Presented by
and
THE BEST OF THE BEST:
AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2010
MEDIA RELEASE - STRICTLY EMBARGOED TIL 7pm MON 2 August (Includes Internet publishing)
Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne has won the prestigious Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
2010. The wine list came up trumps for its quality and depth according to the 28 strong judging
panel which brought together Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine and wine communicators from
around the world. David Lawler was acknowledged with the Judy Hirst Award for his work as
sommelier.
The accolade was presented last night at the Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2010 held at
major sponsor, Skoda Australia’s showroom in Melbourne by Award partners, leading wine
distributor, Fine Wine Partners and Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine.
Excitingly this year some very small restaurant wine lists were considered as finalists for the top
Award as judges recognised the creativity and skill it takes to maintain a consistently outstanding
small list.
Finalists included Sydney restaurants; Bentley Restaurant and Bar, Pilu, Glass, Quay and Est as well
as Melbourne’s Vue du Monde. These contenders were all deemed outstanding by the judging
panel, which was chaired by leading Australian wine communicator, Peter Forrestal and included
luminaries such as Gerard Bassett, Master of Wine, Master Sommelier and ‘World’s Best Sommelier
2010’, from the UK.
Key partners Rob Hirst, Chairman of Fine Wine Partners and Judy Sarris, Editor of Gourmet Traveller
WINE were delighted with the quality of the over 300 lists entered in this year’s awards.
“The Australian consumer is the beneficiary of the extraordinary level of passion and commitment
behind today’s lists – large and small - and our aim since 1994 with Australia’s Wine List of the Year
Awards is to reward the passion, time and resources required to develop quality wine lists, “says
Rob Hirst.
The winning wine lists were spread around the country with VIC wins including Best Café/Brasserie
List - European, Best Country Restaurant - Lake House and Best Restaurant List - Rockpool Bar &
Grill. NSW collected Best International Hotel Restaurant - Glass, Best New List - Sepia, Best Regional
List - Pilu and Best Food and Wine Matching - Universal. WA won Best Pub Restaurant - Settler’s
Tavern and Best Wine Bar - Must Wine Bar, Perth. SA restaurant Fino once again won Best Small
List and QLD was awarded Best Club Restaurant for The Brisbane Club.
State winners were The Ginger Room, ACT, Pilu, NSW, Ortiga, QLD, Rockpool Bar & Grill, VIC,
Appellation, SA, Me Wah, TAS, Jacksons Restaurant, WA.
The Gourmet Traveller WINE Readers’ Choice Award for 2010 went to Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld,
VIC.
the Aug/Sept 2010 issue of Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine on sale August 4 and at
For interviews and further information, please contact :
Fiona MacDonald, PR Manager, Fine Wine Partners
Ph: (02) 8335 8016 M: 0411 519 055 E: fiona.macdonald@finewinepartners.com.au
Judy Sarris, Editor, Gourmet Traveller WINE
Ph: (02) 9282 8430 E: jsarris@acpmagazines.com.au
AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS - 2010
Presented by Fine Wine Partners and Gourmet Traveller WINE
OVERALL – NATIONAL WINNERS OF THE 2010 AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS:
AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR - Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne
JUDY HIRST AWARD - David Lawler, Sommelier, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne
CATEGORIES
Best Restaurant Wine List, Rockpool Bar & Grill – Melbourne, Vic
Best Regional Wine List, Pilu at Freshwater, Sydney, NSW
Best Small Wine List, Fino, Willunga, SA
Best Food & Wine Matching, Universal, Sydney, NSW
Best International Hotel Restaurant Wine List, Glass Brasserie, Sydney, NSW
Best Wine Bar List, Must Winebar, Perth, WA
Best Country Restaurant Wine List, Lake House, Daylesford, Vic
Best Pub Wine List, Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, WA
Best Café/Brasserie Wine List, European, Melbourne, Vic
Best Club Wine List, The Brisbane Club, Brisbane, Qld
STATE / TERRITORY WINNERS
ACT - The Ginger Room, Canberra
NSW - Pilu at Freshwater, Sydney
QLD - Ortiga, Brisbane
VIC - Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne
SA - Appellation, Barossa Valley
TAS - Me Wah, Hobart
WA - Jacksons Restaurant, Perth
HALL OF FAME (PAST WINNERS OF WINE LIST OF THE YEAR)
Rockpool Bar & Grill – Sydney (2009)
Taxi (2008)
Aria (2003)
Circa (2001)
Walter's Wine Bar (1996)
HALL OF FAME (THREE TIME WINNERS)
Best Club Restaurant - Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
Best Pub Restaurant - Healesville Hotel
Best WA Restaurant - Friends
Best WA Restaurant – Must Wine Bar
Gourmet Traveller WINE Readers’ Choice Award, Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, Vic
Best Restaurant Wine List – Sponsored by Skoda Australia
Best Food & Wine Matching List - Sponsored by Skoda Australia
Best Wine Bar List – Sponsored by Riedel
Best Country Restaurant Wine List – Sponsored by WineShield by WinePreserva
Best International Hotel Restaurant Wine List – Sponsored by DropStop
THE 2010 AUSTRALIA’S WINE LIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS ARE PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
NEWS 
