Hall of Fame 2018

• Cuisine: Modern Australian with Italian influences
• Sommelier: Niels Sluiman
• Number of Wines: 1680
• Wines by the Glass: 85
• Wine Price: $$$

The drive for excellence continues! If we thought that Jonah's didn't have anything more to prove, no one told them. It's hard to believe yet the judges consider that the list may have improved since last year's win. Awards for Best Listing of Australian Wines and NSW Wines are not easily won. Extraordinary by the glass, even better with Coravin. No matter what your tastes are, you'll be delighted by Jonah's.

• Cuisine: Modern Asian
• Sommelier: Grant Dickson, Geoffrey Hunt
• Number of Wines: 1254
• Wines by the Glass: 18
• Wine Price: $$$

Ferment Asian certainly has an irreverent, quirky way when it comes to a wine list. The long version, all 1254 wines, deserves a read for the whimsy and vinous joy that co-owner, Grant Dickson, brings to his wine selection and his tasting notes. Or there is always the shorter wine list. The list is madly parochial in part, a love letter to the wines of the Barossa Valley and greater South Australia, but Dickson's interests take flight once he leaves these shores, heading all points of the compass from the Canary Islands to the greatest wine houses of Europe. Aged wines are especially celebrated.

• Cuisine: Contemporary
• Sommelier: Nick Hildebrandt, Ben Gardiner
• Number of Wines: 1200
• Wines by the Glass: 50
• Wine Price: $$$

Bentley's pitch-perfect selection highlights the classics, the classy, the renegades and more. There's no question the list featuring 1000-plus bottles will send shivers down your spine because what's on offer is first and foremost, delicious drinking. The spotlight is on Australia and France but there's so much in-between Spanish garnacha, Italian pecorino or wild ferment assyrtiko from Greece for example. Discover more than vin jaune with fine choices of chardonnay, savagnin, pinot noir, poulsard and trousseau from the Jura. There's a wicked collection of spirits, an inspiring by the glass selection including gems featured under Fine & Rare and mini-verticals throughout from Selosse, Keller to Mount Mary.

• Cuisine: Contemporary Australian
• Sommelier: Robin Wilson
• Number of Wines: 1213
• Wines by the Glass: 22
• Wine Price: $$$

A legendary list. Thoroughly comprehensive, but if there are regions/styles that shine are Burgundy and Champagne. Indeed, the list of champagnes would be proudly flaunted by most top restaurants from that region. An excellent focus on local wines as well. It does not get much better.

• Cuisine: Steakhouse
• Sommelier: Matthew Bell, Andrew Symes
• Number of Wines: 2440
• Wines by the Glass: 38
• Wine Price: $$$

A world class list. This is a who's who and what's what of great wines from around the world. So many highlights. A brilliant collection of champagnes - both growers and classics. What really excites is the wonderful array of Navazos sherries and spirits. Worth the trip just for them.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Matthew Lance/Peter Dillon
• Number of Wines: 1250
• Wines by the Glass: 40
• Wine Price: $$$

If one had to take just a single wine list to a desert island for the rest of your life, this would be it. Every base covered, every box ticked. Brilliant by the glass from classics to curiosities and mature gems. toss in amazing verticals and collections from stars as diverse as JJ Prum, Clos des Goisses and Denis Mortet. What a list!

• Cuisine: Sardinian
• Sommelier: Wainer Pordeti
• Number of Wines: 380
• Wines by the Glass: 30
• Wine Price: $$$

Former winner admirably maintaining its standard with the focus clearly on celebrating Italian wines - with its cameo of Sardinia the chef's birthplace. There is a good Australian collection to complement the amazing range of varietals from Italy. The wine list continues to contribute to making this a great place to dine.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Ash Boburka / Sebastian Crowther MS
• Number of Wines: 1200
• Wines by the Glass: 40
• Wine Price: $$$

A list where one could play, spot the region or top producer not represented, though I'm not sure you'll find any. An amazingly comprehensive list of superb wine and quality producers, while offering emerging stars and numerous mature wines from excellent vintages. The highlight must be Burgundy, both red and white.

• Cuisine: Steak House
• Sommelier: Yuki Hirose
• Number of Wines: 3240
• Wines by the Glass: 56
• Wine Price: $$$

Rockpool's tome features close to 3300 bottles and starts with a dazzling array of wines by the glass hovering around 60. Thanks to Coravin, gems appear perhaps something from Didier Dagueneau or Domaine Tempier and not just current renditions either but older vintages, a 1995 Peter Lehmann Stonewell for example. On the whole, France rules with a focus on many wines from single producers, big hitting names, too, the likes of Dom Perignon, Domaine Leflaive, E. Guigal although the vertical theme continues throughout the list into Australia, Germany, Italy and beyond. Mind-boggling what's on offer.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Alex Kirkwood
• Number of Wines: 1450
• Wines by the Glass: 67
• Wine Price: $$$

Already a benchmark, Aria's list always impresses thank to its depth, attention to detail and sheer drinking pleasure on offer. Its extensive by the glass offering is something else boosted by a stunning compilation of iconic Australian and international wines. Start with youthful English fizz, J.J. Prum riesling or Gravner Anfora or something with age perhaps a 1996 Best's Bin O or 2001 Cos d'Estournel. The entire list follows the same stylish local and international theme. Wow. Just wow.

Franck Moreau MS is Australia’s first Master Sommelier. Growing up in Beaujolais, in Southern France, Franck was surrounded by vineyards and winemakers, which began his life-long love affair with wine. Rising through the ranks, Franck has worked at a number of Michelin-star restaurants around the world, from La Rotonde in Paris, to Gordon Ramsay’s The Savoy Grill and Claridge’s in London. He is currently the Head Sommelier for The Merivale Group in Sydney. Franck is also the President of Sommeliers Australia and is extraordinarily passionate about the hospitality and wine industry in Australia and abroad.

Much-admired Melbourne sommelier David Lawler, who created the 2010 Best Wine List of the Year at Rockpool, Melbourne and recently retired as President of Sommeliers Australia was awarded the rarely-given Individual Award with entry into the Hall of Fame for his passionate commitment to the hospitality industry – supporting the education, training and service skills of sommeliers.