Union Street Wine have been named in the Top 50 Australian venues to drink wine in.
Finding a top-notch wine bar in the country that fits your desires is about as hard as finding your favourite wine in the bottle-o with your eyes closed. Luckily there are people out there who have been willing to do all the hard work for us, pulling together a list of the greatest wine bars in the country.
Courtesy of the Wineslinger Awards, more than 100 industry experts — from sommeliers and winemakers, to hospitality tastemakers and journalists — have cast their votes and distilled their favourites down to the Top 50 Australian venues to drink wine in this year.
The awards were created in 2018 by Rory Kent, who also founded the Young Gun of Wine Awards and is all about recognising and encouraging the country’s most excellent and innovative places where vino lovers can enjoy an ace drop, while also acting as the ultimate wine guru’s guide.
This year’s Top 50 includes 14 venues from New South Wales, 12 from Victoria, eight from Western Australia, five each from South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland, and one from ACT — with 20 venues named for the first time this year.
While many favourites have kept their spots, the raft of new entries shows what a dynamic industry it is, including Geelong’s very own wine haunt, Union Street Wine.
Located down one of the great regional cities alleyways, Union Street Wine has become a retreat for local wine lovers. Tucked behind an industrial-looking roller door, the dynamic duo Andy Leigh and Lewis Phiddian have curated an extensive new and interesting wine, beer and spirit offering within a comfortable French-inspired space, orchestrating the perfect balance of expertise and affable hospitality. Whether you’re after a refreshing rosé to a hearty red or a crisp white, this local favourite offers a taste sensation for every palate and occasion.
“The feeling of being named in the Top 50 is quite humbling – it’s a list of venues that we hold in high regard and admire, so to be among them is very special,” Andy shares.
“Knowing that the list is peer-reviewed and voted on by people in the industry that know and recognise what we’re doing is great and they see through everything and get to the core of what we do which is sharing good booze.”
Currently open for bookings and walk-ins, one of the best things about Union Street Wine is that you can also browse their deep list of inspiring wine from local, domestic and international producers to take home and enjoy. They’re even offering free deliveries of their drops to Geelong, Bellarine and the Surfcoast.
“We’ve got a dedicated retail space that is still open,” Andy adds. “The three of us at Union Street Wine have been hustling with orders – we run a subscription wine program and online store with delivery as well.”
Our fingers are crossed for the Geelong venue to continue to be recongised for their contributions further at the upcoming award ceremony. From the top 50 list, Wineslinger will further award a number of venues with particular trophies, including the ‘Wineslinger’, ‘Best New Haunt’ and even a ‘Maverick’ award for a venue that pushes the limits.
The wine lovers at home can also get involved, with a ‘People’s Choice’ award for which aficionados can cast their votes for their favourite wine bar online, right up until midday on the day of the ceremony.
As part of the public vote, Wineslinger is also supporting hospitality relief fund Tip Jar, with a $1 donation for every vote received. You can win prizes for having your say too, including a heap of delicious, wine.
To vote for Union Street Wine in Wineslinger’s People’s Choice Award before midday on Monday, October 19, visit the awards’ website.
