CIRCL Wins Big at Australia’s Wine List of the Year 2025
Circl takes home eight awards, including Australia’s Wine List of the Year and the prestigious Judy Hirst Award, cementing its status as one of the nation’s leading wine destinations.
Circl, the acclaimed Melbourne restaurant on Punch Lane, has been recognised with
eight awards at the Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2025, including the coveted ‘Australia’s Wine List of the Year’, cementing its place as a national leader in wine curation, exceptional service and a world-class
dining experience.
The annual award celebrates venues across Australia that set new benchmarks in wine excellence, recognising the vision and dedication behind crafting truly outstanding wine lists.
Opening in August 2024, Circl was created by a circle of friends united with a passion. Built on the ethos of sustainability, inclusivity, and discovery, the venue houses one of
Melbourne’s most impressive wine cellars alongside a seasonal menu celebrating Australia’s best produce.
Circl’s 1,500-bottle, 125-page wine list is meticulously crafted by a team of experienced sommeliers, led by Xavier Vigier, delivering every pour with passion and precision. Each week, the restaurant opens one exceptionally rare bottle, offered in 75mls pours per person – a hallmark of their commitment to sharing the world’s finest wines by the glass. Spanning Australia and the globe, the collection features names such as Coche Dury, to Roulot, to DRC, and rare vintages from leading Australian producers.
This year, Circl received eight awards in total, including:
- Australia’s Wine List of the Year
- Judy Hirst Award – Xavier Vigier
- Australia’s Best Restaurant Wine List – City
- Australia’s Best List of Wines by the Glass
- Australia’s Best Champagne List
- Australia’s Best Sparkling Wine List
- Best Wine List – Victoria
- Australia’s Best Listing of Victorian Wines
“Winning these awards is such an honour, but more than the accolade itself, it’s a reflection of the care and creativity our team puts into every page of the list. For us, it’s about creating moments of discovery for our guests and guiding them to something they might never have experienced otherwise,” said Xavier Vigier, Head Sommelier and Venue Manager at Circl.
“I was humbled to receive this recognition back in 2021 during my time at Ten Minutes by Tractor, and to be standing here again with Circl just a few years later feels incredibly special. These awards belong to the circle of friends who dreamed this place into being, to the sommeliers who bring it to life, and to the guests who trust us to take them on the journey,” added Vigier.
In its first year, Circl earned a Good Food Guide Chef's Hat and was recognised with the 'Best Champagne List' at the 2024 Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards.
Circl, 30th September 2025
