Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards which set the benchmark for wine lists nationally seeks top lists from restaurants, international hotels, brasseries, wine bars, clubs and gastro pubs. Each year winning lists are selected for each category with successful entrants awarded one, two and three glass ratings. Results are published in Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine, a major partner in these leading industry accolades with distributor Fine Wine Partners. This guide is eagerly anticipated by wine lovers who are interested to try out glass rated lists.
According to sommeliers Franck Moreau, Merivale Group and Tom Hogan, Lake House at Daylesford the awards attract those who are interested in the wine side of the dining experience. 'Countless guests have introduced themselves by noting ‘we read about your award and were keen to see your wine list – always a nice way to begin guest relations,' says Tom Hogan.
Over 350 venues from around Australia entered their lists in 2010 and this year Fine Wine Partners and Gourmet Traveller WINE would like to see more entries from new wine bars and gastro pubs in addition to restaurants, brassieres, clubs and international hotels.
These venues all have the opportunity to take out a category award, including Best Café/Brasserie, Best Pub Restaurant, Best Club Restaurant, Best Country Restaurant, and Best International Hotel Restaurant. There are also four new categories this year; Best Wine-bythe-Glass list, Best Aperitif List; Best Digestif list and Best Beer List.
'We have seen enormous growth in style and sophistication in the hospitality industry over the past couple of decades. Our ambition with the Awards over 16 years remains constant – to reward the work, time and skill invested in creating great lists which complement the style of the venue, large or small,' says Rob Hirst, Fine Wine Partner’s Chairman and President of Wine Communicators of Australia.
'By continuing to raise consumer awareness of restaurants that are offering terrific wine lists, Fine Wine Partners is endeavouring to support both the sommelier’s efforts and the business as a whole.'
2010 winner of Australia’s Wine List of the Year, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne will be entered into the 2011 Hall of Fame, which means they can enter, but can’t compete for the top gong again, leaving the field wide open for other candidates.
Results will be published in the Aug/Sept 2011 issue of Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine.
AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2011 – DATES
Entries Open Mon 14 February ×€ Entries Close Friday 25 March | Awards Monday 1 August
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.winelistoftheyear.com.au or email winelistoftheyear@finewinepartners.com.au
MEDIA INFORMATION: Fiona MacDonald, Fine Wine Partners, 02 8335 8016 fiona.macdonald@finewinepartners.com.au