The NSW Wine Industry Association has been proudly showcasing the very best ‘NSW Wine Stars’ at its NSW Sommelier’s Wine List Awards since 2019.
The awards program recognises sommeliers, beverage managers and venue owners who offer their customers wine experiences that shine a light on the diversity, complexity and quality of wines produced in NSW.
Year on year the standard is raised, with more restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs and hotels submitting wine lists anchored by local wines.
This year, a high number of venues submitted their wine lists from across the state. From intimate neighbourhood restaurants to hatted fine-dining establishments and event spaces, the breadth of venues was impressive.
After consideration by the judges and past award winners—Dane Richards, Editor News for the Food Lover and President of Sydney Bailliage of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs; Andrés Aragón MS, National On-Premise & Education Manager at Saint Wine; William Wilson, Senior Manager, Retail and Beverage Services at ICC Sydney—NSW Wine has announced 44 finalists in the 2026 NSW Sommelier's Wine List Awards.
The finalists are:
- Altitude Restaurant
- Annata
- Atelier by Sofitel
- Australian War Memorial
- Bangalay Dining
- Bar NSW at the Lookout
- Bat & Ball Hotel
- Bells Boutique Hotel & Spa
- Bennelong Restaurant
- Bibo Wine Bar
- BTWN at W Sydney
- Dionysia Wine House & Restaurant
- Flight Path Wine Bar
- Highroad
- Infinity by Mark Best
- Lana
- Little Betty’s
- Margaret
- Me-Gal at Taronga Zoo
- Melange Bilpin
- Otto Ristorante Sydney
- Pinocchios Wine & Pizza Bar
- Poetica
- Restaurant 2317
- Shell House Dining Room & Terrace
- Song Kitchen
- SOUTH on Albany Restaurant
- Glass Brasserie
- The Wine Bar at The International
- Strangers Restaurant NSW Parliament
- Summer St Wine Room
- Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Seafood School at the Sydney Fish Market
- The Art Syndicate
- The Dry Dock Public House and Dining Room
- The Grand Hotel Newcastle
- The Library Bar
- The Newcastle Club
- The Restaurant Pendolino
- Three Blue Ducks Nimbo
- Three Blue Ducks Rosebery
- Viand
- Whitney’s Restaurant & Bar
- Woodcut
All finalists are now in the running for category trophies and the chance to walk away with the coveted NSW Sommelier Wine List of the Year Award. They will also be included in November’s NSW Wine Month program.
The winners in each category, along with 2026 NSW Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year, will be announced at NSW Parliament House on 2 June 2026.
The 2026 NSW Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year is proudly supported by Destination NSW.
Pictured main: 2025 NSW Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year judge Dom Sweeney, BTWN at W Sydney's Daniele Campo and Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper.
