Congratulations to Love, Tilly Devine sommelier Gabrielle Webster on leading the venue to winning Best Wine Bar List at Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards 2017.
It's the second year in a row the wine bar has won the title. Webster was presented with the award on Monday night by the drinks association CEO Georgia Lennon and the editor of Gourmet Traveller WINE, Judy Sarris.
the drinks association is proud to be Trade Communications Partner for Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards via drinks trade magazine.
Named after Sydney’s notorious 1920s crime boss, Broadsheet describes the Darlinghurst bar as having a "hideaway feel". "Plus the bar’s rough timber, hanging ferns, kitchen bric-a-brac and intimate tables for two, give it a sense of romantic nostalgia."
Award Partner Gourmet Traveller WINE notes: "Love, Tilly Devine's list boasts an unpretentious range that is chosen with knowledge and insight.
"The selection of wines is adventurous and broad, and dares you to try something new. After reading through the descriptions of wine styles, regions and a quick refresher on Winemaking 101, there is no style or variety that is out of bounds. Your wine IQ will rise after reading through what sommelier Gabrielle Webster has to say."
(Webster pictured above via Instagram @lovetillydevine)
According to Good Food "Webster knows what you want to drink before you do. She fell in love with wine while working at Sean Connolly's Astral back in the day, took a bit of time off to study all things vino, came back to hospitality when Bloodwood opened in 2010 and has been at LTD for the past two years.
"Her passion is organic and biodynamically farmed grapes and 90 per cent of the list (which is more than 300 bottles strong) falls that way, rounded out with a few conventional drops to appeal to drinkers not so keen on the natural stuff."
the drinks association says cheers to winning wine lists
It was great to celebrate so many hotels, clubs, wine bars and pubs being recognised in this year's awards.
"It has been rewarding to see AWLOTYA evolve and grow,” said CEO of the drinks association Georgia Lennon.
“These prestigious awards not only pay tribute to the achievements of the drinks trade, but encourage them to continue developing their skills. We believe the more educated and informed the trade is, the better quality service and experience they can provide to their customers.
”Congratulations to all the winning venues, we look forward to celebrating and promoting their achievements in our digital and print publications.”
The association also enjoyed applauding the winners of categories such as Best Beer List, Best Apertif List and Best Digestif List.
Here are the Class of Trade Award winners:
Best Hotel Restaurant Wine List: Jonah's
Best Wine Bar List: Love, Tilly Devine (pictured above via Instagram @lovetillydevine)
Best Pub Restaurant List: Upstairs, The Lord Nelson
Best Club Restaurant: The Queen's Club
And here are some of the highlights from the non-wine winners' list:
Best Beer List: Charred Kitchen & Bar
Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks List: Momofuku Seiobo
Best Apertitif List: Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney
Best Digestif List: Bently Restaurant + Bar
The evolution of the AWLOTYA
Tucker Seabrook established Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards in 1994 to reward the enormous investment by owners in time, skill and resources that go into developing the best quality wine lists and to also recognize and reward the dedicated and talented sommeliers creating those lists for Australia’s restaurants, hotels, clubs, wine bars, pubs, cafes and brasseries – large and small.
Now regarded by many as the premier national awards for wine lists across Australia, founder Rob Hirst hopes the awards have assisted significantly in lifting the standard of Australia's wine lists over the last two decades - and each year the bar keeps rising.
To maintain the integrity and independence of the Awards – plus add a global perspective, an outstanding panel of local and international expert judges puts the wine lists to the test, headed by Chairman, leading wine writer and commentator Peter Forrestal, and Deputy Chairs Jeni Port and Toni Paterson MW, and more than 30 additional judges.
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