An outstanding wine list, more than 1,000 wines and a collection the judges say is worth travelling to the Adelaide Hills for.
We are delighted to share that Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant has been awarded 3 Glasses in Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2026, the highest Glass rating awarded by the prestigious national program.
Led by Maxime Martin, the Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant wine list was recognised for the care, knowledge and commitment behind a collection that celebrates the very best of South Australia while looking far beyond our own borders.*
For our team, the award is a wonderful recognition of something that has always been central to the Hardy’s Verandah experience. Wine is not simply an accompaniment to dinner. It is part of the journey, bringing together place, producer, vintage and story at the table.
A wine list worth travelling for
The judges’ review captured beautifully what makes the collection at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant so special:
“This is the sort of wine list that might prompt you to travel and stay at Mount Lofty House.”
It is a wonderful endorsement of a collection that now extends to more than 1,000 wines.
Despite its breadth, the judges praised the list for being easy to navigate and rich in information, with a strong representation of South Australian wine complemented by bottles from celebrated wine regions around the world.*
Among the collection, the judges highlighted grower Champagne, back-vintage Chenin Blanc, emerging producers and historic producers, noting that those searching for a particularly special bottle, perhaps even a significant birth-year vintage, have every chance of finding it here.*
Celebrating South Australian wine and beyond
Our home in the Adelaide Hills gives us an extraordinary starting point.
Some of Australia’s most exciting cool-climate wines are produced around us, while the celebrated regions of the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley form part of South Australia’s broader wine story.
At Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, that sense of place is reflected throughout the wine list, with South Australian producers sitting alongside benchmark Australian and international wines.
The 2026 judging particularly recognised the restaurant’s quality-led wine selection, sourcing of varieties from suitable regions and thoughtful approach to vintage selection.*
It is a collection designed not simply to impress through scale, but to invite discovery.
Wine, food and the Piccadilly Valley
There is something particularly fitting about this collection finding its home at Mount Lofty House.
Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant sits within our historic Estate in Crafers, overlooking the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills. The judges highlighted both the setting and the restaurant’s focus on local produce and premium wines as part of the Hardy’s Verandah experience.*
Here, the wine list becomes part of a much broader dining journey.
A sommelier might introduce a wine from a producer just beyond the valley, uncover something unexpected from further afield or venture into the cellar for a bottle that has been waiting for precisely the right occasion.
For guests staying at Mount Lofty House or Sequoia Lodge, dinner can also become part of a longer exploration of the Adelaide Hills, its landscapes, producers, wineries and extraordinary food and wine culture.
What does a 3 Glasses award mean?
Established in 1993, Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards recognise the people who create and maintain outstanding wine lists and the investment in cellars and teams that brings those collections to life.
Wine lists are assessed on their content, balance, suitability, presentation and pricing, with the Awards defining its ratings as:
1 Glass – Recommended
2 Glasses – Excellent
3 Glasses – Outstanding
Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant received the highest rating of 3 Glasses – Outstanding for 2026.*
An award shared by the whole team
Behind a collection of this scale is a team.
It takes relationships with winemakers, growers, importers and distributors, an understanding of regions and vintages, careful cellaring and, importantly, people who know how to translate an extensive wine list into a warm and personal experience for every guest.
Our 3 Glasses in Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2026 is a wonderful acknowledgement of Maxime Martin and the entire Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant team.
But ultimately, the collection has been created to be opened and enjoyed.
We invite you to take a seat overlooking the Piccadilly Valley, explore the wine list and discover what might be waiting in the cellar.
Explore Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant and reserve your table.
Source: “Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2026” *AU-2026-Hardy-s-Verandah-