Where to find star Tasmanian wines when visiting

Planning to visit Tasmania and wanting to know where to find interesting local wines on restaurant lists?

The judges for the 2025 Tasmanian Wine List of The Year award have done some work for you - this week naming the finalists in the state wide competition.

A record 16 venues from around the island have been selected as finalists in the 2025 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year awards.

The program recognises local venues going the extra mile to champion the island’s home-grown wine.

Finalists have been chosen from an exceptional field of nominated venues based on the diversity and representation of Tasmanian wine on offer as well as the quality of wine service and local knowledge.

Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies congratulated the 2025 finalist venues:

“The quality of this year's award entrants has been incredibly high and it's great to see a number of new venues being deservedly recognised as finalists this year," she said.

"The ever-increasing efforts our hospitality venues are making to highlight, promote and support Tasmanian wines is very valuable for both our local wine producers and visitors to these venues."

"The Tasmanian Wine List of the Year awards were instigated to encourage and recognise venues of all locations, styles and sizes who are our local wine champions, and the award categories allow for diverse offerings to be individually and equitably assessed.

"This year's finalists represent a wide range of some of Tassie's most well-known fine dining institutions alongside casual and specialised experiences, not just in our major cities but all the way from the Huon Valley to the East Coast, Cradle Mountain and Stanley in the North West."

The announcement also marks the commencement of the People’s Choice voting campaign, which invites Tasmanian wine lovers to visit and vote for their favourite finalist venue.

Among the awards under consideration by the judging panel include Best Hobart / Launceston Wine List, Best Regional Wine List and Best Small Wine Bar List, as well as the overall champion Tasmanian Wine List of the Year.

Public voting in the People’s Choice Wine List of the Year closes on Sunday, November 2, and votes can be submitted at winetasmania.com.au/vote. The winners of each 2025 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year Award category will be announced on November 5.

The following eateries (listed in alphabetical order) have been selected as finalists:

# Black Cow Bistro, 70 George Street, Launceston TAS 7250, blackcowbistro.com.au
# Driftwood Restaurant, 13 North Terrace, Lauderdale TAS 7021, driftwoodrestaurant.com.au
# Grain of the Silos, 89 Lindsay Street, Invermay TAS 7248, grainofthesilos.com.au
# Harvest and Light, 6 Church St, Geeveston TAS 7116, harvestandlight.com.au
# Hellyers Restaurant at Discovery Resorts Cradle Mountain, 3816 Cradle Mountain Road, Cradle Mountain TAS 7306, discoveryholidayparks.com.au/resorts/cradle-mountain/dining
# Lost Captain Restaurant & Taphouse, 2-4 Short St, Huonville TAS 7109, lostcaptain.com.au
# Mures Upper Deck, Victoria Dock, Davey Street, Hobart TAS 7000, mures.com.au/upper-deck
# Peppina, 2b Salamanca Place, Hobart TAS 7000, peppinarestaurant.com
# Piermont, 12990 Tasman Hwy, Swansea TAS 7190, piermont.com.au/restaurant/
# Stanley Wine Bar, 2 Church Street, Stanley TAS 7331, stanleywinebar.com.au
# Stillwater, 2 Bridge Rd, Launceston TAS 7250, stillwater.net.au
# The Branch Swansea, 7 Maria St, Swansea TAS 7190, thebranchswansea.com.au
# The Old Bank of Geeveston, 13 Church Street, Geeveston TAS 7116, theoldbankofgeeveston.com.au
# The Whaler, Salamanca Pl, Battery Point TAS 7004, thewhaler.com.au
# Urban Greek, 103 Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000, urbangreek.com.au
# WunderBar & Restaurant, 45 Goulburn St, Hobart TAS 7000, www.wunderbar.au

# Disclosure: The writer was a judge for these awards until standing down this year.

Calling hospitality businesses in Tasmania

Hospitality venues in Tasmania are being encouraged to support the local wine industry and enter the 2023 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year Program.

