Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards jobs and careers

About Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards

Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards were established in 1993 by Tucker Seabrook, Sydney’s first Wine and Spirit Merchant (established 1838). The aim of the Awards is to recognise and reward the enormous investment by restaurant owners, managers and sommeliers in the time, skill and resources that go into developing the best quality wine lists and cellars. At the same time the Awards pay tribute to the dedication and talent of those individuals who create these lists for Australia’s best restaurants, hotels, clubs, wine bars, pubs and cafes – large and small. Still the most prestigious national awards in their field, the awards have played a major part in lifting the standard of Australia’s wine lists over the past three decades. Chairman of Judges for the first 11 years (1994 – 2004) Huon Hooke commented on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Awards: ‘Standards have improved out of sight since 1994, and each year, the bar keeps rising.’ Importantly, the awards have also impacted the public’s interest in fine wine generally and improved their appreciation of those establishments that have participated in and been celebrated in the Awards over the years. Since 2016, Drinks Association have been the official Awards Trade Communications Partner, and since 2021 QANTAS Magazine / Travel Insider have been the official Awards Consumer Media Partner. Peter Forrestal, currently enjoying his twentieth year as Chairman of Judges and a member of the judging panel since 1993, endorses Huon’s comments and salutes the rise to prominence of Australia’s sommeliers over the past 30 years. ‘Not only does Australia now boast an abundance of sommeliers but those we have are as well educated and as experienced as those of any country in the world. They have been fortunate to have a vigorous and enthusiastic support from industry bodies such as the CMS, WSET and Sommeliers Australia.'