The top wine lists in each State / Territory are Bennelong (NSW), Circl (VIC), Fico (TAS), Capitol Bar & Grill (ACT), The Salopian Inn (SA), Gibney (WA) and Agnes (QLD).
Sommelier: Ram Agrawal, Stephen Hollow, Grace Washer
Number of Wines: 281
Wines by the Glass: 39
Wine Price by the Glass: $$$
While a few more current releases would flesh out this otherwise good list, there’s no question diners do drink well whether at the bar or enjoying something off the grill. A solid offering of cocktails and spirits plus by the glass options feature. The diversity of the Canberra region is proudly on show from icons, think Clonakilla to more recent and exciting producers such as MADA.
It's no surprise that highly awarded Bennelong delivers an exceptional list, but it does come with a few unexpected touches. These include the handful of cocktails created to reflect the team’s heritage (complete with a graph to relay their flavour profiles), and six special wines on pour, each handpicked by the former head somms to mark the venue's 10th birthday. Loaded with highlights for all comers, this list delivers true Australian benchmarks that sit comfortably alongside the international greats. And that's not to mention a host of smaller, more emerging producers that hold their own, adding plenty of interest.
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point Sydney NSW 2000
Sommelier: Richard Buck, Seamus Brandt, Luke Willis
Number of Wines: 600
Wines by the Glass: 40
Wine Price by the Glass: $$$
A former two time Best Wine List Queensland ('23, '24) delivers yet another eye-watering, tastebud-popping, tantalising selection of wines from Australia and Europe. Where to start on a list that gets it right whether it's a creative house cocktail or Italian vermouth to start, a wine by the glass listing hard to stray past, a selection of wines that Burgundy and Barolo lovers will die for and an encyclopaedic gathering of spirits/digestifs? Highlights have to include the discovery aspect to the list with names new to many such as Wolfe At The Door, Mada, Yugen, Stardust and more new Aussies mixing it with the likes of established stars such as Mount Mary, Grosset, Bindi, Bellbonne. Then there are multiple entries, including aged lovelies, from premium European names such as Ely-Ouriet, Dauvissat, Dujac, Sandrone and more. Low intervention, organic, biodynamic and the odd chilled red (perfect for Brisbane weather) can also be found. A special night out wine list if ever there was one with prices to match.
This is one of the finest lists in South Australia, carefully crafted by Alex Marchetti. The cellar is still down the stairs for you to browse through and, perhaps, fondly handle the wine you've chosen to try. The McLaren Vale, and more broadly, South Australia, is at the heart of this comprehensive list - as it should be. And the experience is always memorable. The Coravin listing almost defies belief and lures…
Fico is equal parts European and Tasmanian dining, with the former contributing the influences and the latter the seasonal inspiration and produce. The nine course degustation menu is served with conviviality, as is the excellent by the glass list (also available by the half-bottle). The wine list is predominantly European, showcasing an exciting array of alternative varieties and styles, with a solid showing of Tasmanian wines in each category. Turn to the back for an impressive cellar list, including some of the rockstars of Burgundy and Piemonte.
So often, the great wines of the world seem almost mythical. They're things that drinkers dream about, but so rarely get to experience. Yet the astonishing list from Circl Wine House resets what is accessible. Led by a truly sublime offering of wines by the glass, which is gleefully heavy with famous 'unicorns', there is eye-watering depth throughout this list. You can start with the wonderfully well contextualised Champagne offering, take a flight of rare rosé and end up with a dive into magnificent rare old Australian Shiraz. What a journey!
Sommelier: Nina Throsby, Aaron Commins , Alex King
Number of Wines: 745
Wines by the Glass: 40
Wine Price by the Glass: $$
Gibney's wine list reads like a catalogue woven with narrative, inviting guests to either learn something new, or deepen an existing knowledge of the heritage and nuance of each selection. Thoughtfully detailed notes throughout aim to foster a deeper connection between diner and bottle. The list is a celebration of Western Australia, and respectfully honours local icons, as well as championing innovative expressions from a new generation of makers, with the inclusion of carefully chosen international touchstones.
The Hall of Fame is a prestigious list of establishments who have achieved leading status either by winning the Main Award or the same State/Territory or Category award three times. Each year, new successful establishments are added to Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards Hall of Fame. To maintain a current listing however, they must enter and maintain their glass rating each year, which is no easy feat!
Glass Ratings 2025
The key objective of the awards is to recognise and reward exceptional sommeliers, their wine lists an the owners who have invested in them. Each entering venue is awarded 3, 2, or 1 glasses based on their wine list submission. Judges submit their scores based on the guiding principles of appraisal. AWLOTYA allocates glasses with the utmost integrity, albeit in acknowledgement that all reviews are subjective.
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A well-curated wine list is exciting to explore and guaranteed to enhance your dining experience. Discover Australia's best wine lists developed by talented sommeliers from restaurants, wine bars, cafes, brasseries, pubs, clubs and hotels by suburb or postcode.
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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.
