Best Wine Shop: Ultimo Wine Centre

Stepping into Ultimo Wine Centre is like stepping into a beautiful library with gleaming wooden shelving and venerable tomes containing arcane and beguiling wisdom. What gleams are bottles of fine vintage wines and the collection of wine books at the back (What is Biodynamic Wine indeed?). The staff (with wine-making and sommelier experience among them), is committed to enticing budding and full-throttle wine lovers to learn more about the delicious drop. The centre runs wine dinners, master classes and free Saturday wine tastings. There are vast holdings of high-pedigree wines but also imported and domestic wines attractively priced in the $15 to $30 range. Simon Osbeiston, nephew to founder/director Jon Osbeiston, says the aim is to supply quality wines at a good price. Wines from smaller boutique wineries are stocked in preference to bigger brands. In a shop that features refined corkscrews and decanters, absinthe and an entire section devoted to Chateauneuf du Pape but also chips and beer, what’s not to cheer? (Olga Azar)

Shop c21/99 Jones St, Ultimo. 9211 2380, ultimowinecentre.com.au