NSW Wine was joined at NSW Parliament House tonight by restaurants, bars, clubs and other hospitality venues from across the state to see who would take home top honours at this years NSW Sommelier’s Wine List Awards.
Hosted in partnership with Destination NSW, and with the support of regional wine associations, each year the awards shine a light on the sommeliers and businesses best showcasing local wines and producers.
The awards complement NSW Wine’s annual program of trade and marketing events and we have the pleasure of assessing wine lists that get stronger and stronger each year.
This year the judges noted that submissions consistently explored the diversity of region, style and producers and that local NSW wines thoughtfully complemented cuisine.
In such a competitive field it took something special to rise to top, with Shun Eto from Altitude Restaurant at Shangri-La Sydney winning the top award for 2026.
NSW President Mark Bourne said: “For the second year in a row the NSW Sommelier Wine List of the Year Award is going home with a large Sydney restaurant.
“A category that has traditionally struggled to find its feet at these awards, today it is the most competitive.
“With larger venues often having scope to design wine lists with more depth and breadth we are now seeing outstanding lists from this category year-on-year.
“And for 2026 Shun Eto at Altitude Restaurant has delivered a list that is educational, interesting and a wonderful snapshot of what NSW does best. It recognises and promotes great wines from NSW, the first state of wine, and from producers large, small, unknown to the highly regarded. Congratulations Shun and Altitude Restaurant.”
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: "NSW's wine industry is a powerhouse for our state, and events like the NSW Sommelier's Wine List Awards are a wonderful reminder of the extraordinary talent and passion that drives it.
“NSW is home to some of the most exciting wine regions in the country and NSW Wine Month in November is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to discover what makes the NSW wine regions so special.”
All 44 finalists will now be featured as NSW Wine’s hero venues this November for the third NSW Wine Month, a curated program of events, festivals, masterclasses and other activities for wine lovers across the state.
Thank you to our 2026 awards partner Destination NSW and our prize partners Riedel, Australia’s Wine List of the Year, Chaine Des Rotisseurs Young Sommeliers Competition, Sommelier’s Australia, News For The Food Lover, Mudgee Wine Association, Shoalhaven Coast Wine, Hilltops Wine, Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism, Upper Hunter Region, Orange Region Vignerons Association and the Canberra Wine District.
Winners for 2026
2026 Best NSW Wine List in a Regional NSW Venue (<60 seats): Elizabeth Wittig, Summer St Wine Room
2026 Best NSW Wine List in a Regional NSW Venue (>60 seats): Louella Mathews, Bar NSW at The Lookout
2026 Best NSW Wine List in a Sydney Venue (<60 seats): Lisa Guenther-Strauss, The Art Syndicate, Surry Hills
2026 Best NSW Wine List in a Sydney Venue (>60 seats): Shun Eto, Altitude Restaurant
2026 Best NSW Wine List in a Pub or Club: Lukas Thodas, The Grand Hotel Newcastle
2026 Best NSW Wine List by a Function and Event Venue: Melissa Moore, Sydney Seafood School
2026 NSW Wine President’s Award for Outstanding Support of the NSW Wine Industry: Lola Lucassen, The Library Bar
2026 NSW Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year: Shun Eto, Altitude 2026 Restaurant
NSW wine stars
Altitude Restaurant
Annata Atelier by Sofitel
Australian War Memorial
Bangalay Dining Bar NSW at the Lookout
Bat & Ball Hotel
Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel & Spa
Bennelong Restaurant
Bibo Wine Bar
BTWN at W Sydney
Dionysia Wine House & Restaurant
Flight Path Wine Bar
Glass Brasserie
Highroad
Infinity by Mark Best
Lana
The Dry Dock Public House and Dining Room
The Grand Hotel Newcastle
The Wine Bar at The International
The Library Bar
The Newcastle Club
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
Strangers Restaurant NSW Parliament
Summer St Wine Room
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Seafood School at the Sydney Fish Market
The Art Syndicate
The Restaurant Pendolino
Three Blue Ducks Nimbo
Three Blue Ducks Rosebery
Viand
Whitney’s Restaurant & Bar
Woodcut
