Wine is part of the reason to choose Katherine's Chateau, not just a supporting drink list. The champagne-bistro identity, The Den bar, half-off wine nights and dinner dishes such as Lobster Linguini make it a strong wine-led Collingwood pick.

Poppy's gives wine real room in the visit: the official drinks program lists French by-the-glass choices alongside bottles, so the richer bistro plates can be treated as a wine-led dinner rather than just a meal with drinks.

Wine is part of the value of the visit, especially for diners who want a polished dinner without a heavy-handed markup feeling. The Old World list sits naturally beside steak, halibut, lamb, and the Mediterranean opening plates.

The meal can stretch into a wine-led evening, with by-the-glass and bottle choices supporting the Italian cooking.

The wine list and Wednesday half-price wine special give Gustav a stronger beverage reason to visit than many casual Collingwood rooms.