The winners of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2025 have been announced, with Bennelong taking out Best Wine List NSW.
Sommeliers, venue owners and winemakers gathered at NSW Parliament House for the awards ceremony on 29 September.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards was established in 1993 by Rob Hirst OAM and his late wife, Judy, together with Tucker Seabrook.
The awards honour the time, skill, and resources that go into developing the highest-quality wine lists and pay tribute to the sommeliers, owners, their teams and the cellars behind them.
In addition to winning Best Wine List NSW, Bennelong was named as a finalist for both the Australia’s Wine List of the Year and Australia’s Best Restaurant Wine List - City titles.
Among other NSW winning venues were Where’s Nick in Sydney’s Inner West, which was acknowledged with The Fiona McDonald Award for Best Wine Bar List as well as Australia’s Best Aperitif List.
Barangaroo's Woodcut celebrated two wins for Australia’s Best Hotel Restaurant Wine List (for the third-year running) and Australia’s Best Listing of New Zealand Wines.
The Blue Door in Surry Hills was celebrated for the Australia’s Best Listing of NSW Wines while Apéritif & Co. secured Australia’s Best Wine List (Max. 50 Wines).
For the second-year running, The Dry Dock was named as Australia’s Choice (Consumer), which is voted upon by the general public.
The back-to-back winners didn’t stop there, with Jonah’s (Australia’s Best Listing of Australian Wines); Junction Moama (Australia’s Best Club Restaurant List); and O Bar and Dining (Australia’s Best Listing of Organic & Biodynamic Australian Wines) all taking out their awards for the second year in a row.
Other highlights for NSW included newcomer Olympus winning Australia’s Best Listing of Greek Wines; Sake at The Rocks taking out Australia’s Best Japanese Sake List; and Paper Daisy at Halcyon House scooping up Australia’s Best Cocktail List.
The judging panel, led by Chair of Judges Peter Forrestal and Deputy Chairs Toni Paterson MW and Jeni Port, is made up of over 35 esteemed industry professionals from Australia and around the world. These professionals include Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine and other respected industry experts spanning wine writers and commentators, wine show judges and past winners.
Each list is judged by a pair of judges who assess it independently and confidentially. The lists are evaluated based on content, balance, suitability to the venue, presentation and pricing.
Chairman of Judges Peter Forrestal said: “The enthusiasm with which those involved in restaurants and, more generally, in serving the public is infectious.
"The imaginative quality of the food being brought to Australian restaurant tables and the wines that sommeliers have to offer their customers has never been more satisfying or stimulating. The education of sommeliers is at an all-time high.
"Documenting all this since 1994 is Australia's Wine List of the Year with another record number of entries to affirm the quality of individual restaurants and to record excellence at the table.”
Hirst said: “We’re grateful to receive such significant support from the industry and our Award partners for yet another year of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and the quality of wine lists across the country has never been better.
"There is a clear interest and intent by sommeliers, venue owners and beverage managers and directors to build harmony and synergy between the menu and drinks list, and this year’s results are proof that the skill and dedication to this task is stronger than ever.
“Tonight’s awards is not only a celebration but a recognition of the outstanding work of the sommeliers, owners, beverage directors, venue managers and entrepreneurs who make Australia’s hospitality industry one of the best in the world."
View the full list of winners here.
