2026 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year Information
We are on the search for Tasmania’s best local wine list! Across a range of licensed businesses – including wine bars, restaurants, hotels, bistros and bottle shops – the Tasmanian Wine List of the Year aims to recognise and reward exceptional promotion of local wine in Tasmania.
Building a great wine offering involves not just stocking and showcasing Tasmanian wines – the diversity of your selection by the glass and by the bottle, in line with your venue's offering and quality of service are also important. Your wine list does not need to be long, nor does it need to stock exclusively Tasmanian wines to be eligible to enter the Tasmanian Wine List of the Year Awards. If you are proudly and passionately promoting Tasmanian wine at your venue, we strongly encourage you to apply (view tips for a good Tassie wine list below).
All finalists will be promoted throughout the People’s Choice voting campaign (both print and digital), as well as being in the running for the winner of their relevant category. The Tasmanian Wine List of the Year will then be chosen from category winners, celebrated and promoted through an additional digital campaign.
Wine List of the Year Categories include (subject to entries received);
- Judges' Choice Best Wine List – Hobart/Launceston
- Judges' Choice Best Wine List – Regional
- Judges' Choice Best Wine List – Retail
- Judges' Choice Best Wine List – Hotel/Pub
- Judges' Choice Best Small Wine List
- Judges' Choice Best Wine List Overall
- People's Choice Best Wine List
Each category winner will receive;
- Inclusion in a digital campaign promoting your venue
- 12 months' advertising on Wine Tasmania's Wine Trails website (which attracted over 220,000 views in the past twelve months to September 2026), located in the wine trail of your choice
- A premium decanter or other wine-related momento
- Tasmanian Wine List of the Year endorsement and logo/collateral for sharing on your website, social media and printed material
- One guaranteed place on Wine Tasmania's application-based local trade vintage visit itinerary (April 2027), which includes a full day exploring Tasmanian wine departing from Hobart or Launceston
In addition, the Judges' Choice Tasmanian Wine List of the Year Winner will receive;
- An organised single-day tour to some of your local vineyards, including tailored tastings and education for your staff hosted by Wine Tasmania and some of the island's most well-respected wine folk. An additional feature advert in the Tasmanian Wine Trail on Wine Tasmania's Wine Trails website.
Key Dates
- Nominations close Friday 11th September
- Finalists announced Friday 25th September
- People’s Choice opens Friday 25th September
- Winners announced from Monday 2nd November
Our Judges
Curly Haslam-Coates
Curly is a Tasmanian wine educator and the founder of Vintage Tasmania, with more than three decades of experience spanning hospitality, wine retail, cellar doors, events and education. Originally from the UK, a WSET Vintners Bursary brought Curly to Tasmania in 2008 – a trip that ultimately convinced her to make the island home. Since then, she has built a career around sharing the stories, places and people that make Tasmania’s wine industry distinctive. Through Vintage Tasmania, Curly delivers wine education and experiences designed to make wine engaging, approachable and memorable, drawing on her extensive industry knowledge and natural ability to connect people with what is in the glass.
Cassandra Charlick
Cassandra is an award-winning wine and travel writer, wine judge, television presenter and MC. In 2024, she was named the IWSC Emerging Wine Communicator of the Year. In addition to her role as an Australian correspondent and critic for Decanter, she contributes to leading wine, culinary, and travel publications, including Delicious, Halliday, Selector Magazine, International Traveller, and Escape. Equally at home on the screen and stage, she’s a food and wine presenter on Australian television, hosts events and masterclasses, and provides wine commentary around the country at food and wine festivals. Based between Margaret River and Tasmania, she believes wine should spark joy, facilitate connection and build community.
Nola James
Nola is a journalist and editor with more than 15 years’ experience across food, wine, travel and publishing, backed by more than 20 years working in hospitality. A WSET Level 3 graduate, she brings both industry experience and a journalist’s curiosity to the way she writes about wine, food and the people behind them. Her work has appeared in some of Australia and the world’s leading publications, including Decanter, National Geographic, Halliday Wine Companion, delicious., Good Food, Qantas and Broadsheet, among others. She is also a judge for Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards, bringing her extensive experience across restaurants, publishing and wine to the judging panel.