QT Wellington’s signature French fine dining restaurant Hippopotamus has earned a coveted Wine Spectator ‘Best of Award of Excellence’, celebrating its prestigious wine programme, for the fourth consecutive year.
Hippopotamus is one of only three restaurants in New Zealand to be recognised in the 2022 awards and one of 1290 restaurants worldwide to rank in the ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ category, reserved for those that offer thoughtfully chosen wine lists, containing both quality and diverse selections that are compatible with the menu’s style and pricing.
Home to more than 1100 wines, the Hippopotamus cellar is known for its unique range of classic and legendary wines from New Zealand and France. Ranging from the hyper-local Martinborough region to those further afield, the list also features selections from around the globe, spanning Italy, Spain, North and South America, South Africa, Australia, and even Iran.
Head sommelier Florent Souche hand selects each bottle to ensure every taste is tended to. With a reputation for exclusivity, collectors or celebrating special occasions, there is Hippopotamus’ Prestige Wine List boasting rare back vintages, half bottles, and other selections not commercially available or sold out elsewhere.
“To receive this award is an incredible honour and a wonderful achievement for the team after what has been a difficult couple of years in hospitality,” he says.
“It’s a privilege to work alongside executive chef Jiwon Do to ensure the highest quality of wines that pair perfectly with the restaurant’s exquisite dining menu.”
Since first earning a Wine Spectator award in 2019, Hippopotamus invested in a new cellar complete with four new wine refrigerators for meticulous controls to maintain the wines’ highest quality. This has allowed for an expansion of the restaurant’s wine offerings, plus additions to the aging cellar for future releases.
