Wine bars boom: Queensland’s best new places to grab a vino

Wine bars are booming across the South East, with a throng of new venues opening up. Here’s some of the best.

Slick wine bars are popping open across Queensland like Champagne corks at Christmas, with the intimate watering holes the latest trend taking over the state’s hospitality scene.

More than a dozen cosy vino slingers have launched from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast in recent months, driven by interstate operators and consumers craving more relaxed and personable dining experiences.

Celebrity chef Justin North opened his new wine bar Apero at the end of last year in Noosaville, joining a throng of cool Noosa vino spots like Theo’s Social Club, Nudge Nudge Wink Wink and Atelier.

Apero wine bar at Noosaville

“With a wine bar you can have an extensive list and great cocktails but it’s a bit more relaxed (than a restaurant),” Mr North said.

“You can offer really good quality at a good price point and I think people are starting to resonate with that a bit more and keeping it casual.”

On the Gold Coast, wine bars have been proving just as popular with Cantina opening in Mermaid Beach last year, Bar Evelyn has just launched in Coolangatta, while Paloma in Burleigh Heads last year was awarded the title of Australia’s Best Wine Bar by foodie bible Gourmet Traveller.

Meanwhile in Brisbane, wine bars have been launching everywhere from the city to the bayside, with the likes of Adelita in Wynnum, Niky in Newstead and Priorities in Alderley among the many to kick off in recent months, with even more to come.

South City Wine in Brisbane’s Woolloongabba opened late last year and has been going gangbusters, with customers stopping by for everything from a single glass of a wine and a snack to several bottles and a multi-course meal.

Co-owner Jared Thibault said the popularity of wine bars in southern states was helping push the trend, as was the increasing number of skilled hospitality operators and staff relocating to Queensland.

Owner Jared Thibault at his new Woolloongabba wine bar South City Wine. Picture: Tara Croser.

“I think we’re getting a lot more talent in Brisbane, which helps achieve these cool concepts,” Mr Thibault said.

“You have to have people who understand it and can deliver it and I think with a lot of people moving here from other cities it’s been really good for Brisbane hospitality.”

More wine bars including upcoming D.Vino in Woolloongabba with a list of 60 wines by-the-glass, will continue the trend, with more predicted to open in suburban areas.