L-R: Grant Dickson, Judy Sarris, Sandra Przibilla and Rob HirstfermentAsian is a modern Southeast Asian restaurant, run by former SA Chef of the Year, Tuoi Do, and her parents. The menu features traditional Vietnamese dishes in a nod to the family's heritage, as well as several dishes that have been inspired by their favourite Australian restaurants, serving Southeast Asian cuisine. fermentAsian has further developed an exciting cuisine-focussed wine program that ensures wine styles from across the world are carefully selected to match with the subtle food flavours created in the kitchen.
"fermentAsian's remarkable list has struck a chord with the judges (domestically and internationally), perhaps in much the same way that it has charmed those who have flocked to this restaurant in the small Barossa village of Tanunda over the past five years," Chairman of Judges, Peter Forrestal said, commenting on the award.
As sommelier of the award-winning list, Grant Dickson also received the Judy Hirst Award, presented in memory of the inspirational woman who helped establish the awards.
"Judy Hirst would have loved the unlikely scenario of a musician taking on the role of sommelier and restaurant manager and growing a list organically. Grant Dickson is a musician who combines an ear for poetry, a penchant for wine history and a delight in sourcing the obscure and improbable: and producing a commentary on the wines which breathes life into an extraordinary list," Peter Forrestal added.
The State/Territory winners this year were Rubicon (ACT) and fermentAsian (SA) for the third time; Jonah's (NSW) and Lalla Rookh Wine Store (WA) for the second time; and the Botanical (VIC), Stokehouse Q (QLD) and Stillwater (TAS) for the first time.
Established in 1994, the awards set out to acknowledge the skill, time, effort and money invested by restaurants, hotels, clubs, bars and cafés into producing and maintaining high quality wine lists.
Since then, the awards have been significant in raising the bar for wine lists nationwide, as well as highlighting the important role the wine list and the sommelier plays in the relationship between hospitality and consumers.
The awards are led by wine writer and commentator Peter Forrestal, who is joined by a long-term panel of over 30, which includes internationally respected Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine, such as Brian Julyan MS - founder of The Court of Master Sommeliers and CEO Europe; past World’s Best Sommelier - Gerard Basset OBE, MS, MW, MBA; Cameron Douglas MS; Toni Paterson MW; James Lawther MW; Andrew Caillard MW; plus leading wine writers and commentators Jeni Port, Mike Bennie, Huon Hooke, Peter Bourne, Sophie Otton and Louise Radman, to name only a few. The depth of local and industry knowledge is complemented by the inclusion of judges such as the President of Sommeliers Australia, represented this year by Mark Protheroe, and the previous year’s winner of the Judy Hirst Award, Nick Hildebrandt.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards founder Rob Hirst, Chairman of Fine Wine Partners, sincerely thanked Award Partners Gourmet Traveller WINE and the drinks association for their on-going support of the Awards and congratulated all entrants on the quality of this year’s lists.
“The most popular award category remains Best Wine By the Glass – the perfect vehicle for introducing premium wines to the consumer, followed by Best Matching of Food and Wine – reflecting the even closer liaison now occurring between sommeliers and chefs,” Mr. Hirst said.
Judy Sarris, Editor, Gourmet Traveller WINE added: “ Australian sommeliers continue to address the ever-evolving landscape of wine with talent and finesse. While organic, biodynamic and natural wines seem to have taken a stronger hold on lists than ever before, some of the most ferocious competition is to be found in the ever-expanding and improving by-the-glass lists, which can only be a bonus for the adventurous or the curious.”
Sandra Przibilla, CEO, the drinks association (Publisher of drinks bulletin) said: “Congratulations to the winners of the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards 2016. We are proud to be Trade Communications Partner for the awards and look forward to celebrating and promoting the winners through our trade publications and social media network. It is an honour to raise a glass to you all at the awards ceremony tonight.”
