Best Wine Lists Venue Type 2026

• Cuisine: Australian
• Sommelier: Loïc Avril, Yuki Hirose MS, Lee Sangyeop
• Number of Wines: 1650
• Wines by the Glass: 88
• Wine Price by the Glass: $$$

This ranks among Australia’s and the world’s great wine lists, exceptional in its vintage depth and curation and broad in both local and international scope. At heart, it’s a celebration of quality in all its forms. There are close to 90 wines by the glass, ranging from well-priced Australian favourites like MMAD Vineyard chenin through premium local chardonnay from By Farr and Tolpuddle to icon reds including Mount Mary pinot, The Armagh and Grange poured from magnums. Rarities from further afield, including the likes of Benjamin Leroux 1er Cru Meursault or Domaine de la Pousse d’Or Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses, are available as a taste, half-pour or glass. For those wanting a quick start, The Shortlist offers a hand-picked selection of well-priced small players plus recognisable labels which punch well above their weight. Beyond, in the main list, is a formidable collection of Dom Pérignon, grower Champagne and top Australian chardonnay, with due focus on the wines of Victoria, followed by the dazzling white Burgundy pages. From there, the list sails through impressive local pinot noir, shiraz, cabernet and friends, plus a curated New Zealand set, before drifting into a vinous fantasy land, including legendary holdings of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leroy, followed by Left- and Right-Bank Bordeaux and a crescendo of Château d’Yquem stretching back to 1914. Oh, one can dream. Then it is back to reality, though only just, with quality Beaujolais, Rhône, Loire and beyond, and worthy detours through Italy and Spain and an unusually deep selection from the USA. A fabulous spirits collection, including an extensive range of single malts, ensures the evening can close in suitable style.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Amy Oliver
• Number of Wines: 687
• Wines by the Glass: 60
• Wine Price by the Glass: $$-$$$

Another brilliant iteration from Laura restaurant. This is a wine list that takes you on a journey to the fine wine regions of the world, with a consideration for emerging brands, collectables and curios. Riesling offerings showcase the breadth of styles from Ökonomierat Rebholz, Crawford River, Marcel Deiss, and the Jura and Rhône whites selection focuses on texture and shape, perfect for the layered and detailed chef creations. Affordable selections in chardonnay and pinot noir invite guests to explore, whilst the top-tier wines are all here for those special occasions. A treasure trove of wines sits confidently within the mid-tier of each page, making this a venue designed for settling in and getting comfortable. There is a wealth of options to ignite the palate and encourage unhurried exploration.

• Cuisine: French
• Sommelier: Jonathan Mallet, Esteban Beneba, Florian Ferroni
• Number of Wines: 633
• Wines by the Glass: 43
• Wine Price by the Glass: $-$$

An encyclopaedic list that roams expansively across styles, vintages and nations without baffling the reader. Importantly, prices reflect the quality of the wines without excessive margins. The by-the-glass selection is sophisticated, enhanced by carefully worded descriptors, with some fine aged examples. I love the "discover something different" subheading running through the collection, directing diners to lesser-known producers, varieties and styles. The list champions local wines (Go local!) while also featuring international benchmarks of the highest calibre. An informative, educational list that is both a thrill and a pleasure to read and choose from.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Shun Eto, Dominik Bentley, Freddie William Conington
• Number of Wines: 508
• Wines by the Glass: 57
• Wine Price by the Glass: $-$$

A comprehensive Australian-focused list that is not afraid to throw up the occasional left-field surprise for those who enjoy exploration and sometimes a little fun. No escaping the seriously impressive focus on wines from New South Wales. Equally pleasing is the attention paid to wines with considerable maturity coming from ideal vintages. Highlights include all the big-name local reds one could wish for, exclusively Australian table wines on pour, plus an impressive array of Champagne for celebratory moments. Numerous organic and biodynamic wines. It's a fabulous, well-researched and considered list, with pricing more than fair throughout.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Aleksei Surikov
• Number of Wines: 187
• Wines by the Glass: 25
• Wine Price by the Glass: $

The collection of spirits, cocktails, beers and aperitifs which provides the commencement to proceedings is the sort of quality opening partnership that the English would have dearly loved last Ashes series. By-the-glass includes selections from as far afield as Jura and Uruguay, as well as more traditional regions. Most options here are from quality producers, which will be known to most wine lovers, but there are plenty of emerging choices for the adventurous from South Africa, Armenia, Argentina, Hungary, and more. Most commendable, however, is the deliberate focus on the high-quality wines and beverages from neighbouring Victorian wine regions, including Heathcote, Bendigo, Macedon Ranges, Beechworth and Rutherglen. Also, it's always a joy to see a list conclude with a fine array of dessert wines.

• Cuisine: Australian
• Sommelier: Seth Piszczuk, Tony Venn
• Number of Wines: 1680
• Wines by the Glass: 45
• Wine Price by the Glass: $-$$

A formidable 1680 wines available. To stutter, 1680. This is one heck of a collection, and it runs from just-up-the-road Basket Range parish of Adelaide Hills natural wine icons through to cellared collections of Yarra Yering and then righteously jaw-dropping offerings from the who's who of prestigious Burgundy, a very serious selection of Bordeaux, Champagne galore and then a treatise to South Australian wine from the likes of Shaw + Smith, Ashton Hills and Yangarra, with a very good selection of German riesling on hand. It's a striking, deeply flavoured offering and one that should set hearts on fire of wine nerd and casual drinker alike. This is a huge experience writ large through the dedication of a very special cellar at a very lovely pub.