We love Champagne in Australia - this is undeniable. Our rapidly growing sales and import figures confirm our beliefs. We know that Emperor customers love entertaining with champagne at home but when you are heading out for a night on the town you also want to celebrate with the bubbles, so our team have been hunting down the best wine lists featuring champagne. It's tough work but someone has to do it.
Sadly we found that many restaurants were listing the ‘Grand Marque’ (aka Big Brand) Champagnes but not too many grower champagnes to offer up some diversity and craftsmanship. We were also amazed at how many so called champagne bars are listing prosecco and other sparkling wines under the champagne menu which is a huge ‘no no’ in our eyes. Alas, our top picks are below. If you know of any other bars who have a great champagne list that we missed please write to us at hello@emperorchampagne.com.au.
Our favourite champagne lists (in no particular order) were found at:
Rockpool Bar & Grill (Melbourne)
Melbourne’s Rockpool Bar and Grill is led by the supremely talented and awarded Australian chef Neil Perry. Rockpool prides itself on an uncompromised focus on produce - in particular, fine meats. Located at the prestigious Crown Complex Rockpool offers an equally prestigious champagne list, showcasing a notable catalogue of Vintage cuvées.
http://www.rockpoolbarandgrill.com.au/melbourne
La Vie Champagne Bar (Perth)
The La Vie bar interior takes inspiration from Champagne, with its rich colour palette of red, peach and gold with characteristic bubbles associated with this famed region in France.
La Vie Bar is situated in Perth’s opulent Crown Casino and has a lavish line-up of Grand Marque champagnes. Rather fittingly, La Vie offers Jay Z’s Armand de Brignac ‘Ace of Spades’ champagne to cater for high rollers.
https://www.crownperth.com.au/bars-nightclubs/bars/la-vie
Vue de Monde (Melbourne)
Set among the clouds on the 55th floor of the Rialto building, Shannon Bennett’s Vue de Monde is a Melbourne culinary institution. Critically acclaimed and the epitome of luxury and decadence, this sky-high restaurant and bar is a must visit. Vue de Monde boasts a champagne list with will over 100 different cuvées and the world first Dom Perignon vending machine. Very impressive indeed. You don't need to book dinner to enjoy the bar but you better be well healed and get in early to secure a spot!
http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/
Aria (Sydney)
Aria boasts some of the best views over Circular Quay and is run by renowned chef Matt Moran who has created an awarded winning, two hatted restaurant. Overlooking the harbour, you can select from the wine list that has over 70 different champagnes, with a vast selection of prestige cuvées including Krug, Dom Pérignon and Salon.
https://www.ariarestaurant.com/sydney/
Cru Bar & Cellar (Brisbane)
We love a bar that has an amazing wine and champagne list and they don’t charge through the nose for you to enjoy it! At Cru Bar and Cellar in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane you have the choice of buying a bottle from their extensive cellar list and just paying corkage whilst you devour it at the bar. Brilliant! Cru Bar don’t simply have a great champagne list, their food is great too. This venue is a Brisbane staple.
http://www.crubar.com/
Solera (Sydney)
Solera is all about rare champagne. You are bound to find champagnes you can’t get anywhere else in Sydney on their extensive list including the likes of cult wine maker Benoit Dehu. The best part of the bar may not be their interesting champagne list but the integrated cooling system (Kaelo) that lives under your table to keep your champagne at the perfect temperature. (pictured)
https://www.solera.bar/
Jonah's (Palm Beach)
You could be in many places in the world whilst sitting in the picturesque location of Jonah’s in Palm Beach, NSW listening to the peaceful sounds of the waves crashing and better still the sound of bubbles bursting in your glass. This restaurant has a banging champagne list that accompanies perfectly with a spectacular view. This iconic restaurant take their service and their wine list seriously so expect a huge choice of fabulous champagne. Please drink champagne here once in your life! Its one to remember.
https://www.jonahs.com.au/
Est (Sydney)
Taking home the 2017 Best Champagne List from Australian Wine List of the Year Awards, Est. has an extensive wine list of over 1300 bottles. Their champagne range includes the big brands, along with a vast selection of growers. Set within a heritage dining room, Est. delivers fine-dining on a grand scale – what better place to enjoy a glass of the world’s most luxurious wine!
https://merivale.com.au/venues/est
Stokehouse (Brisbane)
The Van Haandels who own this well established dining mecca are no strangers to luxury and they write an enviable wine list. You have the grand marque champagne brands to choose from as well as a smattering of premium growers to add some more interest. Expect premium service with great food and perfectly served bubbles. This team are filled with hospitality guns.
https://stokehouseq.com.au/
