Tucker Seabrook established Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards in 1994 to recognise and reward the enormous investment by owners in time, skill and resources that go into developing the best quality wine lists and to also recognise and reward the dedicated and talented sommeliers creating those lists for Australia’s restaurants, hotels, clubs, wine bars, pubs, cafes and brasseries – large and small.
Now the premier national awards for wine lists these prestigious awards have been instrumental in significantly lifting the standard of Australia’s Wine Lists over the last two decades – to quote the Chairman of Judges for the first 10 years of the Awards – Huon Hooke, on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the launch of the Awards in 1994 that – “Standards have improved out of sight since the first Awards 20 years ago”, and each year the bar keeps rising.
In addition, these awards have also been influential in raising the public’s interest in fine wine generally, and have improved their appreciation of the participating establishments
The awards:
- Give recognition for the resources, skill and investment that goes into creating and maintaining quality lists for Australia’s on-premise venues
- Promote the growth of premium beverage representation and consumption
- Inspire service professionals to improve their standards and knowledge
- Raise the bar on the level of service and knowledge that Australian sommeliers provide, creating a greater food and wine experience for the consumer
- Have been influential in raising the public’s interest in fine wine generally, and improved their appreciation of participating establishments
