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Australia’s most cutting-edge wine lists

Read time 5 Mins

Posted 14 Jul 2022

By
Hilary Simmons

Bottles of wine lined up on a shelf in a bar

For when you want an extensive and eclectic wine list, poured by staff who know their fiano from their syrah.

The wine industry is sometimes known for taking itself too seriously, but you won’t find the bar staff putting on airs and graces at these new-wave wine bars – despite being some of the best in the country. Expect easygoing vibes alongside superbly collated (and frequently updated) wine lists that offer many thrills and surprises. If you’re looking for the latest and greatest in grapes, these are the places to be.

Exploration, innovation and (crucially) fun are the themes of the day, with food, decor and ambience to match. Casual bites and more serious fare pair beautifully with killer line-ups of local and international wines. Discover a new love for the classics or try a selection of lesser-known varietals, like riesling’s cool cousin, gruner veltliner. Perhaps you’re more in the mood for gamay? Let the knowledgeable staff guide you – they love to champion local heroes and share current faves with anyone eager to discover them. For those of you keen to discover more about biodynamic wine followed by, organic, and natural wine trends, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.

Everything here is top drawer, without the expectation of hoity-toity sniffing, swirling and sipping (though you sure can if you want to). Each of these venues, in their own way, is working to broaden the palate and sharpen the focus of anyone who enjoys a glass. Pony up to the bar with a sense of adventure and prepare to reap the rewards.

20 of Australia’s most cutting-edge wine lists
Canberra
Bar Rochford
An upstairs bar for all occasions with great food, smart drinks and an unbeatable soundtrack. It’s capital drinking at its most essential.
Canberra
Paranormal Wines
A breezy bar-cum-bottle shop where next-wave wines and sharp snacks collide to form an out-of-this world experience orchestrated by deceptively casual yet savvy staff.
Hobart
Sonny
Sonny by name, sunny by nature. Think of this hallway-sized wine bar as a Hobartian house party, with the city's most interesting wine list and outstanding tunes.
Hobart
Ogee
Bringing a bistro vibe to North Hobart, this intimate neighbourhood restaurant conjures European-inspired dishes from prime local produce to match a smart list of natural-leaning wines.
Melbourne
Etta
A finely tuned, beautifully serviced neighbourhood hangout where the drinks menu packs a lot into a small space, Etta calls for a return visit before you’ve even finished the first.
Melbourne
Bar Liberty
Effortlessly cool, this Fitzroy institution lives up to the suburb’s boho reputation. The attitude is loose, but the food and drinks are tight and crisp.
Melbourne
Public Wine Shop
Smart, compact, hospitable, interesting and, importantly, serving the tasty goods, this is the poster child for the modern neighbourhood wine bar and bottle shop mash-up.
Perth
Wines of While
Mediterranean flavours power the easy-going menu at this game-changing wine bar and bottle shop that helped popularise organic drops and winemaking around Perth.
Regional WA
Liberté
A spirited regional watering hole where east meets west meets the producers of the Great Southern region in punchy share plates, thoughtful drinks and all the other hallmarks of a good night out.
Adelaide
La Buvette
This Parisian-style bar hidden down an Adelaide alleyway is an inviting slice of France that serves adventurous wines and easy-going crowd-pleasers alongside a menu of bistro classics.
Adelaide
Loc Bottle Bar
Left-of-centre wines poured in a low-key setting – that’s the winning formula at this pint-sized bar showcasing a mix of hard-to-find gems, boundary-pushers and local favourites.
Sydney
Dear Sainte Éloise
This casual neighbourhood spot delivers a serious, European-focused wine list alongside polished cooking, all overseen by a young, knowledgeable team that knows what’s up.
Sydney
Monopole
This wine-focused Sydney fixture from a formidable pair of restaurateurs flies the flag for all things French at the table, with classic Gallic hits on the plate and in the glass.
Sydney
10 William St
Pioneering Italian wine bar 10 William St remains at the forefront of Sydney’s flourishing natural vino scene and delivers a tight, enticing menu to match.
Sydney
Poly
Come to this pared-back hidey-hole in one of Sydney’s coolest neighbourhoods for the frisky wines and breezy cocktails and stay for the clever wood-fired snackage.
Sydney
Where’s Nick Wine Bar
This humble little wine bar in Sydney’s inner west flies the flag for all things avant-garde in the wine world, pouring out-of-the-ordinary drinks with a focus on accessibility.
Brisbane
South City Wine Bar
A stylish locals’ hangout that’s worth crossing town for, South City Wine Bar conjures the flavours of southern Europe in its globetrotting wine list and a menu packed with classics.
Brisbane
Niky
This polished, pocket-sized newcomer in inner-city Newstead offers drinkers a tasty point of difference, matching new-wave wines with thoughtful, skilfully composed snacks.
Brisbane
Maeve
There’s a cool, old-school European feel to Maeve, where genuine hospitality, good food and great wine meet in a handsome space near some of Brisbane’s biggest attractions.
Authour image
Hilary Simmons Hilary Simmons is a Melbourne-based writer, copywriter and editor whose work has appeared in Time Out, Urban List and Buzzfeed.
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