Image: Besk
For those who love wine and all things tannin, the thrill of finding the best drop can often be the highlight of a week (a month, a year…). From inner-city wine bars and fine dining restaurants to country pubs and those off the beaten track, Australia has no shortage of places to find incredible wines worth savouring. But it’s not just about what’s in the bottle; often it’s the experience – from a sommelier’s search for rare vintages to the ambience of the space in which you drink, every component swirls together to create a truly memorable experience. There’s a reason we celebrate all of life’s achievements with a bottle.
And there’s even more reason to celebrate, now that World’s 50 Best Vineyards have announced the best winery in Australia for 2025 – the only Australian winery to make the global list. Australia’s highest-ranked wine experience, according to World’s 50 Best, is Henschke at No.47. The historic vineyard is located in Eden Valley in the Barossa wine region and has planted vines as far back as 150 years ago.
Whether you’re on the hunt for Australia’s best wine list, a small organic wine bar for skin-contact wine, or a beautiful space to savour a delicate Pinot Noir, these venues from around Australia, recognised in Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards for 2025, are delivering wines that impress. Now in its 32nd year, the awards recognise and celebrate the most outstanding wine lists from across the country, that delight from the pop of the cork to the last sip.
From Melbourne and Sydney to Hobart and Perth, these are the standout venues with the best wine lists in Australia where oenophiles and enthusiasts alike should raise a glass.
Venues with the best wine in Australia
Henschke, Eden Valley
Winner: Best Australian winery in World’s 50 Best list
The Henschke Eden Valley Vineyard, located in the Mount Lofty Ranges in the central Eden Valley, has been recognised by World’s 50 Best Wineries as the highest ranking winery in Australia. Famous wines from this vineyard include Julius Riesling, Louis Semillon, The Wheelwright Shiraz, and Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon. Their Cellar Door experience, located in the Eden Valley, is described as one of the Barossa’s most unique wine tasting experiences.
World’s 50 Best Wineries
Circl, Melbourne
Winner: Australia’s Wine List of the Year, Best Wine List Victoria & others
Melbourne newcomer Circl is crowned Australia’s Wine List of the Year for 2025, plus receiving eight more gongs in other categories. The venue classifies itself as a ‘wine-led restaurant’ offering over 150 wines by the glass to pair with its seasonal, Scandinavian-inspired food menu. “So often, the great wines of the world seem almost mythical. They’re things that drinkers dream about, but so rarely get to experience. Yet the astonishing list from Circl resets what is accessible,” says Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards Senior Judge Andrew Graham.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Bennelong, Sydney
Winner: Best Wine List New South Wales
Located in the Sydney Opera House with one of the most iconic restaurant views in the country, fine dining restaurant Bennelong is where Australian produce and fine wine take the spotlight. Taking home the award for Best Wine List NSW for 2025, the judges applauded the balanced selection that celebrated the very best that the country has to offer.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Fico, Hobart
Winner: Best Wine List Tasmania
Fico is one of the most well-loved dining experiences in Hobart. Its menu celebrates Tasmania’s local produce and the owner’s Italian and Australian roots, but it was the wine list, honouring European and Tasmanian-focused varieties, that received all the accolades.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Agnes, Brisbane
Winner: Best Wine List Queensland
Agnes is a renowned and beloved wood-fire restaurant in Brisbane, where meals are cooked over open fire and smoke – no electricity, and no gas. But importantly, it boasts an extensive wine collection featuring rare gems and a focus on discovering new Australian producers, one that was awarded the Best Wine List in Queensland.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Gibney, Perth
Winner: Best Wine List Western Australia, Australia’s Best Listing of Western Australian Wines
Gibney is an elegant beachside brasserie with a menu that enjoys the best of Western Australia’s local produce and a wine list that pays homage to those who have elevated globally famed wine regions. “Our aim is to act as a conduit for those stories and the wines that have moved us, shaped our journey and changed our preconceptions of the vast vinous landscape we inhabit.” says Nina Throsby, Gibney Group Sommelier.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Capitol Bar & Grill, Canberra
