Prominent national wine and spirit wholesaler Tucker Seabrook has come in for what I consider to be an undeserved bucketing with respect to the National Winner of the Wine List of the Year Awards, an event it established and continues to operate. As a member of the judging panel I believe I am in a first-rate position from which to state conclusively that irrespective of whether the panel comes up with a good or a bad winner, it does so entirely without any involvement from Tucker Seabrook personnel whatsoever. Many restaurateurs have their nose out of joint over the presentation of the major award to The Melbourne Wine Room, which has for several years been a leading contender in a city with more top lists than any other. The various state winners for 2000 included: Caffe della Piazza (ACT), Aria (NSW), Waterhole Restaurant (NT), Downs Club (Qld), Blakes Restaurant (SA), Franklin Manor (Tas), Melbourne Wine Room (also Best Restaurant Vic) and Stephenies (WA).
