also an insider’s guide to the best experiences in Australia and overseas. The partnership with AWLOTY is an opportunity to recognise Australia’s best wine lists and share the restaurants that are excelling with a very premium audience.
The drinks association is the AWLOTYA’s official Trade Communications Partner. It’s Australia’s leading membership body providing services and information to the drinks industry, with a well-respected portfolio of trade publications targeting an extensive cross-section of the on-premise drinks community – in excess of 13,000 restaurants, clubs, pubs, hotels, resorts, bars and wine bars.