wineism
97 Sandgate Rd, Brisbane, wineism.com.au
GO FOR: The Sips for Today list has some extraordinary wines by the glass
Just a few months after opening, sommelier Ian Trinkle almost had his whole business washed away by floods. That he continues is a testament to his love of the grape and his stoicism. Wineism is an oenophile’s dream with more than 600 bottles to choose from – some rare and hard to find – either for imbibing on premise or taking away. Wines are matched with a French-inspired menu of cheeses, rillettes and duck liver parfait. The tasting room is beautifully appointed, with long curtains and glass surrounding the ceiling high wine shelves. A tiled tasting table sits as the majestic centrepiece – a great place to share a glass and chat about wine. The hardest part is stopping yourself buying another bottle or two. For those seeking deeper wine knowledge, WSET training and regular masterclasses are on offer. Josh Martin
butler wine bar
15 Manning St, South Brisbane, instagram.com/butlerwinebar
GO FOR: Oysters with Kombu Mignonette and Rieslingfreak 99.
It’s just opened but Butler is off to a flying start. Sitting at the start of West End’s ever-expanding Fish Lane, kick your night off with their exquisite snacks and drinks. It’s an intimate affair built around a 10m spotted gum timber and besser brick bar, great for sipping wine and engaging the bar staff. The wine list is concise and focused, with experimental wines and a few Queensland drops to choose from. Food is delightful, fusing French, Asian and Australian flavours and ingredients – think prawn tartare with macadamia cream or snapper crudo with lemongrass. The hospitality is warm and relaxed. It’s the complete package and already one of Brisbane’s finest wine bars. Josh Martin
the old seven
567 Old Cleveland Rd, Brisbane, theoldseven.com.au
GO FOR: match A Provence rosÉ with French cheese for a unique Strawberries and cream.
Great suburban wine bars need a few essential ingredients: delicious cheese and charcuterie matched with a list of top drops. Old Seven husband and wife team Matt Lucas and Nellie Barker meet the brief perfectly with their 320-strong bottle list, including 40 rosés, delightful platters and a focus on gooey cheesy jaffles. With its antique furniture and laidback hipster approach, it’s the sort of place you can casually drop into at your leisure. Wine-lovers will delight in the blackboards hanging on the walls to promote seasonal wine flights and vinos of the month. The deep wine list has some rare vintage wines at very reasonable prices. Be great to live closer! Josh Martin
theo's social club
Shop 2A/14 Sunshine Beach Rd, Noosa Heads, heossocialclub.com
GO FOR: beachside vibes with a
big city wine list
The textbook blueprint of what a beachside wine bar should be, Theo’s is a different shade of the Noosa that so many people love and revere, yet still humble and warm. There are options to sit streetside, around the bar, or a loft section for something more intimate. And the food is special: an open love letter to house-made terrines, crudos, and charcuterie the world over. What’s the best way to experience all of this? Make a beeline from an afternoon spent on the beach, and with sandy towel-dried hair, work out your first glass from the eclectic mix of constantly evolving bottles – spanning the outright funky to pure classics – while sipping one of their standout signature cocktails. Alex Mitcheson
Main Street Provedore
Shop 1A/11 Main St, Tamborine Mountain, mainstprovedore.com.au
GO FOR: A glass in nature — far from the madding crowd
Chef and owner Brenden Schutz has recently brought this blink-and-you-might-miss-it 12-seater to life with gusto. Set in the Gold Coast hinterland, Main Street Provedore is a worthy spot to toast the day after a walk in nature. Coffee and pastries are the mainstays in the morning, while a hearty menu of cheeses and deli-style sandwiches alongside a small but refined wine list are the afternoon options. The semi-regular degustation evening meal is worth a trip, too. The leafy front Street of Tamborine North is the picture-perfect place to taste locally made viognier, aromatic German riesling, or gutsy Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon as the shadows grow longer. Alex Mitcheson
Maeve Wine Bar
Level 1/39 Melbourne St, South Brisbane, maeve.wine
GO FOR: Gorgeous food and a wine list with gravity
This heritage-listed wine bar that oozes character certainly got the memo about Brisbane’s burgeoning eating-out scene. Whether you’re in for a mid-week distraction or a weekend treat, Maeve perfectly balances itself between urbane and boisterous. From delectable snacks – K’Gari spanner crab tostadas, saganaki with fermented garlic honey – to curated set menus, the wine bar caters for all. There’s colossal depth and charm to a list showing no apprehension in mixing exemplary Old World and avant-garde — be it 1er cru Chablis or biodynamic chenin blanc from New Zealand. The service and overall tone of Maeve is both pithy yet comfortable — a great place to catch up with friends. Start your evening off or indulge in a post-show nightcap. Alex Mitcheson
agnes
22 Agnes St, Fortitude Valley agnesrestaurant.com.au
GO FOR: Wood-roasted duck matched with a light organic red
One of Brisbane’s top restaurants, Agnes has it all for food and wine-lovers. Set across three magnificent levels, it’s really a case of choose your own adventure. On the middle level is more formal dining where you can watch the chefs at play, cooking over fire. The cellar level is for drinking and less formal snacking, while the rooftop terrace provides intimate views across the inner city and Spring Hill. The terrace is a great place to hang out and drink sparkling in summer. The food focuses on top local produce prepared with minimal intervention over open flames – ancient cooking techniques at their finest. The wine list is extensive and cleverly designed, each wine is clearly labelled organic, biodynamic or natural. Ask for head sommelier Lilly Heenan who has a passion for great drops. Josh Martin
All photography supplied by venues.