7 Restaurants to Experience a Wine and Food Paired Menu

Ever sat at a restaurant table pondering the menu, unsure of what wine to order to go with which dish?

For those of us who enjoy a nice glass of wine but really don’t know what we are doing when it comes to pairing food and wine, there are many restaurants around the country that take away that quandary by offering menus where wine is paired with each dish. 

Here are seven we recommend you try:

Sip an estate wine on the outdoor deck overlooking the vines and mountains at Mimosa Wines, a family-owned and operated vineyard, restaurant and cellar door on Bermagui Road in Bermagui. Nestled in the heart of the Far South NSW Coast, Mimosa is a modern restaurant offering à la carte lunch and a more refined set menu for degustation dinners.

 

With scenic seating options inside and out on the deck, expect a relaxed fine dining experience paired with a boutique Australian and New Zealand wine list. Start with an entrée of sea bass, tomato, fennel and basil, paired with a glass of 2023 Helm, Classic Riesling; before mains like duck, beetroot, radicchio and tarragon, enjoyed with 2021 Yangarra GSM from McLaren Vale.

Inspired by amazing Tasmanian produce from land and sea, iconic Hobart venue T42 on the Ground Level of Elizabeth Street Pier is a must-visit when in the Apple Isle. This fine diner couldn’t get any more waterfront with stunning vistas of the River Derwent and Kunanyi – come for the food…stay for booze and views.

From a menu supporting local growers and catchers, pair a drink from an eclectic selection of beer, wine and cocktails with starters of fried local squid, broccoli, pickled cucumber and spicy tomato jam; sip a glass of Schild Estate Moorooroo Limited Release Shiraz with a main of braised pepperberry beef, pumpkin gnocchi, cauliflower leaf chimichurri and mushroom.

Beach life and city trends harmonise amid a French touch at Hemingway’s on North Steyne in Manly. Like a good orchestra, the Manly foodie scene needs the most versatile instruments to play their best music in your ears and that’s where Hemingway’s comes in – think a window view of Manly Beach, draped curtains, dark wood table settings and monochromatic artwork on the walls.

 

Say merci to classic entrées such as seared scallops with pea purée and sea lettuce, then delve into plats principal such as confit duck leg, beans, Toulouse sausage, tomato sauce, thyme, shallots and garlic, paired with a glass of Bay of Stones Shiraz. For a decadent dessert, indulge your sweet tooth with chocolate fondant and vanilla ice cream, matched with a glass of Rasteau.

A dining experience like no other awaits guests at Malt Dining on Market Street in the heart of Brisbane city. This rustic, chic fine dining venue spans three levels of a converted market building, offering an eclectic menu focusing on degustation choices in the Attic restaurant, where soaring vaulted ceilings and exposed brick set the scene for memorable meals. The surrounding windows show the passage of time and frame this beautiful venue as you settle in for a night of fine wine, food and classic service.

 

Embark on your culinary journey with cured wild shot venison, pear, pine nut and wasabi leaf; for the main, think slow-cooked short rib to share with malt condiment and sides of roast pumpkin, warm kipfler potato and Brussels sprouts, ideally paired with a glass of Gathering Fields Shiraz Malbec.

Overlooking picturesque vineyards, Twine Restaurant spills out onto a rose-trimmed courtyard ideal for weddings and leisurely lunches, from its location on Oakey Creek Road in Pokolbin. Nestled inside Wynwood Estate, walk up a beautifully manicured hedge path, past the gazebo peering over the vineyard and take a seat in an elegant dining space to ponder a Modern Australian menu showcasing local produce. 

 

Perhaps indulge in grilled butterflied King prawns, tomato capsicum jam and arugula micro salad to start; follow on with memorable mains like slow-cooked beef brisket, smoky BBQ bourbon glaze, cheddar hash brown, charred corn and broccolini, best enjoyed with a First Creek Wines Botanica Range Cabernet Sauvignon.

While visiting the Port Lincoln area of the Eyre Peninsula, a stop at The Line & Label on Whillas Road is an absolute must. Perched regally above the vineyard of Peter Teakle Wines, The Line & Label offers an architecturally stunning restaurant of stacked bluestone walls, a floor-to-ceiling double-sided fireplace to warm the space on cool nights and hand-cut American oak for the ceiling.

 

Take a seat under glowing halo lighting on a plush upholstered chair as you peruse a Mod Oz menu featuring the area's freshest seafood, plated elegantly in dishes of Spencer Gulf bug, soba noodle salad, chilli, kohlrabi and sesame; then sip a glass of Peter Teakle Estate Rosé with crispy pork belly, green papaya salad, Asian herbs and tamarind sauce.

Take in beautiful vistas overlooking the Torrens Valley and park-like gardens at Mt Bera Cellar Door, Restaurant and Winery on Torrens Valley Road in Gumeracha. Whether dining in the restaurant or enjoying a wood-fired pizza at the outdoor kitchen and bar, there is a space and dish for everyone to savour at this boutique, family-owned estate, along with wine tasting and a selection of snacks at the cellar door.

 

Dine from the exploration menu and delve into ocean trout, quinoa and young fennel with a glass of Gruvee Gruner Veltliner, moving onto mains of kangaroo backstrap, smoked and pickled beetroot with a Cabernet Merlot; salted dark chocolate, olive oil and apple make for the ideal finish, with a glass of Amphitheatre Blaufrankish.