On Monday, August 5, the Bar Awards honoured the winner of Best Wine List, recognising the venue that has curated an exceptional selection of wines.

A huge congratulations to this year's winner: The Flotilla.

The Flotilla is renowned for its exquisite hyper-seasonal food menus, and the experience of dining at this laidback yet sophisticated Wickham restaurant is perfected thanks to its extensive and interesting wine list.

Find out more about the Best Wine List award below.

Best Wine List

Sniff, swill, sip, savour. Best Wine List celebrates the venues who have made curating their selection of wines into an art form.

A good wine list should have a few things – curation, variety, quality, and imagination. We’re talking about a lineup of wines that’s been handpicked with care, laid out clearly, and tailored to suit the venue’s food offering, if it has one – whether it be a full a la carte menu or a small selection of share plates.

It’s also not just about the bottles themselves – it’s about the people behind the bar who can guide you through the world of wine with ease.

Here’s to the establishments that know a quality wine list isn’t just about what’s in the bottle.

This year's finalists were:

- Bartholomew's
- Coal & Cedar
- Humbug
- The Flotilla
- The Grand Hotel

And here's the full list of nominees:

- Alfie's Italian
- Âpê Yakitori Bar
- Arno Deli
- Bar Mellow
- Bar Romeo
- Bartholomew's
- The Beach Hotel
- Bernie's Bar
- Blanca Honeysuckle
- Calamari Kitchen & Bar
- Casa Nova Honeysuckle
- Castle Del Mar
- Charlies Rooftop
- Coal & Cedar
- Customs House Hotel
- The Edwards
- The Flotilla
- The Grain Store
- The Grand Hotel
- The Hamilton Station Hotel
- Harrison's Food and Wine
- Humbug
- Jana Restaurant & Bar
- The Junction Hotel
- The Koutetsu 
- Light Years
- Lock's Paddock
- The Lucky Hotel
- Mad Poet
- Market St Basement
- MEET Restaurant
- Merewether Surfhouse
- Method Brewing
- Modus Merewether
- Nagisa
- Peregrin
- The Prince of Merewether
- Romberg's
- Roundhouse
- Rustica Newcastle Beach
- Scratchleys
- Signal Box
- Thermidor
- Urban Deli & Bar
- Vecina
- Verde Luna

* A copy of the current wine list must be submitted along with nominations.
** This award is open to any venue with a featured wine list that is situated within the Newcastle LGA.

Thank you to our category sponsor Brokenwood for their support.