Hall of Fame 2019

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Alex Kirkwood
• Number of Wines: 880
• Wines by the Glass: 38
• Wine Price: $$$

This illustrious Australian wine list continues to impress with the length and breadth of a former Judy Hirst winner. A glorious collection of local spotlights, iconic reds and a wealth of Arbois see this list confidently straddle the bridge between establishment and the avant-garde.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian with Italian influences
• Sommelier: Niels Sluiman
• Number of Wines: 1680
• Wines by the Glass: 80
• Wine Price: $$$

Jonah’s extensive list is one of the best and deserves its recognised status but it doesn’t rest on its laurels - head sommelier Niels Sluiman works hard to ensure there’s delight and temptation on every page. Of course the great and rare are dotted through but every option is based on excellence at whatever price point. The wine flights are always of note and its by the glass selection outstanding.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Nick Hildebrandt & Ben Gardiner
• Number of Wines: 1400
• Wines by the Glass: 50
• Wine Price: $$$

Bentley maintains the position at, or close to, the summit of Sydney dining that it has occupied for more than a decade. Its list has maintained the quality it needed to win the 2015 Australia's Wine List of the Year. Now Nick Hilderbrandt and Brent Savage have four 3 glass restaurants in Sydney's CBD. While Bentley's focus is on sustainability and new producers, the great traditional winemakers, too, are given their due. Every base is covered with occasional features throwing the spotlight on neglected areas (marc, Chartreuse) or those which are well nigh impossible to source (Jacques Selosse). Exemplary.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Robin Wilson
• Number of Wines: 1184
• Wines by the Glass: 25
• Wine Price: $$$

An outstanding, comprehensive selection of wines with a compelling number of cellared wines. The classics are well represented, though there is a good number of contemporary listings too, as well as avant-garde wines for 'Wine Explorers'. The Champagne collection superb, riesling is a highlight, and there is also a good number of chenins and from the Loire, and Rhone whites, which you don't always see on Australian wine lists. Australian chardonnay, pinot and shiraz are well represented, and the Burgundy collection is mind-blowing. Barolo lovers are well-catered for too. There are too many highlights to mention and wine lovers will undeniably be in seventh heaven.

• Cuisine: Contemporary Steakhouse
• Sommelier: Andrew Symes
• Number of Wines: 2785
• Wines by the Glass: 71
• Wine Price: $$$

With around 2785 wines to choose from this is one serious-looking wine list. All Rockpool Bar & Grill restaurants excel in the wine department, but Perth distinguishes itself with West Australia entries and some personal touches. Therefore, the current list has a dedicated 'sommelier select' selection of landmark sherry producer and wunderkind Equipo Navazos, epic in its scope and scale. Half bottles run surprisingly deep, and, of course, Champagne is a landmark feature in this list with a wealth of grower producers matched by a collection of grand marques and big name favourites. For those embarking on serious proteins from the grill, there's superb Burgundy and Rhone reds, with Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello compelling amongst the rich offering in this list. Around 70 wines by the glass allows guests to explore more, and to keenly match wine to dishes, something this skilled sommelier team will do with aplomb and the armoury of this outstanding, incredible wine list.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Peter Dillon and Matthew Lance
• Number of Wines: 1250
• Wines by the Glass: 105
• Wine Price: $$-$$$

This is a big list literally and figuratively-speaking with 1250 of the world's greatest wines based on the wine collection of owner, Allan Myers. It takes five pages just to view the selection of half bottles and larger format wines! Be prepared to be amazed from the largest collection of Burgundy and Bordeaux in the Southern Hemisphere, to a comprehensive look at the wines of Victoria, especially the western half, and then multiple vintages from fabulous winemakers all over the globe. With 10 sub-categories for red wine alone it could be a long night, or you could find solace in working your way through some fine tastes - including grape rarieties like schonburger and assyritiko - by the glass.

• Cuisine: Sardinian
• Sommelier: Wainer Pordeti
• Number of Wines: 380
• Wines by the Glass: 35
• Wine Price: $$$

This highly regarded and much awarded list has lost none of its thrill and if Giovanni’s cooking isn’t enough to get you there, these wines surely must. The Italian force is strong but there is much more. Think about dipping into the vertical of Sardinia’s own Turriga for a real treat.

• Cuisine: Australian Grill
• Sommelier: Jonathan Ross, Ashley Boburka, Amy Oliver, Tim Saklin, Manuele Pignotti, Pierre-Marie Caillaud, Michael Hegerty
• Number of Wines: 1800+
• Wines by the Glass: 26
• Wine Price: $$$

Rockpool Bar & Grill offers quality all the way, although admittedly at a price, with one of the great Australian and French wine listings in Melbourne. The Burgundy and Bordeaux selections - so in tune with the wood-fired grill menu - is drool-worthy. Thanks to Coravin, wines by the glass can now include some superlative offerings such as aged Barolo or the $380 Torbreck The Laird. Multiple vintages of top producers is the kind of one per centers we have come to expect from the Rockpool group, together with an extensive half bottle and magnum collection (depending on your mood). A complete all-rounder, the list finishes with a comprehensive digestif listing, if you can get that far.

• Cuisine: Steak House
• Sommelier: Yuki Hirose
• Number of Wines: 3720
• Wines by the Glass: 30
• Wine Price: $$$

More an extraordinary collection of the great wines from all corners of the world than a standard wine list, it is world class. A string of amazing verticals are a highlight. One could stop with Champagne. Or sherry or vintage ports. Great names like DRC, Soldera, Coche-Dury, Ponsot, Donnhoff. Spirits also exceptional. a 23-Year-Old Pappy van Winkle? Wow!

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Sommelier: Alex Kirkwood
• Number of Wines: 1600
• Wines by the Glass: 106
• Wine Price: $$$

Remarkably, more than 15 years after it won Australia's Wine List of the Year in 2003, Aria remains one of the finest lists in the country. In touch with the latest trends and emerging superstars while displaying the country's finest at their best, Aria has bubbly to satisfy the fussiest, multiple vintages of some of the world's finest, and plenty to surprise and delight.

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.