Bar Rochford won Special Jury Prize in Australia 2021

Bar Rochford in Canberra was awarded the prestigious Special Jury Prize when Gourmet Traveller WINE and Star Wine List teamed up to celebrate the great wine lists of Australia on Nov. 8. The award recognizes a venue that has done something out of the ordinary with their wine list, such as the direction, the style or the value.

"Thank you so much for recognizing us, it's been a hard time lately obviously, so this means a lot. And I just want to say: Welcome back to hospitality. We are absolutely thrilled about this prize," said Nick Smith, owner and manager at Bar Rochford, during the online celebration.

”It's been a hard time obiouslye, this means a lot. I’d like to thank all my staff. Thank you for recognizing us, and I just want to say: welcome back to hospitality. We’re absolutely thrilled about this prize”

"A fun and accessible list featuring an innovative layout with icons, illustrations, creative headings and eye-catching quotes. Well-thought out with a judicious mix of both classics and avant-garde selections, this is a playful list that will suit a wide range of wine lovers from the classicist to the adventure-seeker.," says jury member Andrea Pritzker MW about the winning wine list.

Star Wine List Awards Australia with GT WINE is part of the Star Wine List of the Year tour of wine list celebrations. The first international tour visited 10 countries and concluded with a final in May this year. On Nov. 8, Australia joined the calendar for the first time.

The winners in Australia were revealed during an online event, hosted by Star Wine List's founder and publisher Krister Bengtsson and local jury member Jacqueline Turner.

JURY AND CRITERIA
The international top sommelier for Star Wine List of the Year Australia includes:
• Arvid Rosengren, Best Sommelier of the World 2016
• Pascaline Lepeltier, Best Sommelier of France 2018
• Paz Levinson, Best Sommelier of the Americas 2015
• Véronique Rivest, Best Sommelier of the Americas 2012 and runner-up Best Sommelier of the World 2013

And, as our local judges:
• Andrea Pritzker MW, educator, consultant, wine judge.
• Jacqueline Turner, sommelier, consultant, wine writer.

Read more about how we judge Star Wine List of the Year here.