Qld restaurants come out on top in coveted national wine awards

Restaurants across the Sunshine State have proven they know what makes a great drinks list, scoring myriad gongs at the annual Australian Wine List of the Year Awards.

Queensland restaurants have proven they offer some of the best drinking in the country, taking out a plethora of gongs in the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards on Monday night.

The competition celebrates eateries curating outstanding drinks lists and is judged by more than 30 local and international wine writers and sommeliers.

Coming out on top for the Sunshine State was fire-powered restaurant Agnes, which took the title of Queensland’s Best Wine List and Australia’s Best Digestif List.

Agnes restaurant in Fortitude Valley.

Judge Mike Bennie said it was “a benchmark wine list that should be the envy of sommeliers and wine selectors nationally”.

It marks a big 2023 for Agnes, which was also crowned this year’s Australian Restaurant of the Year.

Meanwhile, last year’s Australian Wine List of the Year winner, Brisbane’s Cru Bar + Cellar in Fortitude Valley was inducted into the Award’s Hall of Fame, and also walked away with the crown for Australia’s Best Sparkling Wine List.

Cru Bar + Cellar in Fortitude Valley.

Flying the flag for the Gold Coast was modern Vietnamese restaurant Jimmy Wah’s in Burleigh Heads, which won Best Small Wine List (50 Wines); while popular Fortitude Valley grill SK Steak & Oyster at The Calile Hotel scored two major awards: Australia’s Best Listing of USA Wines and Australia’s Best Listing of QLD Wines.

SK’s sommelier Alexandra McPherson also claimed the title of Sommelier’s Choice, an award voted on by all sommeliers that take part in the prestigious competition.

The event’s major prize of Australia’s Wine List of the Year was scooped up by Sydney waterfront restaurant Cirrus Dining.