Wine enthusiasts of Sydney, this one’s for you. The results of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards for 2025 have landed, and Sydney’s scene is sparkling like a perfectly chilled glass of bubbles. Melbourne newcomer Circl may have taken out the national crown, but NSW is holding its own – with venues from across the state recognised for their commitment to serving perfect drops.
Presented at NSW Parliament House on Monday, 29 September, the awards celebrated their 32nd anniversary with more than 300 of the industry’s key figures in attendance – from Master Sommeliers to wine writers, judges, and past winners. And for the first time ever, the Awards revealed Australia’s Top 10 Wine Lists by state and territory, making it easier than ever to find your perfect summer drinking stop.
Opera House icon Bennelong took the top spot on the NSW list, with Marrickville favourite Where’s Nick coming in second place (Where’s Nick also took home the national crown Best Aperitif List). Other notable mentions on the NSW list include clifftop spot Jonah’s (which also claimed the national award for Best Listing of Australian Wines) and Crown Sydney’s Woodcut, winner of Australia’s Best Hotel Restaurant Wine List.
These are the top wine lists in NSW for 2025
NSW also shone in other categories: the Murray River’s Junction Moama picked up Best Club Restaurant Wine List, Sake at The Rocks claimed Best Japanese Sake List, Paper Daisy at the beloved boutique hotel Halcyon House took home Best Cocktail List, and Olympus in Redfern was celebrated for having the Best Listing of Greek Wines in the country.
You can check out the full list over here – think of it as your wine-fuelled guide to Sydney and beyond.
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