With only 12 bar seats, 16 seats at tables and 8 outside on the terrace, the intimate Bar Merenda was spawned by Sydney couple Andy Ainsworth and Clare O’Flynn, with the name (and entire concept) inspired by named for the Italian ritual of a mid-afternoon snack with wine. Combining O’Flynn’s skills as a designer and illustrator with her husband Ainsworth’s experience with managing wine-centric venues, Bar Merenda only opened in 2021 and has since become a renowned relaxed wine bar that’s warm and welcoming, capturing a sense of the bucolic life enjoyed in picturesque Daylesford.
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If running a beautiful wine bar wasn’t enough, the couple also grow vegetables on their plot at Stone Hills Farm and source produce for the bar from the bountiful Daylesford region in central Victoria.
“We wanted to create a wine bar with a sense of place,” O’Flynn told Young Gun of Wine. “Everything on the plate is derived from the beautiful local produce available from small farmers here in central Victoria, and on the wine front, we have a large selection of our favourite central Victorian grape growers and winemakers, alongside their counterparts in the old world. It’s a wine bar that identifies with place and time, just like our favourite wines.”
Joining Bar Merenda, the top 50 also includes Victorian venues Bar Liberty in Fitzroy, Bellota in South Melbourne, Carlton Wine Room, City Wine Shop in the Melbourne CBD, Melbourne’s Embla, France-Soir in South Yarra, Gerald’s Bar in Carlton North, Marion in Fitzroy, Public Wine Shop in Fitzroy East, Old Palm Liquor in Brunswick East, and Napier Quarter in Fitzroy.
Our fingers are crossed for the regional Victorian venue to continue to be recognised for their contributions further at the upcoming award ceremony. From the top 50 list, Wineslinger will further award a number of venues with particular trophies, including the ‘Wineslinger’, ‘Best New Haunt’ and even a ‘Maverick’ award for a venue that pushes the limits. The wine lovers at home can also get involved, with a ‘People’s Choice’ award for which aficionados can cast their votes for their favourite wine bar online, before voting closes on Monday December 5.
Voting closes on Monday December 5, which is when the Wineslinger trophy winners will be revealed. Check out the full shortlist and vote online here.
Bar Merenda is located at Shop 3, 22-24 Howe Street, Daylesford.
