Melbourne's Society, operated by Lucas Group, has taken the top honour at the 2026 Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards, announced at a ceremony in Sydney this week. The venue collected four titles in total: Australia's Best Capital City Dining Wine List, Best Wine List Victoria, Australia's Best List of Wines by the Glass, and the overall national award. It was also a finalist in three further categories.

The restaurant's wine team — Head Sommeliers Loïc Avril and Yuki Hirose MS, alongside Sommelier Lee Sangyeop — received the Judy Hirst Award, which recognises the sommeliers behind the winning list.

Chair of Judges Toni Paterson MW praised the list's scale and structure, noting its dual function as both a resource for familiar drinking and a vehicle for discovery.

"This ranks among Australia's and the world's great wine lists, exceptional in its vintage depth and curation and broad in both local and international scope," Paterson said.

The economics of the list sit in its pour architecture. Close to 90 wines are available by the glass, spanning well-priced Australian staples such as MMAD Vineyard Chenin, premium local Chardonnay from By Farr and Tolpuddle, and icon reds including Mount Mary Pinot, The Armagh and Grange poured from magnums. International rarities — Benjamin Leroux 1er Cru Meursault, Domaine de la Pousse d'Or Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses — are offered as a taste, half-pour or glass, a tiered-pour format that lowers the entry price on high-COG inventory while protecting margin on full serves.

Society opened in 2021 and first entered the awards in 2023, when it won Australia's Best Listing of French Wines.

Category trends: pricing, pours and provenance

Paterson said the sector retains strong momentum despite recent trading headwinds, with confident, knowledgeable sommeliers compiling the country's strongest beverage programs.

"The best lists are showing greater support for Australian wines, including those from their home state, which is heartening, especially when local wines represent excellent value, are better than ever, and offer great style and varietal diversity," she said.

She flagged four on-list trends for 2026: the rise of grenache, mini-cocktails, chilled reds, and small pours by the glass — the latter a mechanism that encourages experimentation while staying mindful of cost. The international offering has broadened, letting guests explore imported wine without the premium of a full bottle commit. Menu formats are also shifting, with a wider range of cuisines and share plates gaining traction.

Other winners

Perth's Gibney took three titles: Best Wine List WA, Australia's Best Digestif List, and The Peter Forrestal Award for Australia's Best Listing of Western Australian Wines. Sydney's Altitude Restaurant at the Shangri-La also won three awards.

State and territory winners included The Boat House (Best Wine List ACT), Shell House Dining Room and Terrace (Best Wine List NSW), Otto Brisbane (Best Wine List QLD), 2KW Bar and Restaurant (Best Wine List SA), and Black Cow Bistro (Best Wine List TAS).

The awards were established in 1993 by Rob Hirst OAM and his late wife, Judy, together with Tucker Seabrook. Hirst said the awards recognise the commitment and investment of sommeliers, owners, beverage directors, venue managers and entrepreneurs across Australian hospitality, and congratulated all winners and glass-rated venues for 2026.

With small-format pours, value-anchored local sourcing and tiered glass programs now shaping winning lists nationwide, the 2026 results point operators toward beverage programs engineered for margin and discovery in a cost-conscious market.