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Calling all wine list curators: The date has arrived – Monday, 1st April, and entries are now open for Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2024. Venue owners, sommeliers, and beverage directors are encouraged to gather their lists to present to the esteemed panel of Australian and international judges behind the nation’s most prestigious wine and beverage list recognition program.
Entries for this year’s competition will close at midnight on Monday, 13 May. Entries must be submitted via the online form, with the link made available online and distributed through Australia’s Wine List of the Year newsletter. It is recommended entrants visit www.winelistoftheyear.com.au and sign up to enter the Awards.
“We’re delighted to be opening up entries for our 31st year of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards. The calibre of entries has continued to grow each year, and we are looking forward to wonderful results again in 2024,” Australia’s Wine List of the Year Founder Rob Hirst said.
“The recognition our winners received, amongst their peers and the public, following last year’s
announcement was outstanding. The benefits for venues to take part in this competition can be invaluable in driving Industry and public awareness and customers to your venue while also giving you tools to promote the hard work that goes into developing your beverage lists and cellars. Now is the time to enter!”
Benefits for entrants and winners include:
● Publicity and promotion: Industry and nationwide recognition with winners widely publicised
following the announcement of the Awards across the industry and through the Award’s media
partners, along with a national, state and regional media campaign.
● All successful entrants will receive a Glass Rating from the judges to promote with their Glass
Award Certificate and Glass Award Seal in their venue and through their marketing channels.
● Every wine list entered that wins a Glass Award receives an Expert Review of their wine list to
promote, in addition to the review being published on Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
website.
● For those entrants that have entered the Wine List Service Award as well, those that have
excelled in this area will also receive a Wine List Service Award Seal.
● Feedback: All entrants receive confidential feedback from the judges to assist in enhancing their
lists for future Awards.
The judging panel for the Awards comprises 30 wine industry professionals both from Australia and around the world. The panel includes several Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, wine writers, wine judges, previous national Award winners, and other experienced professionals who work within the hospitality industry. Each list is rated on its content, balance, suitability to the venue, presentation and pricing, and all lists, big or small, are judged twice by the panel.
The calibre and breadth of judges ensure the Awards maintain their prestige and recognition as the
pre-eminent program for sommeliers, venue owners, and managers across Australia’s restaurants, hotels, pubs, clubs and wine bars.
Lists are ranked from one to three glasses. The best of the best are then in contention to win the highly
prized best in State / Territory, Type of Trade, Category Awards and, of course, Australia’s Wine List of the Year. For the Category Awards, entrants can submit their lists in a diverse range of categories such as Best Listing of Wines by the Glass, Best Food and Wine Matching, Best New Wine List, and Best Small Wine List, also by beverage specialities and lists showcasing the wines from specific States / Territories or regions. To see the full listing of categories, visit www.winelistoftheyear.com.au/enter-awards/.
New for 2024 will be the introduction of four new award categories, showcasing the growing diversity of
wines now available on Australian wine lists nationwide. These new categories include Australia’s Best Listing of Greek Wines, Australia’s Best Listing of New Zealand Wines, Australia’s Best Listing of Museum & Rare Wines, and Australia’s Best Listing of Australian Organic and Biodynamic Wines.
In 2023, Australia’s Wine List of the Year celebrated 30 years since the Awards began. The celebration
took place with over 300 of the industry’s best and brightest attending a special day of masterclasses, the producer and service provider Tasting Trail, and the Sommeliers and Judges wine list guidance ‘Speed dating’ consultations, with the highlight of the evening – the announcement of Australia’s Wine List of the Year.
Established in 1993 by Rob Hirst OAM, his late wife Judy (after whom the main Award is named), and
Tucker Seabrook, Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards celebrate the depth of talent, dedication and
sheer commitment of sommeliers and venue owners across Australia to build and maintain great wine lists and the cellars behind them.
Registrations to enter the 31st Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards will open from 12:01 am on Monday, 1 April 2024. Details and submission link available at www.winelistoftheyear.com.au.
KEY DATES TO MARK IN YOUR CALENDARS FOR 2024:
ENTRIES OPEN: Monday 1st April 2024
EARLY BIRD ENTRIES CLOSE: Monday 29th April 2024
ENTRIES CLOSE: Monday 13th May 2024
AWARDS PRESENTATION (SYDNEY): Monday 30th September 2024
Ends.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Media – Brian Chase Olson
E: brian@blendpr.com.au M: 0435 403 608
Partnerships – Victoria James
E: victoria@winelistoftheyear.com M: 0429 996 817
Entrant Enquiries – Michael Nicholls
E: awards@winelistoftheyear.com
Director – Tucker Seabrook / AWLOTY – Elaine Millar
E: elaine@tuckerseabrook.com M: 0414 258 633
Chairman Tucker Seabrook (Awards Owner) – Rob Hirst OAM
Founder Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards
E: rob.hirst@tuckerseabrook.com M: 0416 011 838
