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.

The 2024 Bar Awards finalists have been announced and this year's Best Wine List finalists are:

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

We now hand the difficult task of deciding who the winners are over to our esteemed judges. The winners will be revealed on August 5 at the Bar Awards event.

Here are your Best Wine List 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.