As you might expect, wine bar-style restaurants dominated the leading awards at the 1996 Tucker Seabrook Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards, announced on September 10 at Darling Park, Sydney. Walter’s Wine Bar in Melbourne was awarded top national billing as Victoria improved its showing dramatically from 1995 to be clearly the top wine list State in 1996, with 21 restaurants awarded the Very Highly Acclaimed status, way up from 6 in 1995. In total, 93 Victorian restaurants won awards against 61 for NSW, 23 for Queensland, 21 for South Australia and 17 for WA. The judging panel included a number of Australia’s leading wine and food writers, the previous year’s major winners, two internationals in David Stevens MW and Hugh Johnson, plus your correspondent. I was genuinely surprised at the level of improvement from 1995 and thoroughly endorse this year’s allocation of 47 Very Highly Recommended ratings against only 18 in 1995. National Winner Walter’s Wine Bar – VIC Hall of Fame Cicada – NSW (1994 winner) Dear Friends Garden Restaurant – WA (1995 winner) State Winners NSW Hazi’s Wine Bar VIC Walter’s Wine Bar QLD The Grape Food & Wine Bar SA Chloe’s WA 44 King St ACT Fringe Benefits TAS Fee & Me NT The Hanuman Thai Category Winners Best Restaurant The Restaurant Manfredi – NSW Best Small Restaurant The Grape Food & Wine Bar – QLD Best Club Restaurant University House – VIC Best Pub Restaurant Melbourne Wine Room – VIC Best Cafe/Brasserie/Trattoria Walter’s Wine Bar – VIC The Bulletin Readers’ Choice Walter’s Wine Bar – VIC
