Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards is issuing its final callout for entries, with judging scheduled to begin this Friday 16 May.
The 2025 competition is already shaping up to be the biggest year yet for Australia’s premier wine list awards, with entries on track to better last year’s record, which was up 10 per cent on 2023.
“The excitement and energy of the 2024 Awards is still fresh in my memory,” says Rob Hirst OAM, who founded the awards in 1993 with his late wife Judy Hirst and Tucker Seabrook.
“It was our biggest year to date, and the constant investment from venues to educate their staff, build their beverage list offerings, and focus on an exceptional service experience has me optimistic that 2025 will be another exciting year for Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards.”
Last year’s competition also saw a record 276 venues receive a Three Glass ranking, a 12 per cent increase year-on-year, “demonstrating that not only is the number of lists entered growing but the standard of these lists is growing at a faster rate,” Rob Hirst said.
Georgia Lennon, CEO of the Drinks Association, a media partner of the awards, added: “The Drinks Association is thrilled to support these awards as they continue to spotlight the talent and commitment behind Australia’s most impressive beverage lists. This initiative not only celebrates excellence but also inspires continued innovation and growth across the industry.”
Benefits for entrants and winners are numerous and include confidential feedback from an expert judging panel, a Glass Rating Certificate and Seal, and promotional material including an expert review.
Additionally, winning wine lists will also be rewarded with print coverage in Drinks Trade Spring issue 96 and in Qantas Magazine – Travel Insider.
Anthony Pieri, the sommelier responsible for the winning wine list at Gimlet of Cavendish House, encourages all venues to apply: “My experience with Wine List of the Year has been fantastic, from the team on the ground to my peers having selected me as Sommeliers’ Choice, I’m incredibly humbled to be included and recognised as one of the foremost wine programs in Australia.”
Following his 2024 win, Drinks Trade spoke to Pieri about the art of writing a strong wine list and about the common errors often made.
“If you want to write a great wine list – whether it’s 7,000 references or 50 – you have to pay really close attention to who you’re at service to/who you’re writing this for; and it’s not you. You’re not writing it for yourself/for your clients, but for your people, so pay really close attention to your people.”
Gimlet’s Head Sommelier Anthony Pieri
Registrations for the 32nd Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards are open now and will close next Friday 16 May.
The final awards presentation will then take place in Sydney on 29 September. Keen entrants are encouraged to sign up to be notified of the entry portal opening here.