The Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld, located on the edge of Victoria’s Grampians received multiple awards at Australia’s Wine list of the Year Awards 2015, held last night in Sydney.
Widely regarded as one of Australia’s most prestigious awards programs, the Awards celebrate both local and overseas wine scenes and were held at Glass Brasserie, located at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.
The Royal Mail Hotel was twice inducted into the Awards’ Hall of Fame for being both a national winner and three time best country wine list. In addition, the regional venue also received three glasses in the awards – which are in association with award-winning magazine Gourmet Traveller WINE and the Australian Liquor Industry’s The Drinks Association – the highest achievement a wine list can receive.
Currently valued at $2.3 million, the Royal Mail Hotel’s collection has already attracted a variety of awards in 2015, including Best Hotel Wine List (worldwide), Best Overall in Region (Australasia) and Best Dessert & Fortified Wine List at the World of Fine Wine Awards in London, as well as Wine Spectator Magazine’s highest accolade, the Grand Award.
“It’s great to see both the hotel and restaurant receiving the recognition it deserves,” said The Royal Mail Hotel’s general manager, Carl Forrest who was there to accept the award on behalf of the Hotel.
“We have so much to offer guests who are interested in food and wine: cellar experiences, chef-led organic kitchen garden tours, and of course the Robin Wickens’ Signature Eight Course Tasting Menu with matched wines.”
The Royal Mail Hotel Head Sommelier Deniz Hardman says the many international accolades the wine list has received are “a testament to the owner’s dedications and collecting prowess.” Hardman says the collection has been steadily built over the past 40 years by Royal Mail Hotel owner Allan Myers, and currently features over 2,500 wines from a collection of over 26,000 bottles.
Wine lists are judged upon design, balance of choice, presentation and suitability of the wines to the style of cuisine served by the venue. The Royal Mail Hotel wine list features wines from every region in the world, including Australia’s leading collection of Bordeaux and Burgundy.
