State Winner Tasmania: The Terrace Restaurant, Launceston

It’s back-to-back wins as Tasmania’s best wine list for this elegant and comfortable restaurant. Not that this win was any lay-down misere, as once again, Hobart’s Me Wah and Launceston’s Stillwater produced lists of the rarest quality. There’s a clear focus on local produce on The Terrace Restaurant menu.

Similarly, the list is brimming with Tasmanian wines placed in an international context. There’s a very strong range, for example, of Tasmanian bubblies beside a power-packed collection of Champagnes – deluxe Cristal, Salon, Krug, Bollinger RD and Dom Pérignon and plenty of familiar brands as well as cutting-edge growers Champagnes Larmandier Bernier and Egly Ouriet. Cava and Italian bubbly enhance the international perspective.

The more-established Tasmanian riesling producers are featured with many mainland favourites and an impressive European selection. Chardonnay and pinot noir are given a similar comprehensive treatment. Here, as elsewhere on the list, the offering of French wines, in particular, are modestly priced. There’s more depth in the shiraz and cabernet sections. A scattering of back vintages offer some mature Aussie wines that are ready to drink, generally at attractive prices.

Amazingly, for a restaurant in a casino, the wines at The Terrace Restaurant are very well priced and it is a place of serious temptation for the wine-loving bargain hunter. PETER FORRESTAL

The Terrace Restaurant, Country Club Ave, Prospect Vale, Tas, (03) 6335 5777.

PHOTOGRAPHY THE TERRACE RESTAURANT