AWARD WINNERS
WINE LIST OF THE YEAR - fermentAsian, SA
JUDY HIRST AWARD - Grant Dickson
BEST CITY RESTAURANT WINE LIST - Est, NSW
BEST COUNTRY RESTAURANT WINE LIST - fermentAsian, SA
BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT WINE LIST - Jonah's, NSW
BEST PUB RESTAURANT WINE LIST - Upstairs at the Lord Nelson, NSW
BEST CLUB RESTAURANT WINE LIST - Queen's Club, NSW
BEST WINE BAR LIST - Love, Tilly Devine, NSW
BEST NEW LIST - THE TONY HITCHIN AWARD, Silvereye, NSW
BEST SMALL LIST (MAX 50 WINES) - Merricote, VIC
BEST SMALL LIST (MAX 100 WINES) - Spice Temple, VIC
BEST FOOD & WINE MATCHING LIST - Provenance, VIC
BEST LIST OF WINE BY THE GLASS - Quay, NSW
BEST BEER LIST - The Source at MONA, TAS
BEST APERITIF LIST - Apothecary 1878, SA
BEST DIGESTIF LIST - Sepia, NSW
BEST LISTING OF A REGION'S WINE - Healesville Hotel, VIC
BEST LISTING OF AUSTRALIAN WINES - Altitude, NSW
BEST LISTING OF NSW WINES - Biota Dining, NSW
BEST LISTING OF SA WINES - The Grill at the Stirling Hotel, SA
BEST LISTING OF TAS WINES - Stillwater, TAS
BEST LISTING OF VIC WINES - Royal Mail, VIC
BEST LISTING OF WA WINES - Frasers, WA
GOURMET TRAVELLER WINE READERS' CHOICE - Hubert, NSW
STATE WINNERS
BEST WINE LIST ACT - Rubicon
BEST WINE LIST NSW - Jonah's
BEST WINE LIST QLD - Stokehouse Q
BEST WINE LIST SA - fermentAsian
BEST WINE LIST TAS - Stillwater
BEST WINE LIST VIC - The Botanical
BEST WINE LIST WA - Lalla Rookh Wine Store
HALL OF FAME
2016 HALL OF FAME - PREVIOUS NATIONAL WINNERS
Bentley Restaurant + Bar, NSW (2015)
Lake House, Daylesford, VIC (2014)
Rockpool Bar & Grill, Perth, WA (2014)
Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, VIC (2012)
Pilu at Freshwater, NSW (2011)
Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne, VIC (2010)
Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney, NSW (2009)
Aria, Sydney, NSW (2003)
Circa the Prince, VIC (2001)
Syracuse, VIC (1999)
2016 HALL OF FAME - PREVIOUS NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNER
Franck Moreau MS (2014)
2016 HALL OF FAME - PREVIOUS THREE TIME WINNERS - STATES/TERRITORIES
Apothecary 1878 (Best SA) 2004, 2011, 2012
Appellation (Best SA) 2008, 2009, 2010
Aria, Brisbane (Best QLD) 2011, 2013, 2014
Aubergine (Best ACT) 2013, 2014, 2015
Char (Best NT) 2012, 2013, 2014
Cru Bar & Cellar (Best QLD) 2004, 2009, 2015
Friends (Best WA) 1999, 2002, 2003
Me Wah (Best TAS) 2010, 2011, 2012
Rockpool Bar & Grill (Best WA) 2011, 2012, 2014
2016 HALL OF FAME - PREVIOUS THREE TIME WINNERS - NATIONAL CATEGORIES
Botanical (Best Pub Restaurant) 2012, 2013, 2014
European (Best Cafe) 2010, 2011, 2012
Glass Brasserie (Best International Hotel) 2008, 2009, 2010
Healesville Hotel (Best Pub Restaurant) 2003, 2004, 2008
Healesville Hotel (Best Beer List) 2011, 2012, 2013
Lake House (Best Country Restaurant) 2008, 2010, 2013
Melbourne Supper Club (Best Wine Bar) 2004, 2011, 2012
RACV City Club (Best Club) 2013, 2014, 2015
Royal Mail (Best Country Restaurant) 2009, 2011, 2012
Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (Best Club) 2003, 2004, 2008
Settlers Tavern (Best Pub Restaurant) 2009, 2010, 2011
Aria, Sydney (Gourmet Traveller WINE - Readers' Choice Award) 2011, 2012, 2013
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