Winner: Best Wine List ACT, Australia’s Best Listing of ACT Wines
In the beating heart of Canberra you’ll find Capitol Bar & Grill serving up prime cut steaks with with finesse and wood-fired theatrics. The multi-award winning restaurant has a wine list that is worth travelling for, that was awarded best in the state.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
The Salopian Inn, McLaren Vale
Winner: Best Wine List South Australia, Australia’s Best Listing of a Single Region’s Wines
“Unapologetically eclectic”, the McLaren Vale-based restaurant serving Australian cuisine with a regional seasonal menu describes itself as an edible story of chef and co-owner Karena Armstrong’s culinary journey and her ever persistent need to learn more, eat more and cook more. Known for their local produce and a wine list that honours exceptional local and international drops, its no surprise this wine country regular took home the state gong.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Where’s Nick, Sydney
Winner: Australia’s Best Wine Bar List, Australia’s Best Aperitif List
Where’s Nick is a wine bar in Sydney that focuses on sustainable, organic and biodynamic products made with minimal intervention. Taking home the award for Best Wine Bar List, they say their purpose is to encourage people to think about what they are drinking and where it comes from.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Besk, Perth
Winner: Australia’s Best Pub Restaurant Wine List, Australia’s Best Beer List
Besk, showcasing boutique, primarily West Australian producers, is a place where “everyone is welcome and the beer is always cold”. Located in a spacious warehouse in the heart of Perth, they serve a rotating selection of wine and spirits and some of the best beer in the world. It seems the judges agreed, recognising them for not only their wine list, but their beer selection too.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
Winners: Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2025
Thirsty? We don’t blame you. Here is the full list of winners from Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2025.
Australia’s Wine List of the Year, Judy Hirst Award
Circl, Xavier Vigier
State/Territory winners:
Best Wine List ACT Capitol Bar & Grill
Best Wine List New South Wales Bennelong
Best Wine List Queensland Agnes
Best Wine List South Australia The Salopian Inn
Best Wine List Tasmania Fico
Best Wine List Victoria Circl
Best Wine List Western Australia Gibney
Category Winners:
Australia’s Best Restaurant Wine List – City Circl
Australia’s Best Restaurant Wine List – Country Settlers Tavern
Australia’s Best Club Restaurant Wine List Junction Moama
Australia’s Best Hotel Restaurant Wine List Woodcut
Australia’s Best Pub Restaurant Wine List Besk
Australia’s Best Wine Bar List – Where’s Nick: The Fiona MacDonald Award
Australia’s Best New Wine List – Maison Bâtard The Tony Hitchin Award
Australia’s Best Wine List (Max 50 Wines) Apéritif & Co.
Australia’s Best Wine List (Max 100 Wines) Rizla
Australia’s Best Wine List (Max 200 Wines) A Prayer for the Wild at Heart
Australia’s Best List of Wines by the Glass Circl
Australia’s Best Food & Wine Matching List Restaurant Botanic
Australia’s Best Champagne List Circl
Australia’s Best Sparkling Wine List Circl
Australia’s Best Listing of Australian Wines Jonah’s
Australia’s Best Listing of ACT Wines Capitol Bar & Grill
Australia’s Best Listing of New South Wales Wines The Blue Door
Australia’s Best Listing of Queensland Wines Blackbird
Australia’s Best Listing of South Australian Wines Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant
Australia’s Best Listing of Tasmanian Wines The Agrarian Kitchen
Australia’s Best Listing of Victorian Wines Circl
Australia’s Best Listing of Western Australian Wines Gibney
Australia’s Best Listing of Organic & Biodynamic Australian Wines O Bar & Dining
Australia’s Best Listing of Museum & Rare Wines Society
Australia’s Best Listing of a Single Region’s Wines The Salopian Inn
Australia’s Best Non-Alcoholic List Restaurant Botanic
Australia’s Best Aperitif List Where’s Nick
Australia’s Best Digestif List Society
Australia’s Best Japanese Sake List Sake at the Rocks
Australia’s Best Beer List Besk
Australia’s Best Cocktail List Paper Daisy
Australia’s Best Listing of French Wines Society
Australia’s Best Listing of Greek Wines Olympus
Australia’s Best Listing of Italian Wines Il Lido
Australia’s Best Listing of New Zealand Wines Woodcut
Australia’s Best Listing of USA Wines Cru Bar & Cellar
Best Wine List – Sommeliers Choice Circl – Xavier Vigier
Best Wine List – Australia’s Choice (Consumer) The Dry Dock
