The Australian venues elevating Champagne culture

From dedicated Champagne houses pouring 550-plus cuvées to cellar doors in the cool-climate regions, Australia’s sparkling culture has never been more serious. These are the bars and wine cellars doing it best

When there is cause for celebration, we instinctively reach for the Champagne. A little sparkle to mark the occasion. The distinct sound of a popping cork, the glittering first pour, the fizzy delight of an overflow – it is all part of the theatre.

Be it Champagne, prosecco, cava or crémant, sparkling wine is one of the most popular wine styles in Australia. In fact, Australia ranks as the highest consumer of sparkling wine per person outside of Europe.

As well as being the tipple of choice for celebrations, Champagne and other sparkling styles are synonymous with luxury, which is just one of the reasons to indulge.

Whether Champagne sits front and centre, or forms part of an all-star ensemble, there are a number of bars, restaurants and wineries across the country pouring from thoughtfully curated cellars.

We have done some thoughtful curating of our own to bring you this selection of Champagne bars and cellars in Australia worth the trip.

Dedicated to the cause

A handful of Champagne bars across the country are utterly loyal to this effervescent drop, giving it top billing on their deeply considered wine list. A 2025 opening in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley is one of the country’s best examples. 

Winnifred’s is the bricks-and-mortar representation of Champagne connoisseur Megan Nunn’s passion and expertise. Named for Nunn’s beloved nanna, Winnifred’s lists more than 550 cuvées from 104 growers and Grande Marque houses. The Aruthur Street address houses a Champagne Bar, Champagne Garden, fine-dining bistro, event and function spaces and a wine shop, each impeccably designed to reflect a distinct mood yet working in stylish harmony, too. 

In Melbourne, Circl Wine House is a much smaller offering, but still delivers serious wine know-how and an exceptional list. The CBD venue, complete with bottle-lined walls, boasts an award-winning selection of Champagne and sparkling. First in the hands of French-born sommelier Xavier Vigier and now the responsibility of Carl Hayes, the always-evolving wine program has been widely lauded for its depth, yet it remains entirely approachable. There is an extensive by-the-glass-list of more than 150 bottles (all styles) and guests who wish to to stretch the palate further can request 50ml pours.

Bibo is Latin for ‘to drink’, and so you will at the Sydney wine bar of the same name. Although only serving a few Champagnes by the glass, the by-the-bottle menu journeys through premium Champagne, approachable prosecco, pet-nat styles and sparkling rosé, offering depth without the stuffiness. French flavours extend to the food menu, where Portuguese cuisine is also a star, while dark wood, marble and layered textiles give the Double Bay space a rich, moody tone. 

Souffle, escargots, duck à l’Orange – the French classics are there for the taking at Pompette, a flagship tenancy of The Star Brisbane. No surprises, then, to see more than 40 Champagnes on the oh-so French drinks menu, along with plenty of wine varietals from Burgundy, Rhône Valley and Bordeaux. Lush velvet banquettes and polished brass complete the distinctly Parisian brasserie feel.

Perfect pairing

Beyond dedicated Champagne bars, some of Australia’s best dining rooms also make a strong case for sparkling-led indulgence.

Maison Bâtard, an opulent four-level venue in Melbourne that doubles as a Francophile’s dream, the Champagne menu is exceptionally sophisticated, separating prestige cuvées, grandes maisons and grower-producers and even including a dedicated Krug section. For the bubbliest of treats, head to Bâtard’s rooftop space, Le Terasse, where the sunken marble Champagne bar sets the tone for long afternoons and celebratory evenings alike.

At Aria, chef Matt Moran’s iconic Circular Quay venue, a prestige-led Champagne list is built for both luxury expectations and informed drinking. Balancing respected grower-producers with the pedigree of established houses, such as Billecart-Salmon and Louis Roederer, the list also features premium global sparkling, including Australian drops. As well as the fine-dining menu, panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and harbour are reason enough to stay for ‘just one more’.

Ocean views are also in play at Gibney, a luxe dining room overlooking Perth’s Cottesloe Beach. In keeping with the polished coastal setting, the restaurant has a high-end wine program with a confident Champagne selection featuring names such as Krug, Dom Pérignon and Bollinger. With clean lines, tailored detailing and material quality, interiors exude the same restrained luxury.

A Sydney stalwart, 10 William Street in Surry Hills is the anti-hero, prioritising terroir over conventional hierarchy for an interesting and long-celebrated wine list. The Champagne selection is small but serious, while the breadth of alternative sparkling traditions – in particular pet-nat and ancestral styles – is the real strength.

Sparkling destinations

Australia’s flair for sparkling extends well beyond its cities, with regional wine bars and wineries offering elevated tastings in bucolic surrounds.

In Orange, home of exceptional cool-climate varietals, Printhie Wines’ Swift Sparkling series is rated among the best traditional method sparklings in the country. As well as the wine bar and guided tastings, Printhie’s cellar door offers vineyards picnics, fly fishing, sparkling masterclasses and helicopter tours. But it’s the simplicity of a glass, paired with Sydney Rock oysters fresh from Printhie’s custom-built tank, that perhaps best captures the moment.

Heading south, the charm-filled Yarra Valley is Australia’s home of Chandon, and there are various ways to indulge in the in-house catalogue at the Coldstream cellar door. Choose from Chandon’s premium Étoile label, Brut NV, a blanc de blancs, or sparkling red or rosé, or speciality styles such as the cuvée riche and the ready-to-drink spritz. Guided and self-guided tastings, Lounge Bar, on-site restaurant or private experiences ensure there is a suitably sparkling option for every kind of visitor.