THE Barn Steakhouse received national exposure when it was awarded for having the best country wine list in Australia at the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards this week.
Christine and Kent Comley accepted the award in Sydney on Monday night and shared the stage with leading restaurants from around Australia.
Launched in 1993 by Rob Hirst and Tucker Seabrook, the awards were created to recognise and reward the hard work and talent of sommeliers as well as the enormous investment in time and resources by business owners to develop quality wine lists and cellars.
The awards have always been independently judged and this year’s 30-strong panel included highly respected local and international master sommeliers, masters of wine, wine communicators and previous award winners.
Award winners have been published in the August/September edition of the Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine.
Judge and journalist Jeni Port described The Barn as a “destination in itself” and “well worth the detour”.
“Never has a road trip between Melbourne and Adelaide tasted so good,” Ms Port said.
“Indeed, The Barn Steakhouse is a destination in itself, the fabulous 715-strong wine list the lure.
“Long-time cellar master Kent Comley keeps one foot in his local patch with strong representation from the Mount Gambier wine region and its neighbours.
“This is one serious wine list – and well worth the detour.”
