Australia’s most respected wine awards have spoken, and once again, South Australia is firmly in the spotlight. Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards has released its highly anticipated state-by-state rankings for 2025, offering locals and visitors expert guidance on where to find the country’s most exceptional wine programs just in time for the festive season. Among the standout performers, South Australia has delivered an impressive showing, led by a familiar name at the very top.
Taking out Best Wine List South Australia 2025 is The Salopian Inn in McLaren Vale, marking a remarkable back-to-back win after claiming the same title last year. It’s a feat that cements the venue’s reputation not just as a regional favourite, but as one of the country’s most thoughtful and deeply curated wine hotspots.
For sommelier and co-owner Alex Marchetti, the recognition is meaningful and far from taken for granted. “It is a great honour to receive this award,” he says. “Many amazing wine programs are being run across South Australia, and to win this award is very humbling.”
Judges were unequivocal in their praise. Judge Peter Forrestal described the list as “one of the finest in South Australia,” crediting Marchetti for a program that is both meticulous and deeply grounded in place.
“This is one of the finest lists in South Australia, carefully crafted by Alex Marchetti. The cellar is still down the stairs for you to browse through and, perhaps, fondly handle the wine you’ve chosen to try,” Forrestal said. “The McLaren Vale, and more broadly, South Australia, is at the heart of this comprehensive list — as it should be. And the experience is always memorable.”
With 623 wines on offer, 41 available by the glass, and an expansive Coravin selection that “almost defies belief,” the list balances breadth with intent. It’s a program that evolves constantly, guided by the same seasonal logic that shapes the kitchen.
“In the same way that seasonal produce guides our food offerings, we are constantly changing and adapting the wine list,” Marchetti explains. “Our goal is that there is something available for everyone to discover, from many different regions and price points. Both the wine connoisseur and the wine novice should feel comfortable when choosing a beverage to go with their meal.”
A major point of distinction (and one that caught the judges’ attention) is The Salopian Inn’s long-standing use of Coravin, a system Marchetti says has fundamentally changed the guest experience. “We’ve been using Coravin for the last nine years and it has completely changed the game on what we can offer our guests by the glass,” he says. “Because of it, we can share a taste of some more expensive wines that customers might not want to commit to buying by the bottle.”
The result is a by-the-glass offering that ranges from White Burgundy and Barolo to German Riesling, premium Shiraz and bottles such as Yangarra’s High Sands Grenache, available in both 75ml and 125ml pours.
While previous iterations of the list spanned the globe, the direction has shifted. The Salopian Inn is now transitioning toward an all-Australian beverage program, a move driven by heart. And South Australia has no shortage of world-class drops. “The Australian wine industry is going through some very tough times,” Marchetti says. “We want to support our friends in any way we can. The quality of wine being produced all over Australia is exciting — and up to, if not exceeding, that from Europe and abroad.”
That local focus is felt most strongly in McLaren Vale, a region Marchetti believes is in the midst of a particularly dynamic chapter. “It’s a true testament to how incredible the wines are from South Australia,” he says. “There are so many new and established producers here focusing on single vineyards that really show a sense of place. Winemakers are pushing boundaries across varieties like Fiano, Grenache and, of course, Shiraz.”
That sense of generosity and immersion extends beyond page. Guests of the restaurant are encouraged to wander downstairs into the historic cellar themselves, selecting bottles directly from the racks.
The award adds to an already formidable trophy cabinet. At the 2024 Australian Wine List of the Year Awards, The Salopian Inn was named Australia’s Best Restaurant Wine List – Country, Best Wine List South Australia, and Best Listing of a Region’s Wines, alongside receiving a coveted 3 Glass Rating recognition, all of which reflect the talent and craft of Marchetti and the Salopian team.
Marchetti’s own journey to McLaren Vale has been shaped by a lifetime in hospitality. He started working in his family’s restaurants in Melbourne at just eight years old, before moving through Crown Casino venues, taking the reins of the beverage program at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar in Sydney, and eventually returning south. Exposure to wines from across the world, he says, taught him not just what makes a great bottle, but how wine should function within a dining experience.
That philosophy is mirrored in the kitchen. Food at The Salopian Inn is eclectic and deeply personal, an edible record of owner and chef Karena Armstrong’s culinary journey and enduring curiosity. The menu evolves constantly, shaped by what’s local and seasonal, with everything made from scratch and guided by craft. And it shows.
Behind the scenes, the beverage offering extends beyond wine. The Salopian Kitchen Garden supplies garnishes for cocktails, the non-alcoholic list continues to evolve in step with changing drinking habits, and the team even produces its own in-house gins – Happy Is the New Rich and Salopian Summer – in collaboration with Kangaroo Island Spirits.
Together, the food and wine form a rare kind of harmony and thoughtfulness that continues to attract locals, tourists and industry pros back, year after year. For those planning a festive lunch or a summer escape down south, if you’re looking for one of South Australia’s finest wine experiences, you’ll find it down McMurtrie Road.
Find the website with the full list of winners here.
The Salopian Inn wins Best Wine List South Australia 2025
Where: 5 McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale
When: Sun to Wed 12pm-5pm, Thu to Sat 12pm-9pm
For the Salopian Inn website, click here.
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