The NSW Sommelier’s Wine List Awards, a free-to-enter competition which celebrates wine lists in NSW that include local wine, with entries closing this week.
The awards are open to any sommelier, bar manager or beverage manager from a venue in Sydney or regional NSW – with restaurants, wine bars, pubs, hotels and clubs all welcome to participate.
Mark Bourne, President of organising body NSW Wine Industry, contextualised the awards within the state’s long history of wine-making (last year’s awards celebrated NSW as ‘the first state of wine‘).
“NSW is the birthplace of the Australian wine industry with a rich history of iconic wines created by passionate and committed grapegrowers and winemakers,” Bourne said.
“The NSW Sommelier’s Wine List Awards celebrates and rewards those sommeliers and venues that share this passion to create memorable NSW dine and wine experiences.”
Entrants will contest the flagship gong of NSW Sommelier’s Wine List of the Year in seven different categories this year. Prizes for victorious venues and hospitality professionals include: food and wine trips to esteemed wine regions in the state, Coravin wine preservation systems, and a $2000 glass fit out from Riedel.
Additional rewards are free entry into the national Wine List of the Year Awards, and entrance into the Chaine Des Rotisseurs Young Sommeliers Competition, representing Australia on the global stage.
“These Awards are part of the partnership between the NSW wine industry and NSW government, created to grow demand for local wines. A partnership that has seen an unprecedented level of support provided to NSW sommeliers and restaurants over the last two years,” Bourne continued.
“Scholarships to educate and train the sommeliers of tomorrow, masterclasses, trade tastings and regional events, have not only raised the bar for the wine industry but also our partners and ambassadors in restaurants.”
The window for entries closes on 20 April, with the awards ceremony due to be held at NSW Parliament House, Sydney, in June. Click here to enter.