Now in its sixth year, the Wine List of the Year program was initiated to recognise the contribution by the island’s restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs and wine retailers in promoting local wines and their producers.

"While our island’s wine is overwhelmingly supported by locals, wine is deeply intertwined with the visitor experience too," said Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies.

"During the 12 months to March 2023, 24% of all visitors to Tasmania called into a cellar door during their stay, reflecting the importance of our wine to the overall visitor offering."

Submissions for the 2023 awards program are now open, with the key requirement being that venues stock and promote local Tasmanian wine as a part of their overall offering.

Four key award categories recognise venues in Launceston, Hobart and regional areas, in addition to a category focused on small but high-quality wine lists.

The overall Judges’ Choice award is then chosen from these four winners, while the People’s Choice award will invite the public to vote for their favourite venue from a list of finalists.

"Through the Wine List of the Year program, Wine Tasmania seeks to celebrate those venues that go the extra mile to share what it is that makes Tassie and its wine so awesome," said Davies.

"Our many small Tasmanian wine producers value the support of their friends in local hospitality and retail businesses and we look forward to promoting the finalists and award winners in 2023."

The overall winner will also gain direct free entry into the Australia-wide Wine List of the Year awards.

Tasmanian on-premise and off-premise licensed venues - regardless of size - are encouraged to nominate at winetasmania.com.au/wloty2023 by October 2, 2023.

Finalists will be announced and the People’s Choice voting campaign will commence from October 9, with the winners scheduled to be announced on November 13.

# The writer is a member of the judging panel for these awards.

Award-winning Stillwater wine list runs deep

Long-time Launceston favourite Stillwater Restaurant has been crowned champion in the 2022 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year awards.

Sommelier James Welsh's impressively detailed list took out the overall Best Tasmanian Wine List in the awards organised by Wine Tasmania.

Three additional categories were awarded this year, including a new category - Best Small Wine Bar List - which was awarded to Launceston venue Bar Two.

The Old Bank of Geeveston took out the award for Judges’ Choice Best Regional Wine List for a second consecutive year and The People’s Choice award, as voted by the Tasmanian public, was awarded to culinary touring experience Eat the Wild.

Stillwater Restaurant’s extensive selection of both current vintage and museum wine coupled with its high standard of customer service earned the venue the prized title .

Stillwater’s co-owner and sommelier James Welsh said the eatery has a philosophy that focuses on combining local produce, beautiful wine and exceptional service.

“The palpable sense of care and community is the best thing about Stillwater and that’s why many of our customers continue to dine with us after 20 years of operation," he said.

"We are privileged to play a part in some of life’s most precious moments - hosting engagements, anniversary dinners and milestone birthdays.”

The judging panel commended all the finalists for their great support of local wine producers.

Judge and wine writer Winsor Dobbin (oops, that's me) said: “I think this is the most impressive list of finalists we have seen so far, and the standard of wine lists featuring local wines is on the rise.”

Wine Tasmania’s CEO Sheralee Davies said: “The entries this year reflect much greater depth and diversity of wine lists across different wine producers, wine growing areas, vintages, varieties and styles than seen before.

"Wine knowledge, training and service is an elevated priority for venues and their staff, with a wide range of additional promotion and activity being undertaken by venues to support local wine producers."

2022 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year award winners:

Judges’ Choice Best Wine List – Stillwater
Judges’ Choice Best Small Wine Bar List – Bar Two
Judges’ Choice Best Regional Wine List – The Old Bank of Geeveston
People’s Choice Best Wine List – Eat the Wild

2022 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year finalists (listed alphabetically):

Alida Restaurant at Penny Royal (Launceston), Aura Hobart, Black Cow Bistro (Launceston), Black Footed Pig (Hobart), Driftwood Restaurant (Lauderdale), Mudbar (Launceston), Mures Upper Deck (Hobart), Peppermint Bay (Woodbridge), Peppina (Hobart), Prospect House Private Hotel (Richmond), Stelo at Pierre’s (Launceston) and The Gorge Restaurant (Trevallyn).