The top 50 venues from the 2019 Wineslinger awards have been revealed by Young Gun of Wine.
The awards are an annual celebration of venues who hero wine, as decided and voted on by a panel of 100 wine and hospitality experts including winemakers, sommeliers and journalists.
Young Gun of Wine founder Rory Kent said venues on the list have done exceptionally well to be recognised by some of the toughest critics around.
“These are places defined by fun, not formality. The size of your wine list isn’t what gets you onto the Top 50. It’s the sum of the parts. It’s the wine concept, the food, the staff, the setting, and that special something,” Kent said.
“The best part of wine is the thrill of discovery. The venues in the Top 50 all have a commitment to wine that makes them the go-to destinations of the wine experts looking to find something new.”
The Wineslinger awards have this year welcomed two new trophy additions with the ‘Best New Act’, the ‘Maverick’ (going to the venue that is “pushing the boundaries of possibility”). As always, the public votes for their favourite to win the People’s Choice award.
Voting is open for this People’s Choice Award at younggunofwine.com/wineslinger and will close at midday on 28 October.
All voters go into the draw to win exclusive prizes, including tours, tastings and winemaking experiences. There’s even the opportunity to determine the final blend of the 2019 Ocean Eight Pinot Noir with winemaker Mike Aylward.
The 2019 winners will be announced at the Wineslinger Awards ceremony on 28 October. Until then, there’s plenty of time to explore the top 50 list.
As Kent said: “This is the ultimate guide to the pieces of wine paradise around Australia. Whether in your own town or in another corner of the country, there’s without doubt a number of places you haven’t heard of. For a good time, guaranteed, put them at the top of your to do list.”
The Wineslinger Top 50 list by state is below.
New South Wales
- 10 William St, Paddington
- Bibo, Double Bay
- Dear Sainte Éloise, Potts Point
- Ester, Chippendale
- Fix Wine, Sydney CBD
- Love, Tilly Devine, Darlinghurst
- Mary’s Underground, Circular Quay
- Monopole, Potts Point
- Poly, Surry Hills
- Supernatural Cellars, Byron Bay
- The Dolphin Hotel, Surry Hills
Victoria
- Arlechin, Melbourne
- Bar Liberty, Fitzroy
- Bellota Wine Bar, South Melbourne
- Carlton Wine Room, Carlton
- City Wine Shop, Melbourne
- Embla, Melbourne
- France-Soir, South Yarra
- Kirk’s Wine Bar, Melbourne
- Marion, Fitzroy
- Napier Quarter, Fitzroy
- Neighbourhood Wine, Fitzroy North
Queensland
- 1889 Enoteca, Woolloongabba
- Arc Dining, Brisbane City
- Cru Bar & Cellar, Fortitude Valley
- La Lune Wine Co, South Brisbane
- La Lupa, West End
- Maeve Wine Bar, South Brisbane
- The Valley Wine Bar, Fortitude Valley
South Australia
- Africola, Adelaide
- East End Cellars, Adelaide
- The Exeter, Adelaide
- Hellbound, Adelaide
- Mother Vine, Adelaide
- The Summertown Aristologist, Summertown
Australian Capital Territory
- Bar Rochford, Canberra City
- eightysix, Braddon
- Italian & Sons, Braddon
Western Australia
- Lalla Rookh, Perth
- Los Bravos, Northbridge
- Petition, Perth (pictured at top of article)
- Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
- Strange Company, Fremantle
- Wines of While, Perth
Tasmania
- Ettie’s, Hobart
- Franklin, Hobart
- Lucinda, Hobart
- Tom McHugo’s Hobart Hotel, Hobart
- Willing Bros. Wine Merchants, North Hobart
Northern Territory
- Stone House, Darwin