It’s no secret that Adelaide’s small bar scene is one to be enviable of.
And now, SA is officially home to the best wine bar in Australia, with neighbourhood favourite Good Gilbert bringing home the top gong at this year’s Gourmet Traveller Annual Restaurants Awards.
Tucked away on Goodwood Road with its timeless Eurocentric fit-out, a smattering of plants and prints around the joint and an enviable wine list, Good Gilbert has created a haven where people come for tipples but stay for the people.
Having opened in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Good Gilbert bucked the trend, launching their business in the toughest of times.
In an interview with Glam Adelaide last year, owner Wilson Sawyer said “For us, it’s just a testament to just how great our customer base is and how supportive they have been since day one… South Australian’s turned up, and they put us on the map.”
So, whilst South Aussies couldn’t jet off internationally to taste the fruits of Italy and France, pouring Giovanni Rosso’s Etna Bianco and wine from Burgundy gave SA a slice of holiday on their doorstep. And it continues to do so.
As Australia’s longest-running restaurant awards, the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards recognise the incredible depth and diversity of Australia’s dining landscape and are always a highlight of the hospitality calendar.
While Wilson isn’t new to the industry himself, having gained his wine knowledge formally training in London, this is the sommelier’s first time owning a wine bar. Here, he says his key to success is making the pleasure of drinking a good glass of wine accessible to all.
“We have no quarrels about wine, there’s no right way to do it or wrong way to do it, wine is so subjective and opinionated,” said Wilson.
“It’s a very personal thing.
“We tailor our venue to be personal and to make it engaging, accessible and easy for everyone to understand and get involved in…. we’re helping educate people, but doing it through their palates rather than making it a real formal occasion that wine education normally is.”
With an ever-evolving wine list and an impressive cellar of over 300 wines, both commercial and small-batch, there’s sure to be a drop that tickles your taste buds.
“We want it to be versatile and fluid and ever-changing… and that people feel like when they visit, it will going to be different every time,” said Wilson.
“For us, wine is a rabbit hole…the more you look into it, the more you discover.
“And the same experience that our customers receive is what we go through on a weekly basis – constantly looking for really fun, inviting, accessible wines that speak to people – it’s important that the wine has a story, so that people can relate to it.”
To complement their detailed wine list, Good Gilbert’s food menu is just as outstanding. Just like their wine list, the menu rotates weekly, utilising as much seasonal produce as possible.
Last year’s Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year
Restaurant Botanic, was awarded the SA winner for the Restaurant of the Year. You can read more about all the award winners here.
You can find Good Gilbert at 135B Goodwood Road Adelaide. Find out more here.
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