Yesterday, Gimlet at Cavendish House swept up at Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2024, taking out Best Wine List VIC, Australia's Best Restaurant Wine List - City, and Sommeliers' Choice Award alongside winning the top national prize. According to judge Andrew Graham, the Melbourne restaurant and bar was recognised for being “outstanding in its breadth, depth, balance and originality” and for having a “high appeal for all wine lovers."
“The Gimlet list artfully blends the great and the good with a dose of variety and complexity,” continued Graham.
“The selection by the glass here is exceptional, with a nice blend of essential drinks versus indulgences. Very clever! There's a subtle playfulness here, too - just like the 'neither red nor white wine' section, just to remind us that not everything has to be serious.”
Gimlet’s Anthony Pieri won the prestigious Judy Hirst Award, which is awarded to the sommelier responsible for curating the winning list.
Other front runners in the competition include Agnes Restaurant - which was named Best Wine List QLD with judges commending its diverse and enticing by-the-glass selections - and Best Wine List WA winner Gibney, which was recognised for its the serious Champagnes and international offerings that complement the local wines on its list.
Finalists Agnes (L) and Gibney (R)
In addition to Gimlet, Agnes, and Gibney, other state winners include Monopole, winner of Best Wine List NSW; The Salopian Inn, which won for SA; Molto Wine Bar and Cellars which won for Tasmania; and Capitol Bar & Grill, which won Best Wine List ACT.
“Never has the scene been more vibrant with a wide range of choices facing consumers; better-educated sommeliers and waiting staff, more thoughtfully curated lists, or more carefully assembled cellars,” said Peter Forrestal, Chairman of Judges.
“While last year’s results showed the power and class of the Sydney establishments, the first three places this year went to Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. These results come following voting by the entire Australian and international judging Panel - a formidable group and the results are generally close - as they were this year.”
Four new categories were added to Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2024, with Best Listing of Organic and Biodynamic Australian Wines being awarded to O Bar & Dining, Australia’s Best Listing of Greek Wines awarded to Hellenika at the Calile, Australia's Best Listing of Museum and Rare Wines taken home by Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel, and Australia’s Best Listing of New Zealand Wines being won by Quay.
This year’s competition marked another record for the Awards, with a 10% increase in the number of entries reflecting the ongoing relevance of the competition.
“It is wonderful to see that with this growth in entries, the industry continues to excel in compiling and presenting top-quality wine lists,” said Rob Hirst OAM, who founded Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards in 1993 with his late wife Judy Hirst in 1993.
“This year an outstanding 276 venues received a Three Glass ranking. This represents a 12% increase on last year, demonstrating that not only is the number of lists entered growing but the standard of these lists is growing at a faster rate.”
The 2024 judging panel - led by Chairman Peter Forrestal, International Chair Brian Julyan MS, and Deputy Chairs Toni Paterson MW and Jeni Port - was made up of more than 30 Australian and international wine industry professionals including Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine and other experts spanning wine writers and commentators, wine show judges, and previous Wine List of the Year winners.
“Since day one, we set the bar high for a wine list to achieve a Three Glass ranking, and such excellent progress only serves to further enhance Australia’s reputation as a world-class provider of exceptional wine and dining experiences,” said Hirst.
“Every Award and Glass winning venue should be very proud of all they have put into their lists, and we are very happy to bring the industry together to celebrate these outstanding venues and their talented sommeliers.”
AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2024
NATIONAL WINNER
- Australia’s Wine List of the Year: Gimlet at Cavendish House
- Judy Hirst Award: Anthony Pieri
STATE/TERRITORY WINNERS
- Best Wine List ACT Capitol Bar & Grill
- Best Wine List NSW: Monopole
- Best Wine List QLD: Agnes
- Best Wine List SA: The Salopian Inn
- Best Wine List TAS: Molto Wine Bar and Cellars Hobart
- Best Wine List VIC: Gimlet at Cavendish House
- Best Wine List WA: Gibney
TYPE OF TRADE AWARD WINNERS
- Australia’s Best Restaurant Wine List - City: Gimlet at Cavendish House
- Australia’s Best Restaurant Wine List - Country: The Salopian Inn
- Australia’s Best Club Restaurant Wine List: Junction Moama
- Australia’s Best Hotel Restaurant Wine List: Woodcut
- Australia’s Best Pub Restaurant Wine List: The Crafers Hotel
- Australia’s Best Wine Bar List - The Fiona MacDonald Award: Monopole
CATEGORY AWARD WINNERS
- Australia’s Best New Wine List – The Tony Hitchin Award: Gibney
- Australia’s Best Wine List (50 Wines): Bar Lucia
- Australia’s Best Wine List (100 Wines): Institut Polaire
- Australia’s Best Wine List (200 Wines): Poodle Bar & Bistro
- Australia’s Best List of Wines by the Glass: Jonah’s
- Australia’s Best Food & Wine Matching List: Restaurant Botanic
- Australia’s Best Champagne List: Circl Wine House
- Australia’s Best Sparkling Wine List: Quay
- Australia’s Best Non-Alcoholic List: Restaurant Botanic
- Australia’s Best Aperitif List: Bentley Restaurant & Bar
- Australia’s Best Digestif List: Restaurant Botanic
- Australia’s Best Listing of Japanese Sake: Leonie Upstairs
- Australia’s Best Beer List: Mojo's Kitchen, Bar & Bottleshop
- Australia’s Best Cocktail List: Noosa Waterfront
- Australia’s Best Listing of French Wines: Society
- Australia’s Best Listing of Organic & Biodynamic Australian Wines: O Bar & Dining
- Australia’s Best Listing of Museum & Rare Wines: Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel
- Australia’s Best Listing of Australian Wines: Berowra Waters Inn
- Australia’s Best Listing of ACT Wines: Capitol Bar & Grill
- Australia’s Best Listing of NSW Wines: The Newcastle Club
- Australia’s Best Listing of QLD Wines: SK Steak & Oyster
- Australia’s Best Listing of SA Wines: Uraidla Hotel
- Australia’s Best Listing of TAS Wines: Molto Wine Bar and Cellars Hobart
- Australia’s Best Listing of VIC Wines: Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel
- Australia’s Best Listing of WA Wines: The Shorehouse
- Australia’s Best Listing of Greek Wines: Hellenika
- Australia’s Best Listing of Italian Wines: Grossi Florentino
- Australia’s Best Listing of New Zealand Wines: Quay
- Australia’s Best Listing of USA Wines: Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney
- Australia’s Best Listing of a Region’s Wines: The Salopian Inn
- Best Wine List - Sommeliers’ Choice: Gimlet at Cavendish House
- Best Wine List - Australia’s Choice: The Dry Dock
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