Best Digestif List

Bentley Restaurant + Bar

Cnr Pitt & Hunter Sts, Sydney
(02) 8214 0505

thebentley.com.au

CUISINE Modern Australian
WINE LIST Nick Hildebrandt
WINEs ON LIST 1500 (50 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$$ ($8-$50 by the glass)

Bentley and its indefatigable sommelier, Nick Hildebrandt, continue to wow the dining public at Monopole, Yellow, Cirrus and Bentley, with Bentley’s digestif listing stopping the judges in their tracks.

Most eye-catching are the whiskies: starting in Scotland with half a dozen blended malts; more than 20 single malts from the Lowlands to the Orkneys, from the lightly-peated Ardbeg Uigeadail to the heavily-peated Bruichladdich Octomore 6.1. Then, there are those from Ireland and the USA through to whiskies from Japan, Australia, India and England. The other specialty is Chartreuse made by Carthusian monks in the French Alps, with 10 versions at Bentley. There’s also a sizeable range of digestifs and liqueurs from around the globe.

Given its current popularity, it’s not surprising that the Bentley list includes more than 40 gins: 10-plus Australian gins, from the Hunter and Yarra Valleys, Port Arthur, Hobart and Margaret River. Every taste is covered: vodka, rum, tequila and mezcal, Cognac and brandy, Armagnac, Calvados as well as marc and grappa. There’s only one piece of advice: make sure to save yourself for a nightcap. Peter Forrestal

Finalists

Sepia

201 Sussex St, Sydney
(02) 9283 1990

sepiarestaurant.com.au

CUISINE Contemporary
WINE LIST Rodney Setter
WINE ON LIST 1500 (80 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$$ ($12-$65 by the glass)

Sepia’s list circumnavigates the world’s wine regions cherry picking along the way. The end result is a thrilling compilation that’s comprehensive, classy and full of surprises. Prized producers from Anne Gros, Giuseppe Quintarelli to Wendouree and Best’s Great Western grace the pages alongside rare varieties such as caberlot and osteiner. And its by the glass selection featuring a range of sherry, madeira and sake remains one of the very best.

Sokyo

The Star, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont
(02) 9657 9161

star.com.au

CUISINE Japanese
WINE LIST Fabio Nistrio
WINE ON LIST 750 (39 by the glass)
WINE PRICES $$$ ($58-$25,000 by the glass)

If you are looking for wines to impress then you will love the list at Sokyo. Plenty of big, dependable names to give you confidence in your
choices. In line with the cuisine, there is an impressive collection of sake and over thirty Japanese whiskies. The by-the-glass list is comprehensive and includes some aged wines served by Coravin. If you are after Australian classics such as Grosset and Penfolds, you will be delighted. Overall, the list is very diverse, with an excellent contemporary selection alongside the classics. European wines are well represented, with top wines from the prestigious regions.

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS: Take advantage of your last chance to enjoy the flights offered at Sepia before it moves to Melbourne: eaux de vie, Calvados, Cognac or Armagnac. Sokyo is turning heads with Armagnacs back to 1944, a huge range of Japanese whisky, plus a respectable array of Scotch.

Best Digestif List

Bentley Restaurant + Bar

Bentley Restaurant + Bar

Finalists

Sepia

Sokyo

Australia's
Wine List
of the Year
Awards

Wine List of the Year
Judy Hirst Award
Best City Restaurant

The Tony Hitchin Award
(Best New List)

Best Small Wine List
(50 Wines)

Best Small Wine List
(100 Wines)

Best List of Wines By the Glass

Best Food & Wine
Matching List

Best Listing Of Australian Wines

Best Listing of a Region's Wines

Best Club Restaurant List

Best Country Restaurant List

Best Hotel Restaurant List

Best Pub Restaurant List

Best Wine Bar List

Best Aperitif List